Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

New figures "Extremely worrying" - Curran

Published: 28 August, 2008

Sinn Féin Council Leader on Newry and Mourne Council, Brendan Curran commenting on the reported rise in the number of people seeking help from the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Consumers Councils new findings that 80 % cent of people questioned in a recent study here are worried about their finances

Councillor Curran said

"The latest research by the Consumer Council shows that 80 % cent of people here are worried about their finances , meeting the costs of food and fuel bills, with mortgage repayments topping the stress league .This news also comes on the same day as it emerged that the Society of St Vincent de Paul has seen an increase of 40% in the number of people seeking help from them across Ireland. Both these findings are extremely worrying.

"With the average family paying up to forty pounds extra per week for essentials which include food, heat, electricity and mortgage, we are clearly witnessing the effects of a long term credit crunch unfolding.

In my own constituency on a daily basis I see the effects such price rises are having. Household bills are rising way above any increase in household incomes.

Oil prices have increased by almost 70% in the last year and there we also seen gas price and electricity increases. These massive increases in energy prices will push many vulnerable households further into poverty.

There needs to immediate action to be taken to help consumers this winter alongside the development of long term strategies to tackle the consumer impact of the soaring cost of energy on three fronts: energy costs, household income and energy efficiency

It is essential that we look at what measures can be taken to protect the most vulnerable in our society, to make sure that pensioners, people suffering from long-term illnesses and families with young children are not forced to make decisions between heating and electricity and putting food on the table.