Sir, - Pat Rabbitte, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (December 27th) seeks to contradict the piece by Fintan O’Toole on fuel poverty (December 20th).
The current Government has introduced two cuts in fuel allowances since coming to power. From September, the smokeless fuel allowance was abolished and the annual allowance of free units was reduced from 2,400 to 1,800. In Budget 2012, the heating period was reduced by six weeks. Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment. Only the poor are entitled to this benefit.
Next year the 100th anniversary of the proposal by Connolly and Larkin that a Labour Party should be founded will occur. It is scarcely credible that a party which claims Connolly as founder should be cutting fuel allowances to the poor. This is all the more so as the Labour Party, just over a year ago when in opposition, introduced a private member’s motion in Dáil Eireann calling on the government to increase fuel allowances. - Yours, etc.