Danny Healy-Rae: Appeals for Disabled Hit by Rising Energy Bills
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in a parliamentary debate on a Sinn Féin motion, arguing that people with disabilities living alone are disproportionately affected by rising electricity and fuel costs. He urged the minister and the energy regulator to act to reduce bills and restore confidence for vulnerable households.
Focus on people with disabilities
He emphasised that people living alone with disabilities carry the full costs of running a household and often struggle to keep warm - citing personal family experience and the particular difficulty for those who cannot easily leave home.
Criticism of the energy regulator and suppliers
He accused the regulator of not doing its job and criticised different electricity suppliers for inconsistent price changes - saying some companies raised rates while one briefly reduced them, which has created confusion and eroded public confidence.
Heat pumps and social housing
He raised concerns about social housing upgrades carried out by Kerry County Council where heat pumps were installed - reporting that residents received what he described as "exorbitant" electricity bills shortly after renovations and are now in serious financial trouble.
Domestic priorities versus international aid
He contrasted domestic needs with international commitments, referencing a reported 90 billion euro loan linked to Ukraine, and argued that Ireland must prioritise support for its own vulnerable citizens as the cost of living rises.
Appeal to the minister and community support
He appealed directly to the minister to intervene on behalf of people with disabilities, especially those living alone, suggested exchequer support may be available, and noted that organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul are already assisting households in need.
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First of all, I want to thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. It's very important, and we all know that people with a disability are the most needed to be seen after. And I honestly believe that a person living on their own with a disability should be seen after more so than anyone else because they have all the costs of keeping the house and running the house and trying to keep themselves warm. And we all know that since 2020, since the morning was closed down, that the cost of electricity has gone up actually day by day. The regulator is not doing his job. Different DSB companies are putting up the electricity at different rates. We can't understand that. And at one time, as the others were putting it up, one company actually put it down. I can't understand what's going on there. I don't think the government understands, and the regulator needs to be more prominent and more active. I do know what it means to have a disability. My grandfather gave 29 years in a wheelchair, and I remember him as a young fella and how hard it was for him to manage at that time. And I understand that people with a disability are, you know, they have an issue, and it's harder for them to leave than anyone else that's mobile and, you know, that don't have a disability. I often see there, Kerry County Council, they revamp some of the social housing and they put in these heat pumps. And then we have the exorbitant bills that they get for electricity. I don't know what it is, it's supposed to be cost-effective, but it is a fact that they get very exorbitant bills and they're in serious trouble. People believe that their houses were only redone late last year. They have bills already, savage bills. I know that every one of us have different priorities, and we see yesterday evening where Ukraine, Ireland, is contributing to this 90 billion euro loan for to help them with their energy. We must see after our own people at home, first and foremost, and that's why the people in Ireland are our priority. Every day, the cost of living is going up in one way or another, and like I said to you, Minister, where there's one person living on their own, I believe they are struggling, really struggling, and they have to get different payments to try to help them along, and St. Vincent de Paul and different organisations like that. Only for them, some of them, some of them, and we need to do more for our people with disabilities, as I see it, the cost of electricity, the cost of fuel, if they have it now, some of them, and many of them are afraid to even light the fire now. They've been so, you know, they're upset with this worry about climate change, and they're guilty if they light the fire, and many of them don't have the fire to light. And like I said to the social loans that get revamped and put in the heat pumps, those people are getting savage bills. Again, I said to the Minister, you must go after the regulator and ensure and give people confidence. They don't have confidence in what the regulator has been doing or should have been doing, and we need to bring down the cost of the electricity, because I don't believe it is fair the way it has risen day by day, and no check-up or how it is going to be managed or curtailed. The regulator is simply not doing his job. I'm appealing to the Minister, if he can at all, to do something for these people with disabilities, especially those who are living on their own and who find it difficult to survive. I'm appealing to try and do something for these people. The word is that the exchequer funding is up and that taxes are up, so I'm appealing to try and do something for these people that genuinely need a bit of help and are actually waiting for their dependents to ensure that they get something. Thank you, Deputy.
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