Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that the Government's aim is to give people on pay-as-you-go energy meters the same protection against being cut off as customers on bill pay schemes.
At the moment, householders who are on pre-paid methods to meet their energy bills have an option of €20 in "emergency credit" if their existing credit runs out and reports suggest that this will be increased to €100, to prevent people being cut off.
Asked this evening about this suggestion, Mr Varadkar said he could not comment on the specifics, but said that the Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has met with energy companies in recent days.
"Our objective is to give people who have pay-as-you-go meters the same protection as people who are on billpay," the Tánaiste said.
"That is not straightforward because of the nature in how they pay, it’s a self-disconnection system, but we want to make sure they have the protections that they need."
He pointed out that the €600 energy credit announced in the Budget will go to such customers as well as to bill pay customers, as well as the other relief measures announced last month.
"The projection from the ESRI is that the 30% least well off in our society, many of whom would have pay-by-meter, will be fully protected as a result of the budget," Mr Varadkar said.
Asked about his views on an eviction ban for the winter, he said he has not yet seen any proposal from the Minister for Housing to introduce such a scheme.
"I understand he’s in conversation with the attorney-general as to whether it could be legally achieved and what the conditions could be, so before I see any proposal from the minister I really can’t comment on it at this stage."
Possible help with energy costs for professionals
The Government is discussing helping thousands of professionals such as lawyers, accountants and doctors with their electricity and gas bills because they have been excluded from an energy support scheme, Mr Varadkar said today.
In the Budget last month, the Government announced Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme would pay up 40% of the increase in energy bills up to €10,000 per month.
The scheme was a major boost to firms facing rising charges and will cost the State €1.25 billion.
However, only companies classified as Case 1 by the Revenue Commissioners had qualified for the aid.
Professional firms such as engineers, opticians, dentists, architects and doctors were excluded as they are categorised as Case 2 for tax purposes.
However, speaking in Wexford today Minister Varadkar said "I want to acknowledge doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and other professionals are small business people. They pay rates, they have employees, they pay taxes and of course the face increased energy bills."
"I was discussing this with the Minister for Finance today. I can't make any definite promises at the moment. But we are seeing if there is some way of including them in a scheme or doing something to help them with their energy bills," he added.
With additional reporting by David Murphy
