Tommy is an elderly gentleman in my constituency. He is in arrears on his electricity bills like 328,000 other people. He is currently really scared because despite being on the vulnerable customer register, and making lump sum payments to try to pay off the bill and get on top of it, he is still receiving letters from his supplier, Electric Ireland, telling him things like his account is now at a critical stage and it will consider his supply for disconnection. This is just not fair. When I rang Electric Ireland on his behalf, I was told to tell him it was fine and it would not disconnect him. He does not know that. The purpose of the letter is to scare him, and it is working. There is a problem with how these entities are engaging with vulnerable people.

On a broader point, there are so many people like Tommy who are not able to get their heads above water, and there needs to be a targeted energy support. These people will never recover from the bills we have seen over the past couple of years.

Is Tommy in receipt of a free fuel allowance?

Yes.

He is. That could be organised. Surely if we take the totality of the fuel allowance and the increases, it is approximately €1,000. I have often thought social protection could connect the fuel allowance to arrears and to the companies to clear arrears, or to go through Money Advice and Budgeting Services, MABS, or some facility to help people like Tommy deal with arrears and get rid of them once and for all. If he is a vulnerable customer, as the Deputy has said, and I have no doubt he is, he will not be cut off. At the same time, we can see where Electric Ireland has to have some balance in terms of how it communicates. I can see what is happening here. At least the Deputy has made the call in relation to Tommy.

There is an issue there too. We are providing additional supports, particularly to lower income groups. Really, it is to deal in a targeted way with arrears and the high cost of fuel and energy for people in that situation.