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Almost 2 in 5 people cutting back on essential heating and electricity due to cost concerns

37% of people have cut back on essential heating and electricity use.

THE NUMBER OF people struggling financially has doubled since before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new poll. 

Difficulties facing many people in Ireland currently are highlighted in the new poll conducted by Red C on behalf of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP). 

It found the number of people reporting that they are finding it difficult to manage financially has doubled since the start of the pandemic in 2020, rising from 9% to 18% last month. 

37% of people have cut back on essential heating and electricity use and 17% have cut back on other essentials, such as food, the poll found. 

A total of 48% of unemployed people and 47% of single parents have cut back on essential heating and electricity. 

37% of single parents have cut back on other essentials, such as food. 

Almost 40% of people are worried or quite worried about their ability to meet their household energy costs while a quarter are worried about their ability to meet their housing costs (rent or mortgage). 

For renters, the worry is particularly stark with over half worried about their ability to pay their rent. 9% of renters are already behind on their rent and 29% are worried about facing eviction in the next six months. 

“The importance of their research is that it explores the depth of financial worry and concern across every cohort of the population,” Dr Tricia Keilthy, SVP head of social justice and policy, said. 

“However, the data clearly shows that the groups more vulnerable to poverty, including unemployed people, single parents, and renters have found it particularly difficult to manage rising energy costs,” Dr Keilthy said. 

“It is also important to remember that better-off families tended to build up their savings during the pandemic, providing a shock absorber for rising prices, but lower income families have no saving and are already in debt,” she said. 

SVP is recommending the following short-term measures: 

  • Frontload available resources to households on fixed and low incomes through increases in core welfare payments with extra support for families with children including those in receipt of the Working Family Payment.
  • Extend the Fuel Allowance season by four weeks and keep under review.
  • Establish a discretionary fund to support households with extra living expenses and utility debt//costs. This could be facilitated through the CWO service and by relaxing the rules for Exceptional Needs Payments.
  • Establish a rent arrears fund between DSP and DHPLG to prevent a rise in homelessness.
  • Increase the limits for the Housing Assistance Payment and Rent Supplement to end the practice of top-ups.
  • Continue to monitor utility disconnection data and strengthen consumer protection measures to prevent a significant increase in disconnections.

Dr Keilthy said that immediate support must go hand in hand with measures to strengthen the social welfare system such as introducing a living wage. 

The Government is today set to announce its cost of living package, which Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said will have targeted supports, as well as a ‘universal benefit’ for all households. 

Red C interviewed a random sample of 1,036 adults online between 21 and 27 January. Interviewed were conducted with people across the country.

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    Mute Wade Wilson
    Favourite Wade Wilson
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    Feb 10th 2022, 6:56 AM

    These people won’t be spending money in pubs, restaurants, or anywhere else thanks to FFGs policies. This means more businesses will close. We need real policies to fix the housing crisis, rent caps, and real policies to fix the electric crisis like price caps there too. FFG had no problem getting involved increasing the price of drink so they can no longer say they are against interfering in the market.

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    Mute Anthony Hilton
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:31 AM

    @Wade Wilson: have you not realised by now that they don’t care about the people and never have. We have to stop complaining about them screwing us over and just get on with it

    110
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:46 AM

    @Anthony Hilton: A great attitude Anthony! Bend ova boy!!!

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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:47 AM

    @Anthony Hilton: We need to be more proactive then that. We should be out in huge numbers protesting and demanding a general election but Irish people seem to have lost their spirit and just take it all lying down.

    93
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    Mute Jammy Mcgovern
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    Feb 10th 2022, 8:14 AM

    @Declan Doherty: are you organising a protest?

    19
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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Feb 10th 2022, 8:57 AM

    @Jammy Mcgovern: Of course he isn’t Jammy, silly question.

    9
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    Mute John Johnes
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:54 AM

    @Jammy Mcgovern: i hope that he is , something needs to be done , our waffling muppets in the gov need to be reminded that they are working FOR US not the other way around.

    27
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:58 AM

    @Anthony Hilton: And its people of your ilk that helps keep us in this mess.

    8
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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:23 AM

    @Jammy Mcgovern: If I had the means to organise a national protest I would but it’s going to require a political party or a movement to get things going. I was heavily involved in the water protests and spent most of my annual leave days protecting local estates from meter installers and helping to organise local demonstrations against Irish water. I would have no problem giving up my time again but 1 person on their own can’t make it happen. I’m also willing to bet that Justin Gillespie did absolutely nothing about IW, accepted the payments lying down and then happily took his refund that we earned back for him. You’re welcome Justin.

    16
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:29 AM

    @Anthony Hilton: This comment is definitely the Irish electorate in a nutshell: “they’re screwing us but shur what can you do?”

    13
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    Mute Anthony Hilton
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:50 AM

    @David Corrigan: i was pointing out what the government said the other day that we should stop complaining. Absolute cabbage you are for not having the intelligence to understand that

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    Mute Anthony Hilton
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:51 AM

    @Franny Ando: you are a tulip. I was pointing out that the minister said that.

    3
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:55 AM

    Unfortunately none of the suggestions here will help middle income earners that are barely able to manage. They are being forgotten again the ones taxed to the hilt to pay for these benefits they cannot access. There are many double income families, some who commented here yesterday, who are struggling to keep their heads above water. Now the worry of quarter % increase in mortgage rates to look forward to. Majority don’t qualify for WFP, definitely not HAP, do not get fuel allowance or any ahead of any time. When is anyone in Government going to take this cohort into account and give suitable assistance. Instead of what they usually do take take take.

    78
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:57 AM

    @Franny Ando: any benefits at any time don’t know where “ahead of” came from:)

    3
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    Mute Jason Dawson
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:02 AM

    Exactly what Ryan wants, less carbon footprint. Pat on the back.

    71
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:39 AM

    @Jason Dawson: He’s won’t be to worried about his carbon footprint when he jets of on his jolly to New York next month.

    46
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    Mute Jason Dawson
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    Feb 10th 2022, 11:20 AM

    @Franny Ando: exactly Franny.

    11
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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:30 AM

    Except for the elderly and the sick, there is no need for us to have our homes at carribean temperatures all day long. Extra financial help should definitely be given to elderly people and anyone who is ill. Elderly people especially have gone through many harsh times and they deserve to have comfort in their later years.

    56
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    Mute Teresa O'Halloran
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:36 AM

    @Anna Carr: Well said.

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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Feb 10th 2022, 12:26 PM

    @Teresa O’Halloran: thanks :)

    1
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    Mute iohanx
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:26 AM

    Article states 47% of unemployed people … is this for dramatic effect?

    1036 people surveyed, unemployment rate is currently 5.1% in Ireland. Full employment is usually denoted as circa 4% …

    33
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    Mute iohanx
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:27 AM

    @iohanx: (48%)

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Feb 10th 2022, 6:47 AM

    I would be interested to see the wording of the questions.

    33
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    Mute The Bolt
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:50 AM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: I actually took part in that survey, and I have to say the questions were very clear. Multiple choice so every option was available.

    35
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    Mute Roger Bond
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:21 AM

    The best way to reduce energy bills is to insulate your home and use energy efficient devices.
    The next car you buy should be as energy efficient as possible.
    This is only the start of wave of lifestyle changes necessary to hold back climate change.

    28
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    Mute Jason Dawson
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:31 AM

    @Roger Bond: true, but, if the 40% of people in this article can’t afford to heat their homes properly, what realistic chance do they have of achieving your recommendations.

    256
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:47 AM

    @Roger Bond: What like those useless greens recommended people buy diesel cars just as the economy imploded at the time, And people who could not afford new cars got hit with higher motor tax
    Does sleepy eamo think it is OK to charge people more that cannot afford to pay for motor tax in in go.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Feb 10th 2022, 7:50 AM

    @Roger Bond: You do realize that your suggestions cost A LOT of money, right Roger?

    78
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:46 AM

    @Jason Dawson: I’d say its a lot more than 40% of the population that can’t afford it.

    16
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    Mute John Johnes
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:59 AM

    @Roger Bond: if you can afford 30k on insulation of your own house (which will pay out in 15-20 years) and 50k on electric washing machine , then i am happy for you.

    The rest ~70% of the working class would not.

    22
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:31 AM

    @Roger Bond: Yes, but this is basically saying the best way to save money is to have a lot of it to begin with.

    19
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    Mute E.J. Murray
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    Feb 10th 2022, 11:23 AM

    @Roger Bond: — The wonderful people who provide us with electricity have been advising us for years on how to reduce our energy usage. This started with energy saving light bulbs, and then went on to bigger and better energy saving gadgets, The big joke is that, despite following the advice, people’s bills still increased. I can only assume that some bright spark decided to charge people more for using less so they wouldn’t lose out.

    12
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    Mute paddy mulcahy
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    Feb 10th 2022, 11:34 AM

    @Roger Bond: i wholeheartedly agree; but people like myself who are renting in 5th story 1-bed apartments don’t have the authority to order the insulation of a home. My rental agency do nothing for us as it is, let alone enter negotiations with the landlord about installing energy efficient insulation. :/

    9
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    Mute Paul Power
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    Feb 10th 2022, 3:34 PM

    @David Corrigan: just call him 007.

    1
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    Mute SJF
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    Feb 10th 2022, 5:31 PM

    @Roger Bond: yes yes. And the next house I buy should be within walking distance of my workplace. Will reduce my costs even further still! Thank you so much for your insightful and prudent advice.

    2
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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:10 AM

    I am a great advocate of the thermal properties of a good thick vest myself.
    Costs peanuts, works great.

    28
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Feb 10th 2022, 9:41 AM

    @Justin Gillespie: Sleeveless or with sleeves?

    10
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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Feb 10th 2022, 1:24 PM

    @Justin Gillespie: Depends on the time of year David, sleeves during really cold snaps, full Bruce Willis otherwise.

    4
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:16 AM

    I have told the family this! Use only one match to light the candle, each individual has only a half hour to heat them selves from it and then move for the next member. I have taken the light bulbs out of rooms we are not using. Dinner at a set time. Not in time then the trip switch on the cooker is off. Dog no longer gets left overs. Showers limited to twice a week, 10 minutes only each. Anything else I can do to save money???

    16
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    Mute billy bound
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:25 AM

    @Dave Barrett:
    Vote against the self serving people ruining this country?

    19
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    Mute billy bound
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    Feb 10th 2022, 10:23 AM

    As this affects mostly the low paid who are also being screwed with high car road tax on older cars. That should be looked at too.
    Bigger picture etc

    16
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    Mute Mark Howard
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    Feb 10th 2022, 11:44 AM

    There are an awful lot of over-heated houses out there. There’s no need to have bathrooms and halls and unused rooms sweltering day and night, we have the same body temp as our cave-dwelling ancestors and they managed to survive. People have become ridiculously molly-coddled

    18
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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Feb 10th 2022, 1:30 PM

    @Mark Howard: You are a brave man saying that on journal.ie!!!

    5
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    Mute Fifty Shades of Sé
    Favourite Fifty Shades of Sé
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    Feb 10th 2022, 11:26 AM

    This is in the 6th richest country in the world if you believe GDP per capita is an accurate measure of wealth which of course I do not.

    11
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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Feb 10th 2022, 1:32 PM

    @Fifty Shades of Sé: Can you imagine the whining and whining that would be going on here if we were 26th on the list??

    4
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    Mute Fifty Shades of Sé
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    Feb 10th 2022, 2:55 PM

    @Justin Gillespie: According to Wikipedia the 26th richest country per capita is Germany where less than 1% of the population experience fuel poverty so I’d say not that much at all.

    8
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    Mute Larry Rawson
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    Feb 10th 2022, 3:36 PM

    The shameful thing is these corporations don’t even need all this extra money,£64 Billion Tesco for one, So i am declaring A National STAY IN day in protest of rising prices.
    Feb 13 everyone stay in and talk to each other, play music, read,do Diy and dont Give any money to anyone that has put up prices at the end of this Covid Crisis.

    7
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