“Cruel” and “petty” – that’s how one local MEP is describing a new EU law.
Since the 1st of January, county councils are prevented from assisting pensioners with repair or replacement of gas or oil heating systems.
Before then local authorities could do so under the Housing Aid for Older People Grant which was considered an essential fund to help those who may be vulnerable.
But now, under the revised Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, grants cannot now be allocated for heating systems powered by natural gas, oil or coal.
Ireland South representative and Carlow native Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, has strongly criticized the move and told KCLR News it needs to be revisited, noting; “I think this is cruel, I think it is petty, I think it’s high time the Commission rethought this EU Law, I think it has unintended consequences and I think it’s not going to assist our pensioners in any way to replace a gas or an oil heating system because they no longer have the housing aid for older people grant”.
