Dáil debates

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

 

12:42 pm

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government absolutely acknowledges that many individuals and families are under pressure at this time, particularly with rising fuel costs and electricity costs and so on. It is important to say that the measure we agreed at Cabinet on Tuesday to provide a rebate or a discount, as such, of €100 off every domestic electricity bill is in addition to the targeted measures that were introduced in the budget last October. Unusually, those changes in respect of the fuel allowance and indeed, in relation to the means test and the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance, kicked in immediately. That involved a €5 increase from budget night on the weekly rate of the fuel allowance. We increased the income threshold and recipients of jobseeker's allowance and supplementary welfare allowance now may qualify for fuel allowance after 12 months, reduced from 15 months. We will execute this new payment through the electricity bill as soon as we possibly can, because we recognise that people are under pressure.

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