Energy guarantee for older people
Deputy Ryan called for reintroducing and indexing an energy guarantee for older persons as part of a broader energy poverty strategy. The Taoiseach said the Government was taking significant measures on energy costs and would consider further proposals.
Can we cut the questions to 30 seconds? There are many Deputies and we will not get through them all if we do not.
Comment on this
Will the Government commit to reintroducing the energy guarantee for older persons, which would provide a minimum quantity of energy for all older persons as part of a comprehensive new national energy poverty strategy? Will it further commit to indexing this to the changing cost of energy in order that older people will always be assured of a minimum quantity of energy to keep their homes warm? The Government's main policy is the fuel allowance payment but two thirds of older persons do not receive it, as the Taoiseach will be aware. From 1968 to 2012, people aged 70 or older were granted up to 2,400 units of electricity per year. Could that be reintroduced, please?