Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise a specific issue on the cost of living which we discussed again this morning. Is the Government considering setting up a hardship emergency fund? I raised this two weeks ago and the ESRI has also raised the need to establish an emergency hardship fund to help meet exceptional need payments, such a fund to be administered by the community welfare officers based in the community not in Intreo offices. That would allow for emergency payments for individuals and families most affected by the rise in energy bills and the general cost of living as close to the community as possible. It would be a crucial measure to target assistance to those who most need it. In recent days, Barnardos has also called for community welfare offices to distribute a particular emergency fund in the communities.

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