We have six speakers left and I call an Teachta Murnane O'Connor now, please.

We are actively telling people that if they are having difficulty with their energy bills to seek assistance from their community welfare office. There is a high number of applications for supplementary welfare allowance. Timeframes for the decisions on claims are dependent on the volume of claims presenting and, therefore, more and more people are waiting. These are people who need this support now. The social welfare offices are doing their best but people are finding it hard to get through on the phones to speak to someone. In the meantime the Citizens Information service is not available to help people because of lack of resources. I tabled a parliamentary question last week about funding through the social welfare offices and I am told that there is plenty of such funding there. Can we see some urgency here in increasing resources for the public?

The Minister for Social Protection has increased resources, is increasing and will continue to increase resources in respect of the additional needs payments. I am also anxious to get the timelines improved and we discussed that this morning. The Minister for Social Protection is also anxious that this issue is addressed because of the winter period we are entering. The Deputy may be interested that there have been thousands and thousands of additional applicants, which means that the scheme is responding.