Man on disability allowance welcomes three energy credits worth total of €450

Gavin Bushe (44), who is on disability allowance but would like part-time work, says he is “quite delighted“ with the budget, particularly with a series of one-off payments he is due to get between now and January.

The former childcare worker, living in Jobstown, Dublin, has been out of work for two years following a mental health diagnosis which means he suffers severe fatigue. He will see his weekly allowance go up by €12 to €232 a week from January.

He will get a double payment of this at the €220 rate in December and at the €232 rate in January. In addition he is looking forward to receiving a €300 lump sum in November as he is a fuel-allowance recipient and a one-off €200 as he receives the living alone allowance.

“I am quite delighted because it means I will be able to clear my recycling debt for one thing, which has caused me a lot of stress.” He is €95 in arrears with his bin charges “which is a lot when you’re only getting €220 a week”.

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The cost of energy remains a concern, and he welcomed the three energy credits between now and April worth a total of €450.

“I have to keep the heating down to a minimum. When it gets cold I just put on an extra layer of clothing. It is unfortunate I have to do that.”

He agrees with advocacy groups who had argued for increases of around €25 a week in core weekly welfare rates to keep pace with inflation. “However, this is a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael government and they have a vision of the economy and what it can deliver to marginalised groups. I think in that context we have got a pretty good deal. Perhaps a Sinn Féin-led government would do better.”

Mr Bushe would like to find part-time work, but finds the job market “hard to negotiate”.

“There are very few part-time jobs on offer and with my mental health it would be a fool’s gambit to try to go straight back to full-time work.”