Time to support households facing energy crisis
Time to support households facing energy crisis - The Labour Party
Labour’s Social Protection Spokesperson Mark Wall TD has called for targeted energy support payments to protect households at risk of energy poverty, following new reports that the number of households in energy arrears has nearly doubled in four years.
Deputy Wall said:
“We are now looking at a situation where nearly twice as many households are in energy arrears compared to four years ago. This is deeply distressing for families, older people and anyone living in a cold or drafty home. The message from these figures is clear. People are struggling. They are already cutting back and still they cannot keep up with rising bills.
“It is shocking that in a country as wealthy as Ireland, thousands of people are at risk of having no safe way to heat their homes. Ireland continues to have some of the highest household electricity prices in the European Union. On top of that, we have yet another round of price hikes coming from most suppliers this winter. This is simply not sustainable for ordinary households who are already stretched to the limit.
“We called for targeted energy payments to be an essential part of Government’s approach, along with a concerted effort to drive down underlying energy prices. Instead of action, we have had talk and delay. Families had hoped for a lifeline from Government in the last budget. The energy credits we saw in previous years, while imperfect, helped people stay just about afloat. The fact that there are no new targeted measures for vulnerable households at the point they need it most is astonishing.
“Labour is calling for targeted energy support payments to 1.2 million households. These supports must be paid for fairly, through a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies and data centres. Households should not be asked to fund excess profits made during a crisis.
“Government must introduce long term action to tackle persistent energy poverty. We need a proper plan to reduce prices, improve energy efficiency and make sure that families are not forced into impossible decisions between heating and eating.”