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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Traveller electricity credit issue

Summary

Deputy Harkin raised concerns that Traveller families sharing electricity connections may receive only part of the €200 household credit. The Tánaiste said he was not aware of the details and would ask the relevant Minister to reply directly.

In regard to the electricity credit scheme which will be a big help to many families, we have a situation in Sligo and I expect elsewhere in that a significant number of Traveller families will not receive the full amount payable of €200 per household, if they happen to share their MPRN connection with other families, as many of them do. If they share with three other families each household only gets €50. Sligo County Council responded to say it is not providing funding for families living in halting sites where there is only one MPRN. It simply does not have the money, that is what it said clearly. I am sure the Tánaiste does not want to see a situation where any family, Travellers or otherwise, do not access this money. I ask him to speak to the relevant Minister, whoever it is, to sort this out because it is discriminatory.

Comment on this
Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I thank Deputy Harkin. I am not aware of the details around that issue but I appreciate her raising it in the Chamber. I will figure out who the right Minister is and have him or her come back to the Deputy directly.

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