Elderly pair, who have chronic illnesses, also turned down for insulation and housing grants
Instead they try to keep their draughty, damp home warm from their own resources. Rose has hypothyroidism and chronic arthritis, which is particularly sensitive to the cold. Brendan has diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and intermittent vertigo.
“We spend about €250 a month on gas and electricity and we’re still freezing,” he says. Rose spends much of her time in bed to keep warm. “I’ve worked all my life, paid my taxes, paid my water charges, pay the property tax. It’s been tough. We don’t ask for much. I’d gladly give back the €9.69 a week. I’d gladly give back €109.69 a week if we could get some help keeping the house warm.”Ms Smith describes as “outrageous” that the department has no idea how many households are in this couple’s position. A department spokeswoman confirmed it was “not possible” to determine how many households were refused fuel allowance.
“How can Government, which is proposing a carbon tax on households, hope to get a handle on fuel poverty when they haven’t got even basic data?” Ms Smith said: “At a time when there is such a clamour about increasing carbon taxes this case shows how deeply flawed the scheme is. The level and extent of fuel poverty is clearly not understood by the department or those advocating increased carbon taxes”.
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