Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
16. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection the instructions that have been issued to community welfare officers in relation to people who present to them seeking assistance due to having difficulties in keeping their prepaid gas or electricity meter topped up; the criteria that will be applied to assess claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50714/22]
View answerTo address the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households, the Government, earlier this year, introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports, with a further package of one-off measures worth €2.5 billion in Budget 2023. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which energy credits totalling €600 will credited to each domestic electricity account, including Pay as You Go accounts, in November 2022, January 2023 and March 2023.
I want to be clear that pay-as-you go customers will benefit from these credits. They will be applied to their pay-as-you-go account just as they were earlier this year.
I also understand that a protocol is in place via MABS whereby vulnerable pay-as you go customers will not be disconnected by their supplier if they cannot top-up their pay-as-you-go card.
In response to the on-going cost-of-living pressures, as part of Budget 2023, I secured a social welfare package of €2.1billion, the largest Social Protection package in the history of the state. Some €1.1billion of this package has been targeted to provide a wide range of lump-sum payments in order to help people in the coming months, in addition to a wide range of increases which will come into effect from January 2023.
Post budget analysis from the ESRI shows that the combination of these payments plus the energy credits will serve to compensate low-income households from previous and projected energy price increases.
There may of course be exceptions. Accordingly, Minister Ryan is meeting with the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and with all energy suppliers over the coming weeks on a range of issues, including the importance of customer protection and supports. The position of pay-as-you-go customers will be raised at these meetings and Minister Ryan will be looking for assurances and practical ways in which they can be protected.
Additional guidance was issued in June to the Community Welfare staff of my Department on the administration of additional payments recommending that a flexible approach be taken to meet the income needs of vulnerable individuals and families who find themselves in difficulty meeting the higher costs of fuel and energy. A public information campaign was also initiated to assist those who are experiencing financial difficulty to access help through Additional Needs Payments.
Given the significant level of support provided for in the Budget, I expect that the vast majority of people will not need further support. However, the Additional Needs Payments are available for those who need it.
