Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I am startled at these figures. The Minister mentioned fluctuating numbers of people receiving fuel allowance. The price of fuel is fluctuating upwards only. There has been a massive expansion in the number of people in fuel poverty yet we have rigid figures for the number of people in receipt of fuel allowance. The Minister talks about expansion of the means test. That is because there has been a massive increase in the cost of energy. The really frustrating thing about this is that the Government has two levers in its arsenal to effect change in this. The first is the VAT on fuel - the Government is taking more than ever - and the energy companies that are making enormous profits at the moment. The Government has also talked about imposing a windfall tax some time in the future. Why is it that Fine Gael only speaks in the future tense in relation to helping people? Why can it not talk in the present tense in terms of a proper windfall tax, easing the burden in taxation and making sure there is a real expansion in the fuel allowances that are given to people?

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