Mountmellick Town Cllr. Stephen Lynch
Once again our Mountmellick Sinn Féin Cllr. Stephen Lynch has been successful in getting the following motion passed.
Town Council Motion:
Speaking to residents in the town it is clear that people can no longer afford heating oil and are turning to solid fuel to heat their homes.
- I ask this council to write to the Minister for the Environment requesting that the extra tax on carbon fuels be suspended.
- I also ask that this motion be circulated to all Town Councils and County Councils within the State.
1 - People from all walks of life are finding it impossible to pay the new taxes that are being imposed and another tax on fuel will add further stress to families.
2 - Fuel poverty has important direct and indirect effects on the health of our children, the elderly and vulnerable in our town especially as the heating allowance has been reduced.
3 - Age Action reported that Ireland has an excess winter death rate of between 1,500 and 2,000 people each year. These are mainly older people who die of cold-related illnesses because they cannot afford to heat their homes properly.
Sinn Fein, serving the community. Fuel poverty is at crisis point for many families.
ReplyDeletethis is fantastic i just hope those who will never see themselves without heat have the heart to keep the weak and defenseless warm.
ReplyDeleteThe effects of living in a cold home :
ReplyDeleteSome existing health conditions can be affected badly by cold and others can be brought on as a result of prolonged exposure to the cold. Respiratory disorders can be worsened by prolonged exposure to low indoor temperatures and people living in cold homes have an increased tendency to suffer colds, flu, bronchitis and pneumonia.
At temperatures below 12°C, blood tends to thicken, leading to an increase in blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack and stroke as the heart works harder to pump blood round the body. Hypothermia is caused by longer-term exposure to the cold (though longer-term may only be a matter of a couple of hours). The chronically sick, disabled and those with lower mobility levels are particularly at risk from hypothermia.
In addition cold conditions in a home can contribute to condensation dampness and mould growth. This has a detrimental effect on some allergies. Mould spores and dust mites in the air can cause allergic reactions, which in turn can cause problems for people with respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
*After two days there is a sudden rise in heart attacks, by up to a third;
*After five days there is a big rise in the number of strokes;
*And twelve days into a cold spell there is a rise in respiratory illnesses.