Government asked to extend energy credit to churches and parish halls

The Government has been asked to extend energy credit supports announced in the budget to all churches and parish halls in Ireland.

Financial supports were announced for households, businesses, sports organisations and voluntary organisations in Budget 2023, but Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly claimed there was “nothing” for community facilities that are not publicly funded or grant-aided. “No room at the inn for them.”

She made the point at the December monthly meeting of Cavan County Council where she asked that letter be sent to Minister for Finance Michael McGrath on the matter.

“Like every business in this country and every private individual, they're facing mounting energy bills. It's particularly maddening in the case of these community facilities that are used as places of refuge by a wide-range of people.”

Many small local groups including scouts, mother and baby clubs and active retirement groups avail of parish facilities for meetings, said Cllr O’Reilly. “These facilities are being used more widely and are in high demand now as many local hotels have closed their doors to the public recently.”

According to the bishops, she continued, church buildings are often also used in winter by the homeless and vulnerable to keep warm and safe.

“With soaring heating costs, the numbers seeking to spend part of their day in such settings can be expected to rise dramatically. The related energy costs are also rising rapidly to the point where it is difficult to see how drastic closures can be avoided.”

Urging the government to give assistance “at least for the worst of the winter months”, Cllr O’Reilly said since her motion had been lodged for discussion, some church halls were given a two-week window in which to apply for energy credit supports.

The application process, stated Cllr O’Reilly, is proving “extremely difficult” and many more were excluded from applying. “It is very mean spirited and exclusionary to target one particular group and should not be happening. Doctors and dentists were added to the list for energy credit supports. I don’t see why churches and parish halls can’t be included as they provide essential services to local communities.”

Her motion was seconded by Sinn Féin’s Paddy McDonald, and supported by Fianna Fáil’s Aiden Fitzpatrick who said he had encountered his own issues with the short-windowed scheme.

Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley agreed, stating that forms were often not simple nor straightforward.

He suggested that departmental staff work within local authorities for a period to learn the pitfalls of accessing and operating schemes.

“It would knock a few corners of them.”