Energy credit for mobile homes
Deputy O'Dowd said vulnerable people in mobile homes were excluded from the €600 energy credit because bills are not in their names. The Tánaiste agreed they should benefit and said Ministers were working on a solution through energy bills or social welfare.
I raise for the third time on Questions on Policy and Legislation the plight of some very vulnerable citizens, many of whom are elderly and in poor health, living in fuel poverty and in mobile homes, which are the most inefficient homes for energy in the country. They cannot benefit from the €600 energy credit because they do not have an ESB meter registered in their name. They get their electricity from the supply park operator. I have raised this issue with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who promised to get back to me. I raised it with the Taoiseach, who promised to get on to the Minister, and I raise it now with the Tánaiste, because it is unacceptable these people, who need the benefit of heat and energy the most, face an uncertain winter.
Comment on this
I very much agree that if a person’s mobile home is his or her principal residence, he or she should benefit from the €600 credit. I think a solution has been worked out on Traveller accommodation, although I am not sure how that works. I know both Ministers, Deputies Humphreys and Ryan, are trying to work out a solution through energy bills or the social welfare system. I agree we need to sort this out. The intention was that every household would receive €600 in energy credits. A family or a person living in a mobile home, which is their principal primary residence, are a household. We have to find a way to fix this. I appreciate the Deputy's frustration in raising this issue three times. We will find a way.