Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

This winter we will see the apex of the cost-of-living crisis, particularly in energy prices. There have been 35 price hikes by energy companies in the past 12 months. The cumulative effect has been a 60% to 70% increase in electricity and gas prices. That is a fact. Another fact which the Minister will have to address is that since February this year, 20,000 people were refused fuel allowance. That is an enormous number. There is a lot of confusion in social welfare offices regarding those who are long-term unemployed for more than 12 months, for instance. They have changed the criteria, which is welcome, but there is a lot of confusion. That has to be addressed. It is only the tip of the iceberg. There are those who could benefit but who are not because of the confusion relating to the criteria.

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