Louth's Ó Murchú says more than 317,000 in arrears with utility bills
Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has called for a cost-of-living package and a cost-of-disability payment
People are ‘absolutely fed up’ waiting for the government to provide relief from the cost of living but it has not come, Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil.
Speaking on a motion that called on the government to develop and publish a "Fiscal Planning for Economic Certainty Framework”, the Dundalk TD reminded ministers that more than 317,000 people are in arrears with the electricity and energy bills, and a quarter of that number are behind in their gas bills.
He said that every elected representative knows that and are dealing with people ‘who have been in even more difficult circumstances and who never believed they would be’.
Deputy Ó Murchú said that while there were some improvements in public transport, the reality is that the car is the only option for many people, but the cost of fuel is soaring.
And there has been little reduction on the cost of home heating oil. He said: “Those who need home heating oil and kerosene and those who are most vulnerable will need fuel very soon, if they do not already.
“Many were waiting on Government to provide some sort of relief but that relief did not come. That is what we need to see. We need to see those sorts of actions”.
He said there needed to have been stronger powers given to the CRU previously to hold energy companies that profiteer to account.
Deputy Ó Murchú said: “Sinn Féin recently discussed such proposals but we have not seen action from Government. That is why there is a call for energy credits.
“These calls are made on the basis that it is something the Government can do now, despite its failure to take other actions”.
And the difficult part for people is watching the waste in the system. He said: “I refer to the €50 million written off by Irish Rail in relation to its train management system, which is absolutely dead in the water.
“That is before we talk about bike sheds, security huts and the national children's hospital. People are absolutely fed up with this.
“It is necessary to provide a cost-of-living package and a cost-of-disability payment. We need a payment now and we need a properly constructed payment that works into the future and that recognises that the most vulnerable need these supports”.