Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Discussions on issues such as this can sometimes become a bit abstract but we need to remember the concrete realities of this and what it will mean for individual families. It should be obvious but we need to keep it in our minds that a cold house is a terrible thing. It is a horrible thing to experience. What is equally horrible is the fear that many families have that their services will be disconnected over this winter. They fear that they will be without energy or heat for days, or perhaps weeks, because they do not have the money and will be cut off by their providers. The first thing I ask the Minister of State and his Government to do is to ensure a moratorium on energy disconnections this winter. It could be a very hard winter. It has already been an extremely difficult time financially for many families. With energy prices as they are and with the way that bills will follow, it is essential that a moratorium be introduced.

I will raise a point that my colleague, Deputy Kerrane, and others including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul have been raising for some time, namely, the need for a discretionary fund. The fuel allowance is an important part of our social welfare system but, like any part of that system, it cannot anticipate all of the circumstances in which people will need support. I believe in a social welfare system that is largely rules-based but there always needs to be a bit of space for discretion. There are people who will not qualify for the fuel allowance but who will really struggle to pay the bills and keep their houses warm. As I said at the start, that is what it will come down to. It will come down to choices between heat and food, clothes and other essential purchases. Those families who fall just outside the threshold need additional support and I urge the Minister of State and Government to move on the proposal to put in place a discretionary fund to assist those families.

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