Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Hard-pressed families cannot continue to wait for support when it comes to soaring energy bills. The €100 support announced by the Government earlier this week is welcome, but it is modest. The Irish Examinerreported last week that some households are facing bills of over an extra €1,000 for electricity and gas next year. While this €100 support will bring some relief, we need to see it this side of Christmas. It really is ridiculous that the Government is not willing to push this forward now when people need it, rather than kicking the can down the road into next year. Last month, I published a cost of living report, as part of which over 14,000 people responded to a survey. One comment from a mother said:

We are a family of four. Our electricity bill has gone, on average, from €160 to €210 in the last three months. We are so terrified for this winter with rising costs and we have not filled the oil tank yet.

People are struggling right now and need support right now. They cannot wait until next spring for that support.

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