Town councillor Aengus O’Rourke this week expressed concern for the households around the county who have been hit with news of significant hikes in the cost of fuel, insurance, utilities, and impending water and household charges.
Cllr O’Rourke commented, “The recent news that the Energy Regulator has approved a 22 per cent increase in Bord Gais prices is of huge concern to thousands of families and individuals around the country who are already struggling to pay their bills.
“It follows the announcement earlier this month that the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has decided to implement significant cuts in fuel allowances for the most vulnerable. She has refused to continue the negotiations started by her predecessor Éamon Ó Cuív to seek discounts from service providers to offset the allowance cuts.
“All of this bad news of soaring utility bills comes on top of the flat rate household charge facing homes nationwide from January. This Government has decided not to pass on any of the savings achieved through the interest rate cut on our bail out deal to struggling households. Additionally, the Government failed to raise the issue of the household charge in any of its negotiations with our international partners.
“The broken promises are coming thick and fast from this Government. Labour have quickly forgotten their campaign just last year to provide greater support to people at risk of fuel poverty. Fine Gael have forgotten their mantra of ‘no more taxes’ and their solemn election promise not to introduce a flat-rate residential property tax, but to increase the second home tax instead. Budget 2012 is only a few short months away, going on current form we can expect many more U-turns from Government and more pain for the people.”
