Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

People Before Profit has consistently called on both this and the previous Governments to conduct a survey of energy poverty among the population. It has never been done by the Government and must be done. However, I wish to point to an anomaly that exists in the recent budget. Budget 2022 widened slightly the eligibility for fuel allowance, but it will only benefit a few thousand people. There is huge cohort of people over 70 years old who are in receipt of the household benefits package who got no increase in the fuel allowance section of that package. Does the Taoiseach ever think about that? These over 70-year-olds are the people who are most likely, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, to have to stay at home and many of them live in very cold conditions. Their payment has not been increased for at least two budgets. That anomaly must be addressed urgently. I again call on the Government to conduct a survey on energy poverty, but the immediate anomaly in respect of the difference between the increase and the household benefits package has to be examined.

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