'She was forced to spend that money on the electricity bill instead of the headstone'

A recently bereaved widow in the midlands had to use money she had put away for her late husband's headstone to pay her €760 electricity bill, a local TD told the Dail this week.

Criticising the government for “sitting on its hands” when it comes to tackling the cost-of-living crisis, Deputy Sorca Clarke said that she was recently told about an elderly woman in Laois who applied for an additional needs payment to help cover the costs of her “colossal” energy bill.

“Shockingly, she was refused support because she put a small amount away from her pension over the past year to save for a headstone for her late husband's grave.

“She was forced to spend that money on the electricity bill instead of the headstone because of that refusal for help.

“Her husband's anniversary is approaching and she is distraught that she will not have that headstone for his grave on time. Yet, when her family called around to visit last night, they found her sitting in the dark, terrified of switching on the lights, worried sick about what the next bill might be and when these nightmare costs are going to end. This is appalling.

“...A few weeks ago, Sinn Féin brought forward a plan to cut energy costs and cap them, which would have made a real difference to hard-pressed households but the government blocked the plan and failed to offer up any solutions of its own. The government acts like a spectator to the catastrophe unfolding for workers and families the length and breadth of this State. Instead of acting, it has abandoned people who need support now.”

Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said that it had introduced a range of measures to help people cope with the rise in the cost of living, including the one-off €100 additional Child Benefit payment due next month, the three €200 energy credits and a €400 lump sum payment for people receiving the fuel allowance.

He added that when the UK government introduced price caps on energy bills it “tanked the pound”.

“We will not follow the example of Liz Truss or introduce price caps.”

“...I do not doubt the deputy's bona fides at all or her sincerity. I know her to be a hardworking public representative but I can only judge her on her party's policy, which is why I am surprised she mentioned energy because Sinn Féin had gone terribly quiet about it for a while. Usually, the opposition can stand up and say whatever it wants and we never get to see how it plays out in the real world.”