Donegal TD Pearse Doherty has called on the government to “get a grip” on the cost-of-living crisis.
Inflation has hit 5.1 percent, with energy prices rising by 25 percent and the cost of home heating oil up by 71 percent.
Teachta Doherty, who is the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, has said that households in Donegal are hardest hit with consumers here reliant on home heating oil and electricity to heat their homes – with no natural gas connection available in the county.
Speaking during Leader’s Questions in the Dáil on Thursday, Teachta Doherty told Tánaiste Leo Varadkar that workers and families need a helping hand, and they need it now.
Speaking in the Dáil, Teachta Doherty said: “Winter is here, with low and middle-income households facing energy price hikes in the months ahead.
“In the past twelve months, the price of electricity has shot up by 21 percent, the price of gas by 26 percent, and the cost of home heating oil by a staggering 71 percent.
“Since the beginning of the year energy suppliers have announced more than 35 price increases.
“These price hikes could increase annual household energy bills by as much as €1,300 euros.
“Workers and families need a helping hand and they need it now, Tánaiste.”
Dohety pointed to government supports being issued to shield households across Europe.
“In Spain, VAT on electricity bills was slashed by 11 percent. While in Italy, the Government launched a package of €3.4 billion euros to protect households from rising energy prices to the end of the year. And have allocated another €2.8 billion euros next year to protect households.”
Doherty said that a financial package of a similar scale in this State would amount to more than €750 million.
“But this Government has done nothing, and we in Sinn Féin are calling on you to wake up,” Deputy Doherty said.
“We have repeatedly called on you Government to stretch every sinew to provide real and immediate relief to low and middle-income households who will struggle when they receive their electricity and heating bills in the coming months.
He called for the eligibility criteria for the Fuel Allowance to be widened and for discount schemes for households, where the electricity or gas provider applies a discount to the household’s energy bill, with the value of these discounts then reimbursed to the provider by the State.
“A similar scheme could be rolled out for low and middle-income households this winter to provide immediate financial relief on their electricity and home heating bills,” he said.
He asked the government to commit to exploring the options.
“Tánaiste, we are asking you to wake up and act.
“We are asking you to commit to considering these proposals and reporting back to the Dáil as soon as possible.
“Other European states have rolled out measures at speed and at scale to support workers and families through this energy crisis.
“Tánaiste, tax revenues for this year are €5.4 billion euros ahead of target this year.
“We can afford to support low and middle-income families this winter, and we are asking you to act.
“We need a financial package to support low and middle-income households in the face of rising energy costs, and we need it now.”