Age Action has called for the Government to suspend plans to introduce the carbon tax on home heating oil and gas until adequate compensation measures are in place to protect older people who are already struggling to adequately heat their homes.

“Despite the fact that the Government announced in the December Budget that the carbon tax would be extended to household fuels in May and that a compensation mechanism would be made to protect those on low incomes, details of this have not yet been decided,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said. “The carbon tax will lead to a marked increase in the price of essential fuels for families – some of whom are still paying huge bills run up during the ‘Big Freeze’. It is therefore essential that any compensation is paid when the tax comes in, rather than retrospectively.”

From May the carbon tax will be imposed on kerosene, marked gas oil, liquid petroleum gas, fuel oil and natural gas.

When announcing the carbon tax in the December Budget, the Government said a vouched fuel allowance scheme would be introduced for low income families to offset the price increase as a result of the new tax. Social Protection Minister Eamon O Cuiv said yesterday an inter-agency group was working on the issue and he was awaiting their recommendations.

There are an additional 1,500 to 2,000 excess winter deaths in Ireland each year – many of whom are a result of cold-related illnesses. “Many older people are currently struggling to afford to heat their homes to an acceptable level and the Government must not do anything to worsen their plight,” Mr Timmins said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EAMON TIMMINS, HEAD OF ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS, AGE ACTION. 01-4756989 OR 087-9682449.