Budget 2017 has been a mishmash of half-baked ideas that lack the cohesion to deliver any decisive action on any front.
Once again, the Government have come under fire for failing to address the critical issue of fuel poverty among the elderly.
The fuel allowance was cut from 32 to 26 weeks, and is yet to be restored to its full capacity.
Sinn Feinn have said that ‘the elderly are sitting on libraries to stay warm,’ as the Government have failed to address the needs of such vulnerable sector of society.
According to Sinn Fein, “currently, 28% of households across this State are experiencing fuel poverty.
“We know that Ireland has the highest levels of excess winter mortality in Europe, with an estimated 2,800 excess deaths every winter.
“Yet, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed to address this in Budget 2017.
“The reality on the ground is that older people are sitting in public libraries, they are travelling on public transport and they are going to bed early just to stay warm. This is absolutely unacceptable.”