Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I first raised this issue in February of last year. Many of my constituents whose principal private residence is a mobile home are living in the ice age as regards heating them. They cannot afford to heat them, the homes have poor insulation, and many of these residents are in poor health or have disabilities and a number of them have fallen on hard times. They cannot benefit from the excellent Government scheme because they do not have their own individual electricity meter; the energy is supplied by the park owner. They cannot benefit from the exceptional needs payment because they cannot engage with an energy supplier, which is mandatory to get that benefit.

I have raised this with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, who has direct responsibility for it. I have raised it with the Central Statistics Office and the Minister’s Department. I am fed up, and these people are fed up with coming to me and not getting action. I urge the Taoiseach to ensure the Minister, Deputy Ryan, delivers on this. It is the Government's wish that these people would not be living in the ice age and could heat their mobile homes.

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