Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy mentioned in his contribution, the moratorium on disconnection applies to the end of February for the vast majority of customers and to the end of March for the most vulnerable. Ideally, it should apply to everyone. Thinking through the Deputy’s question, it is difficult to know how one would apply that in the case of pay-as-you-go customers just because of the nature of how pay-as-you-go works. The Government can help, however, and it wants to help the kind of people the Deputy mentioned.

How can we help? As the Deputy knows, there will be a fuel allowance cash payment that people in receipt of the fuel allowance will receive in the next couple of weeks. In addition, we are extending eligibility for the fuel allowance to many more people. That will kick in from the new year, subsequent to the social welfare Bill being passed by this House. A double social welfare payment will be paid in the next few weeks. For people not in receipt of social welfare, there will be a double child benefit payment and a double working family payment. That will help people with their essential bills a lot. An energy credit of €200 will be paid before Christmas and a further two credits, each for €200, will be paid after Christmas. These credits will run through to March. Then there are the emergency needs payments that are available from the community welfare service.

That is the kind of help the Government is offering in the round. I hope that answers the Deputy’s question in terms of what we can do to help people who are pay-as-you-go customers. I have outlined many different actions. The Deputy asked whether we can do it without limits. I do not think so. I do think we can say to anyone that we can cover the cost of their electricity or gas without limits. No matter who it is, I do not think that would be reasonable or right.

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