Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this very serious problem. Indeed, it is a problem for the people of Kerry because, as we all know, their journeys to work are longer. Much of Kerry is farming community. The cost of diesel for tractors has more than doubled and the cost of heating oil has more doubled. I am concerned that elderly people could be cold in their homes this winter. We will have to return to turf cutting. Before this winter is out, people will be glad of a load of turf. Electricity costs have risen by 19%. Everyone is being advised to move to electric, including electric vehicles, yet there is no place to charge them. It appears now we will not have sufficient electricity to bring to the plugs.

Transport costs affect every sector in the country, be that in regard to the transport of timber, slates and so on. We are told new-build houses will not have chimneys and that they should all have electric heat pumps. When there is no electricity, how will people heat their homes? Insulation costs have risen by 40%. The Government has a plan to retrofit houses but there is a wait of between a year and a half and two years in that regard. Why is that?

I want to also raise the serious issue of eligibility for the fuel allowance for many other categories of people in receipt of social welfare benefits. It is stipulated that to be eligible for the fuel allowance a person must be unemployed for 15 months. God almighty, that rule is not fit for purpose. Those people will get cold just like everyone else. The construction of houses without chimneys is a recipe for disaster. This is already happening in Kerry. What will keep people warm when the electricity runs out? The Government regularly speaks about offshore energy. It knows well that there will be no wind turbines out in the ocean for at least ten years. It needs to stop talking about that and to stop being ridiculous about things.

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