Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have identified a whole range of measures that will be paid out from now until Christmas that will help the financially vulnerable. Substantial payments are being made which should help people not to get into difficulty with their pay-as-you-go bill. That said, the additional needs payment is there. Anybody who is financially vulnerable should engage with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, and with the additional needs section to ensure they get the resources so they are not in a debt situation in respect of their pay-as-you-go service and to get it resolved. We will continue to engage with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to ensure there are protections over the winder period against anybody being disconnected. It is our view and the view of the industry that this is not standard practice. If the Deputy has material to bring to our attention in respect of vulnerable customers with whom he is contact, I will gladly receive it. We can use it to work on further solutions. However, across the board, from the CRU protections to the budgetary welfare announcements we have made and the various supports we are providing and the social protection additional needs scheme that is in place with MABS, we believe we can protect people from being disconnected.

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