We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THE NUMBER OF people seeing assistance for energy poverty has risen significantly in the last year, according to the Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP).
The charity is due to outline the increase in people seeking supports this morning at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection.
SVP is due to tell TDs and Senators that it received 230,000 requests for assistance in 2022, an increase of 20% compared to 2021.
Yesterday, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe told reporters that, even though inflation is falling, the cost of living still remains higher than it was in 2022.
Last week, the CSO reported that the annual rate of inflation had dropped to 6.3% in April, falling from 7% in the 12 months up to March.
He said that falling inflation levels were a cause for recognition “but not one of celebration”.
“Because for lots the cost of buying their groceries, the cost of filling up a tank of diesel is still too high,” Donohoe said.
The charity is due to tell the committee that requests for help in the first quarter of 2023 were significantly above the numbers seen in 2022.
“The first quarter of this year has seen approximately 19% more requests for assistance to SVP overall, and an approximate 50% increase in requests for help with energy when compared to the first quarter of 2022,” SVP will say.
“This year, we are seeing the levels and the concentration of need amongst people in energy poverty increase: people are seeing multiple bill cycles pile up and people are returning to SVP for support.”
The charity is also due to say that despite it coming to the end of the ‘heating season’, fuel will not become more affordable despite a drop in usage.
SVP is expected to tell committee members that people on low incomes have been faced with “impossible situations” over the winter months.
“Put simply, the choice has been between knowing that costs and arrears are spiralling and the next bill will be unpayable, finding money from the food bill to put twice as much in the prepay meter, or people having to cut back and go without the energy they need,” SVP will say.
The Journal previously reported that the high cost of energy was a significant issue for households, with some readers outlining their difficulties in managing bills.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
That,s a huge num. I wonder how many is genuine or those taking advantage. An able bodied guy in local town spends all dole on bar stool and change at betting office next door but has no shame in telling everyone he gets elect paid and x 2 bags cole every month from SVP
@Dan Danny: Coal*
@Dan Danny: Not everyone on the “Dole” is like the guy you describe. Join the SVP and go out and actually see what they do, see where some of these people live. Listen to how they came to be on the poverty line. Listen to how a member of family died from overdose, parent finding a child hanging. It might put a different prospective on your view..
@Dave Barrett: Absolutely I agree but also too feel this figure is very high. Was it not the case a few years ago (I don’t remember the charity, I’d have to find the story) but day the usual daily line fpr the charity might have been 100 people. There was a money handout announced, circa €150 and lo & behold they came out of the woodwork!
There are chancers out there big time and I feel more needs to be done to weed out the bad eggs who are not as badly off as they let on but take whatever is going, it’s just wrong. Going off to find that story now.
@Dave Barrett: well said
@Dave Barrett: Very extreme example but yes point taken. Off course ppl fall on hard times and need additional help. Point been they need it not free loaders out for a quick buck
@Dan Danny: volunteers do their best. It does happen that “free loaders” do get weeded out, but this is down to volunteer experience. It’s not a case of handing out vouchers, proof of income, bills are looked for. Now is your opertunity to become a volunteer, who I might add are very thin on the ground.
Another aspect of volunteering is that the volunteers have now basically have become community welfare officers as this Government in all their wisdom have taken the community welfare officers out of community centres. So they turn to SVP
@Dan Danny: Another poster who knows “a guy” who is abusing the supports. Have you reported him to SVP This sounds like the FG back office at work
Interest rate rises will push more into poverty…
@Gerry Dornan: Not only into poverty but into arrears with their mortgage. Seems like we know this story to well.
@Gerry Dornan: the government has abandoned it’s citizens.
SVP should ask people who seek help if they smoke or drink or take drugs.
SVP should refuse help to these people until they stop wasting their money on these non essentials.
@Roger Bond: SVP never give help that could be used to buy alcohol, fags or drugs. It’s nearly always help with electric and household items. Never ever will they give vouchers that can be used on the above mentioned. Your post is lacking any homework and downright lazy.
@ggg: That’s not true.The vouchers are generic vouchers for supermarkets Tesco, Dunnes. I know people who get these vouchers from SVP and use them for buying alcohol and cigarettes..
So you are naive if you believe this is not happening..
@Roger Bond: You’d wan’t to fact check that Roger. Vouchers can’t be used to purchase Alcohol, Cigarettes, Lottery or Scratchcards. Says it quite clearly…. On the actual voucher…. But don’t let that detract from your narrative bro.
@Roger Bond: I trust you will report the people “you know” who are abusing vouchers to SVP. Let us know how you got on.
And we have Michael Martin criticising the values of China!!! You couldn’t make it up
have your say