Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak. I recently undertook a cost of childcare survey, with parents sharing their experiences. I raise that because I was somewhat taken aback when talking about that topic by how many people responded to talk about how much they are struggling in general with the cost of living and, in particular, they referenced the area of trying to meet the rising cost of home heating fuels. It is very difficult. We have had several debates in this Chamber in regard to the increased costs but it is genuinely very difficult for many families and individuals, and sometimes the individuals get lost in that argument.

Perhaps many people will not associate turf cutting with the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. However, just like every other constituency, people in this area are outraged at this stage in regard to the response and the attitude coming from the Government, in particular, as has been referenced, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. It is very difficult to know what exactly is going on. First, turf cutting is out, then it is in, but only in certain circumstances. It is very difficult to know exactly what is the position. Other colleagues have referenced the irony and hypocrisy of having briquettes come in from Germany, Latvia and other areas when people are being penalised for burning turf.

What we need is a situation where there are credible alternatives that people can afford. Nobody is against retrofitting their home or changing to the more modern heating systems that we see in some of the new builds, such as air to water systems and so on. People welcome that and they would love to be able to do that in their homes but, unfortunately, it is totally unaffordable for them. There are already huge waiting lists attached to some of the schemes in operation and the grants do not go far enough for people, even in terms of windows, doors and those basic things that people want to replace.

That is really where the focus needs to be rather than on this constant penalisation. That will not work. Deputy Carthy made a point about people having driving to work. We need to promote and fund credible alternatives but the crucial part is that it needs to be affordable for people. People will change. They want to change but it needs to be affordable.

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