Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will use my short time to relay a conversation I had yesterday with a constituent of mine. He specifically asked me to address this to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The man, who lives in a housing estate in Killarney, asked me to name him but I am not going to do that because I do not think that would be polite or right. He is a real man, living in a house with his daughter, who has special requirements. His house is old and the only way of heating it is with bags of coal and timber, which he buys in the shop. They allow him to heat his water, keep the room warm and run a couple of radiators, and he has a gas cooker in house. He told me that his biggest problem is that timber has increased in cost, given the price of petrol and everything has increased, so the people who sell timber have to charge more, and the price of coal has risen significantly. This is the only way he can survive.

I do not want to hear Minister tell that man to avail of the grant because that is insanity. He is struggling to pay for a bag of coal when he buys it, and he said he has always been living hand to mouth every week. He does not have the money that is required to refurbish his house to avail of the grant, so there is no point telling him he will get €25,000 if he can pull another €40,000 from underneath his bed. Where is he supposed to get it? He cannot get off the ground to carry out the improvements the Government recommends.

Will the Minister take into account that man and his daughter, who has special requirements? They need to live today and next week, and they need to heat their home. The Government is not going to do anything to help them but instead it will hurt them. I am shocked and surprised at the backbenchers who will support it in its endeavours.

See this speech in context