Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has not ruled out the possibility that another energy loan could be repaid later in the year.
Speaking to RTÉ Prime Time, Miriam O’Callaghan told the Taoiseach that people cannot afford to pay their energy bills after reports that a 77-year-old pensioner has been hit with an electricity bill of €1,678, reports The Mirror.
“We have one more energy credit left. What are you going to do for these people after that,” she asked, reports The Mirror.
In response, Taoiseach Varadkar admitted that people are seeing some “eye-watering” bills at the moment.
“The energy credit is there and there will be one more, we have extended the 9% VAT rate until October and we also have the budget measures,” he said, before referencing the rent tax credit and increases to welfare payments,” reports The Mirror.
The head of Fine Gael and the Irish government also referred to the profit tax levied on big energy companies.
Interrupting him, Mary said the inner city would be “cliff edge” for those not on welfare. “Could there be another energy credit, later this year?” she asked, reports The Mirror.
The Taoiseach responded: “Ya that’s a possibility. The way we would fund that would be through the windfall tax on the profits of the energy companies,” reports The Mirror.
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