Call for 30% rise in allowance as bills soar

CAMPAIGNERS for lone-parent families want to see 30% increases in fuel allowances following whopping hikes in gas and electricity bills.

From next month Bord Gáis bills go up by 33.8% and electricity is increasing 19.7% from January, adding 37 a month to household bills.

The One Family campaign group for lone parents wants to see fuel allowances hiked by €4.20 a week to help single-parent families meet the inflation-busting hikes.

Candy Murphy, from One Family, said: “With fuel bills going up, the current allowance of €14 a week is totally inadequate.

“Lone-parent families have higher poverty rates and are much more likely to have acute problems in affording fuel bills.”

Central Statistics Office figures show 23% of lone parent families had to go without heating in the last year compared to 4% of two-parent households.

The charity’s pre-Budget submission to Finance Minister Brian Cowen also calls for the child dependant allowance to be increased from €14.40 to €40.

Ms Murphy said: “It’s been at that rate for 10 years and increasing it would show the Government was serious about tackling child poverty.”

The campaigners also want to see a minimum 20% hike in the back-to-school allowances of €120 for primary school youngsters and €190 for secondary pupils.