Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There have been challenges. I was listening to previous speakers. Emergency measures are important to help people pay their bills. We have to realise that there are people who are struggling. We are aware of that. Look at all the good work that has been done in the schools and so on. A lot of work has been done but I know we have a lot more to do.

Both these credits worth €250 are needed as the cost of living remains high, despite inflating easing. We need to pass this Bill and I am supporting it, so that householders can receive the first energy credit of €125 available to consumers after 1 November, whenever their utility bill falls, and the second credit for the same amount from 1 January 2025. However, due to the nature of the billing, different bills fall on different dates in different households. Every day lost would result in around 35,000 people daily not receiving the first credit until 2025 so we need to pass this urgently.

Last time I raised a big issue, which was raised with my office. Some people who were not using enough electricity did not qualify. It does not matter if one has a small bill or a big bill, regardless of the amount, one should get a payment. Will the Minister of State clarify whether it is the case that someone who is not using enough electricity cannot qualify for this? Many elderly people came into me. They might live in small one-bedroom houses. They were minding their money when they might have turned on their electricity. They need to qualify for this too but they did not get it the last time. I understand that it was being looked at and payments should have been made. The Minister of State might check that out for me. However, it is an issue that I felt needed to be addressed. We need to make sure everyone gets this.

I also wish to ask the Minister of State about renters who pay their electricity and what mechanism is there for them to get the credit as well. Renters raised this issue to me last time. These are issues we need to answer and they are issues that Members of the Oireachtas need to be able to tell constituents about.

This is a good measure. I wish it could be a lot more. I wish the Government could put more money into the emergency measure but it is important that we get the payment to people as soon as possible. That is what I mean about the billing. I ask the Minister of State to come back to me on those matters, so that I have the correct information to give to people. Overall, however, I will support the Bill.

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