Laois cancer patient refused aid for new gas boiler

A LAOIS pensioner and cancer patient was refused grant aid to replace a gas boiler, according to Laois Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley.

Speaking during a recent Dáil debate, Mr Stanley highlighted the pressure on households across Ireland to stave off mounting energy bills. "The cost of energy is putting huge pressure on households, with over 300,000 now in arrears with electricity bills."

During the debate, Mr Stanley expressed what he believes is the obvious reason for this state of affairs, privatisation of energy providers.

"Well, 25 years ago, it was 96% publicly owned. We had one of the cheapest electricity supplies in the European Union. Now, it is 25% publicly owned and 75% private. We have the third-to-fourth most expensive electricity in Europe. That is the first thing government TDs need to take on board instead of coming in here and complaining about private companies. Of course they are going to do what they do; they are set up to make profit. They are going to get as much as they can out of it," Mr Stanley said.

Doubling down on his criticism of the current government’s approach, Mr Stanley highlighted the government hiking carbon tax twice this past year – once on 1 May 2025 for the national gas carbon tax (NGCT) and on 8 October 2025 with the carbon tax on petrol and diesel increasing from €63.50 to €71. Before returning to the woman whose case he cautioned as a dire fault of current policy, deputy Stanley made a point about the groups he believes the carbon tax hikes were really hitting: "It has turned out that the carbon tax is benefiting most those who can afford to buy a new electric car and get the grant or those who can do a major retrofit in their home. However, low-income households, often rural dwellers, are not getting the benefits from the carbon tax that is being collected. I want the minister to take that on board,'’ said Mr Stanley.

To underscore his criticism, he related the story of one of his own constituents, a woman he calls 'Sheila.' According to him, she is 67 years old, a cancer patient, lives alone and is on a non-contributory pension. Her house is 20 years old and in 2024 her gas boiler stopped working and she cannot replace it, as the €3,000 ‘housing aid for older people grant’ that she is entitled to avail of is not available for those wanting to replace a gas boiler.

"She cannot get it from the community welfare officer because he says it is the job of the council and she cannot get it from the SEAI because there is a 25-month wait. The rule from the department says that it cannot be replaced with gas because it is fossil fuel,’’ said Mr Stanley.

"I am not sure if it was the department officials or one of the ministers who decided this."