'My gut feeling is we will see a death': Disability groups warn of severe cost of electricity

Carolyn Akintola: 'My biggest fear is that people are going to continue cutting back on heating, and my gut feeling is we will see a death.' Photo: Moya Nolan

The cost of electricity is now so severe for people with disabilities that one advocate has warned someone could suffer serious harm or even die from the crisis.

Disability groups have renewed their call for “immediate” emergency winter payments of €400, saying people cannot wait for a Government pledge of a disability payment from 2027.

Social protection minister Dara Calleary has committed to developing a cost of disability payment for 2027.

This follows numerous findings, including from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), that these costs amount to “52% to 59% of the disposable income of households with disabled members”.

Carolyn Akintola lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and uses a wheelchair, among other challenges.

“My biggest fear is that people are going to continue cutting back on heating, and my gut feeling is we will see a death,” she warned.

“I have that horrible feeling, and the longer this goes on, the more concerned I am. People can’t afford to heat their homes.” 

Damp is a particular worry for people who may already have respiratory illnesses, she added.

“When homes are not insulated well, and people can’t afford to heat them, I can’t help but fear in my mind (there could be a death),” she said.

She took part in a protest in December organised by a coalition of disability groups, including the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI).

Carolyn Akintola at the demonstration by the Disability Coalition Warning outside Leinster House after Budget 26 left Disabled People €1400 worse off. Photo: Gareth Chaney

“Nothing has happened since; it’s been quite disappointing but not really surprising. We’ve been let down before,” she said.

“I think the powers that be hope they can drag it out until the spring and the weather gets better so people stop talking about the struggles we have in winter,” she said.

On Monday, DFI and coalition members urged people to write to TDs again this week about winter payments.

Director of advocacy Emer Begley said there is “an urgency” now.

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“It’s a simple ask, it’s an immediate urgent ask, and it’s on the back of an acknowledgement by the Government that there is a cost of disability,” she said.

People have lost energy credits and one-off payments, leaving “a big gap”, she said.

“People are making choices,” she warned. “Will I power my mobility wheelchair, or will I get a full food shop in this week, or will I turn the heating on for those extra hours?” she said.