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

The Minister said earlier that it is so important that we make a difference. I agree with him, but what does his difference look like? What does the difference that he is bringing forward today look like? We know that it currently costs well over €1,000 to fill a tank of oil, and that cost is rising. There is nothing that the Minister has announced today that will make a difference to households that are struggling to heat their homes. In fact, the only difference they will see is an increase of almost €20 on a fill of oil from 1 May. The vast majority of people that I represent in counties Roscommon and Galway rely on home heating oil to heat their homes. There is no assistance for the vast majority of workers and families. The vast majority of workers do not qualify for the fuel allowance. If they work for more than 30 hours a week, they cannot access the exceptional needs payment, something that the Government has consistently pushed as an alternative and a support that is there for people. It is not. I again ask the Minister to look at establishing a discretionary fund to assist households and families with their heating costs. Another Government Deputy spoke today about those at risk of falling into a poverty trap as if they were saved by the recent budget, when so many are already in that poverty trap. Much focus has been put on the increases in social welfare in budget 2022. They are increases that followed after two years of no increases, and increases to social welfare payments where every single one of the working age weekly payments are set below the poverty line already. The Government speaks about these increases like it is doing these people a favour. The difference for farmers is a 2 cent reduction in the cost of green diesel when every output on the farm is through the roof and we are relying on them for food production. A reduction of 2 cent is meaningless. Lastly, I ask that a member of the Government sits down with the Minister for Transport. From suggesting cabbages in window boxes and carpooling in rural areas to asking people to slow down to keep more petrol or diesel in the tank, somebody needs to sit down and have a chat with him. I cannot convey the anger he has caused once again in rural communities.

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