The Green Party will seek to block the introduction of a fourth €200 electricity credit this summer in crucial talks on a new cost-of-living package for households.
Ahead of a key meeting of Coalition leaders and senior ministers today to discuss a new financial package to offset the effects of inflation, the Greens will argue the rollout of any further universal support to households to offset their energy bills should be delayed until later in the year.
According to www.independent.ie, the party will instead argue the most vulnerable families should be prioritised for support in the coming weeks through the existing social welfare system with measures such as extra fuel allowance payments and increases in the one-family payment likely to feature as part of discussions.
The Greens’ position is that it would make sense for the Coalition to wait until autumn and winter to roll out further universal energy support to households when utility bills are likely to be higher, with a focus on the most vulnerable households in the interim.
Households are set to receive the last of three €200 credits on their electricity bills next month and April.
The €600 of credits were announced in last September’s Budget, but there has been pressure from Fine Gael ministers in recent weeks to consider a further €200 credit in light of indications that the fall in wholesale energy prices will not have an effect on household bills for another 18 months to two years.
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