The current cold snap poses significant risks to elderly Galweigans, and the Government must take action, by supporting a new fuel poverty Bill.
This is the view of Sinn Féin Galway West TD, Mairéad Farrell, who was speaking following the launch of a fuel poverty Bill by Sinn Féin Roscommon-Galway TD, Claire Kerrane. Dep Kerrane's Bill extends the Fuel Allowance to PUP recipients, and suspends the requirement of being 15 months on job seekers before being eligible for fuel allowance. It also doubles the allowance for those already on it.
Cutting energy costs
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"Many people cannot meet their heating needs and must turn to charities and money lenders," said Dep Farrell. "I spoke to one carer who works in the City who told me that there are many elderly people who will spend the entire day in just one room in the house because this is all they can afford to heat. There are other situations where people will avoid showering or stay in bed until well into the afternoon, so as to cut down on energy costs."
Dep Farrell said the Government "cannot leave our elderly and those on low incomes out in the cold, literally and metaphorically".
