From a cold shower to a cold bed: TD cites couple with no heating as they live on €8 a day

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty told the Dáil he spoke to a couple who ran out of heating oil because they had 'just €8 a day to live on'

During a Dáil debate on the cost of home heating oil, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said he had spoken to people who are struggling to make ends meet. Stock picture: Stuart Boulton/Alamy

People are “getting out of cold showers and into cold beds”, rationing home heating oil, and living on as little as €8 a day, the Dáil has heard.

During a debate on the cost of home heating oil, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty argued that people are struggling to make ends meet as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

The Dáil debated a Sinn Féin private members’ motion on home heating oil costs, which called on the “Government to immediately remove all carbon tax from home heating oil, delivering a meaningful reduction in costs for the approximately 700,000 households dependent on it”.

Mr Doherty argued that as “winter approaches, workers and families are wondering how they will keep their homes warm”, and the “Government’s response is a token gesture that bears no relation to the bills landing on their kitchen tables”.

“A person from West Limerick contacted me to say they work full-time and take on extra work at weekends,” he told the Dáil.

“Yet they cannot afford to turn on the oil to heat their water. They described taking cold showers before getting into a cold bed. 

Working all week, working at weekends, and still unable to afford basic comfort in their own home.

“What is your answer to that person? They are already doing everything they can. When will you take responsibility for doing what you can?”

Mr Doherty told of another couple who ran out of heating oil because they had “just €8 a day to live on”, refilling the tank was “out of the question”.

He said they can only afford to use an electric heater for half an hour a day before bed.

He argued people had received a “pathetic €43 reduction” on 1,000L of home heating oil as part of the Government’s decision to halt carbon tax increases as part of Budget 2027.

Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell told the Dáil that people had expected relief in last week’s budget but had gotten “faic” [nothing].

Fianna Fáil junior minister Robert Troy argued that the Government “understands the pressure families are facing”.

“These pressures are being driven by circumstances far beyond the Government's control, with households across Europe and beyond facing similar challenges.

“The most effective way to bring about an end to current pressures on fuel prices is through a de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.”

Mr Troy argued that measures had been taken in Budget 2027 to address the cost of living and energy crises, including increases to tax bands and credits, an expansion of the fuel allowance, the extension of excise reductions on petrol and diesel, and retrofitting measures.

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy told the Dáil that Mr Troy’s speech showed a Government that was “completely detached from the realities that people are going through”.

Rory Hearne of the Social Democrats said that one of his constituents had received a quote of over €1,000 for 600 litres of home heating oil.

Labour TD Ged Nash noted that the cost of a fill of oil has increased by over €700 in the space of a year, adding that many people are seeing their bills increase between the time they order the oil and the time it is delivered.

• Louise Burne, Political Correspondent