Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Families have been hit very hard by this latest lockdown. It has been a very difficult year for families across the midlands and throughout the country. Many have lost their jobs and face significant drops in income through no fault of their own. In the case of Laois, Offaly and Kildare, this is actually the fourth lockdown. There are currently 475,000 people on the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, 6,838 of whom are in Laois while 6,707 are in Offaly. The reality behind these figures is that families are struggling to pay bills, to put food on the table and to pay for daily essentials.

The Sinn Féin motion is aimed at providing some relief to these families. Our motion will amend the fuel allowance scheme to provide financial support for heating costs to all families on the pandemic unemployment payment. We are also calling for the double week payment of fuel allowance for two weeks to be paid to existing claimants and recipients of the PUP in February. This is really needed for the reasons that have been outlined this morning. It would mean that people who lost their jobs over the course of the pandemic and who are on the PUP would not be excluded from the fuel allowance scheme.

Households in the midlands must also contend with the cessation of peat harvesting. Many families would have bought turf plots. This is an issue right across Laois and Offaly but the Government has not addressed it. Many families who bought turf plots from Bord na Móna in previous years and who saved turf themselves now have no alternative source of fuel. They do not have any other means and now do not even have that. They must now buy much more costly solid fuel for heating and cooking and this is causing real problems. They also face an increase in the carbon tax for the second year running. This was pushed through by the Minister's Government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.

What we are asking for is very modest. It is interesting that, just a few weeks ago while the Christmas holidays were ongoing and just after, a pay rise of €81,000 on top of a salary of €211,000 was sanctioned for whoever is hired as the new Secretary General in the Department of Health. We need to try to address some of this imbalance. These families need an alternative source of fuel. Families throughout the State need some financial support.

The Minister must also confirm the situation regarding the moratorium on gas and electricity disconnections. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, announced in early January that a new moratorium until 31 January was to be introduced. The Minister must now ensure that moratorium remains in place and will not be discontinued until we are on the far side of the pandemic. Will the Minister revert to me in that regard? It is really important that people have food, heat and shelter. Many people this morning do not have a home. Many do not have heating for their home or enough to eat. People are trying to sustain a difficult juggling act but debts are coming due because some of the banks are not listening with regard to the so-called mortgage break. We are asking the Minister for financial relief to make sure that people can keep warm until we are on the far side of this pandemic.

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