There are local authorities saying they will not do any more tenant in situ purchases without proper guidance issuing from the Government on it.

I ask the Taoiseach about district heating systems and communal heating systems. I have raised them with him before. The Government has said no one should be cut off this winter. Figures I have been given show 20% of tenants on prepay meters with district heating systems have now been cut off. They are without heat and hot water. Regulation in the future is all well and good but there needs to be action from the Government now so people living in freezing conditions can get heat and hot water for the Christmas period. This could be done through one-off energy credits or subsidies to bridge the gap between the commercial cost of gas and residential rates. Will the Government act now to address this so people can get access to heat and hot water for Christmas?

On the prepay situation, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications is working on it and will come forward with proposals. Those involve the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, in particular and there is engagement with the Minister for Social Protection on that.

They would want to get a move on.

What about those with district heating systems?

We will see if we can do something on that as well, although it is a bit more challenging. We are working on it.