Three in four people in city worried about meeting bills

BY DENISE McNAMARA

A SURVEY being conducted by the Labour Party has found that 73% of people in Galway are worried about meeting their utility bills.

Preliminary results from the survey show that people even on middle incomes are struggling to pay their living expenses, particularly electricity and heating bills. The poll has been conducted over the last four months but has yet to be completed.

City Councillor Derek Nolan said these findings give further impetus to the national figures which state that 60,000 Irish households live in persistent fuel poverty and a further 160,000 experience intermittent fuel poverty.

This is evidenced by the jump to 2,500 disconnections a month from both gas and electricity across the State.

“I see it myself when I meet people how worried they are about filling up the fuel tank. They are very fearful that the winter coming will be like the winter gone when they were forced to keep the heat on round the clock to prevent the pipes bursting,” Cllr Nolan explained.

“There are no supports out there for people struggling. It is vital there is a response to ensure that people have essential services such as electricity and gas in their homes. Otherwise, there are serious implications for the health and safety of families.”

Figures from the Warm Home Scheme – only open to people on social welfare who are eligible for fuel allowance – show that just 44 homes in Co Galway received grants for a range of works to better insulate their house. This compared to 388 in Donegal and 1,700 in Cork.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.