Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

The cost of energy is putting huge pressure on households, with 300,000 households now in arrears with electricity bills. I was listening to Deputy Barry Ward complaining about the energy companies putting up the wholesale price - of course, they are doing it - and he wondered why electricity is getting so dear. Well, 25 years ago, it was 96% publicly owned. We had one of the cheapest electricity supplies in the European Union. Now, it is 25% publicly owned and 75% private. That is because of all the renewables owned by private companies, except the Bord na Móna ones which I have no problem with. We have the third to fourth most expensive electricity in Europe. That is the first thing Government TDs need to take on board, instead of coming in here and complaining about private companies. Of course, they are going to do what they do; they are set up to make profit. They are going to get as much as they can out of it.

Government is increasing carbon taxes not once but twice a year and these hikes are having a huge impact on householders, small businesses and motorists, adding to the cost of living by putting up fuel prices. Of course, if fuel prices go up, everything else goes up.

It has turned out that the carbon tax is benefitting those who can afford to buy a new electric car and get the grant, or those who can do a major retrofit in their home. However, low income households, often rural dwellers, are not getting the benefits from the carbon tax that is being collected. I want the Minister of State to take that on board.

We need energy credits, which was recommended by Department officials. There has been a sharp increase in prices but it should only be done in a targeted way. Do not give energy credits to millionaires as was done last year. That was okay. The Government did that before the election and I know why it did so, and members of the Government know as well. Do not do it this year. Do it in a targeted way for low- and middle-income households who are facing another long cold winter.

I want the Minister of State to address the fact the housing aid for older people grant cannot be given to people to replace a gas boiler. I am not sure if it was the Department officials or one of the Ministers who decided this. I have a case of a woman who I will call Sheila. She is 67 years old and a cancer patient. She is living alone and is on non-contributory pension. She has a 20 year-old house. Her gas boiler has stopped working. She cannot get the €3,000 grant from the council to replace it. She cannot get it from the community welfare officer because he says it is the job of the council and she cannot get it from the SEAI because there is a 25-month wait. The rule from the Department says that it cannot be replaced with gas because it is fossil fuel.

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