Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that those who use pay-as-you-go electricity and gas would not be disconnected if they are unable to fill up their meters.
It comes just days after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar informed the Dáil that for pay-as-you-go consumers, a moratorium on utility disconnections due to non-payment would be impossible to implement.
The Taoiseach said that there were “very strong codes” and that people would not be cut off this winter.
“Well there are very strong codes, people can not be cut off and should not be cut off,” said Martin.
“We don’t want people disconnected, pretty vulnerable people and people who will find difficulty in terms of meeting their bills,” he added, speaking on RTÉ Radio One this afternoon.
“In the middle of an energy crisis of this kind, we cannot have disconnections.”
He stated that the government was working on the issue with both energy suppliers and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), and that consumers may receive further assistance through social welfare.
It comes as Solidarity TD Mick Barry expressed alarm in the Dáil on Thursday that about 10% of electricity users in Ireland, or 200,000 families, use a pay-as-you-go meter.
Varadkar had initially said that the moratorium on disconnections should apply to everyone, but that it would be difficult to work out for pay-as-you-go customers.
“I think it’s difficult to know how you’d apply that to pay-as-you-go customers, because of the nature of how pay-as-you-go works. But the government can help and wants to help in these scenarios,” said Varadkar.
He specifically highlighted the fuel allowance cash payment, the expanded eligibility requirements for the fuel allowance, and the double payment of some social welfare.
Varadkar also said that he would be examining the issue with both Environment Minister Eamon Ryan and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys.
Martin said that the Government was keeping the issue “under review” and that they did not want to see people in difficulty with their bills.
“We do not want to see people in difficulty with their bills. We want people to be warm.
“Anything we have to do in terms of making it more streamlined for people to access supports in that scenario we will do,” said Martin.