Kathleen Funchion on heating crisis: demands affordable alternatives
Kathleen Funchion spoke in the chamber about the rising cost of living, focusing on home heating and turf-cutting policy. She criticised the government's shifting stance and urged funding for credible, affordable alternatives for household heating.
Cost of living and childcare survey
The deputy said she was undertaking a cost of childcare survey when many parents reported struggles with the cost of living, particularly rising home heating fuels. She warned that individuals and families are genuinely finding it ‘‘really, really difficult’’ and that personal experiences can be lost in wider debates.
Turf-cutting controversy in Carlow and Kilkenny
Funchion noted that people in the constituency of Carlow and Kilkenny are outraged at the government response and the minister's inconsistent position on turf cutting. She said policy appears to flip between banning and allowing turf cutting only in limited circumstances, leaving constituents unsure of the rules.
Imports criticised amid local restrictions
She highlighted the irony and perceived hypocrisy of imported fuel products coming from Germany, Latvia and other areas while local people are being penalised for burning turf. The deputy used this contrast to question the fairness of current policy choices.
Retrofitting and modern heating systems unaffordable
While welcoming retrofitting and the move to modern systems such as air-to-water, she emphasised that these options are ‘‘totally and utterly unaffordable’’ for many. She warned of huge waiting lists and grants that do not cover basic measures like windows and doors, leaving households unable to switch.
Call for funded, credible alternatives
Funchion concluded that the focus should be on funding and promoting credible alternatives that people can afford. She stressed that people will change if affordable solutions are provided, and criticised constant penalisation as ineffective.
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Thanks very much, Ceann Comhairle, and I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. Recently I was undertaking a cost of childcare survey and parents sharing their experiences and I raised that because I was somewhat taken aback when talking about that topic and how many people responded to talk about in general how much they are struggling with the cost of living and in particular reference the area of trying to meet rising costs of home heating fuels. You know, it is really, really difficult. I know we have had several debates at this stage in this chamber in relation to the increased costs but it genuinely is so difficult for so many families and individuals and sometimes the individuals get lost in that argument as well. So I know maybe a lot of people would not associate the area of turf cutting with the constituency of Carlow and Kilkenny, however just like every other constituency people in this area are just outraged at this stage in relation to the response and the attitude coming from government in particular, and it has been referenced already, but in particular Minister Ryan and it is really difficult to know what exactly is going on. You know, first turf cutting is out, then it is in, but it is only in certain circumstances and it is really difficult to know exactly what the position is. And other colleagues have referenced, but, you know, the irony and hypocrisy really of burghets coming in from Germany and Latvia and other areas when people are being penalised for burning turf. So, really what we need to see is a situation where there is actually credible alternatives and alternatives that people can afford. Nobody is against retrofitting their home or changing to the more modern heating systems that we see in some of the new bills, the air to water. People welcome that, people would love to be able to do that in their homes, but unfortunately it is totally and utterly unaffordable for people. There are huge waiting lists attached already to some of the schemes that are in operation. And the grants just do not go far enough at all for people, even in terms of windows and doors and those basic things that people want to replace. So that is really where the focus needs to be at, not this constant penalisation. That is not going to work. You know, I think Deputy Carthy made the point in relation to people having to drive to work. You know, we really do need to be kind of funding and promoting credible alternatives. But the crucial part is it needs to be affordable for people. People will change, people want to change, but it needs to be affordable. Thank you.
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