MORE and more people are seeking help to pay their
energy bills, a new report from charity St Vincent de Paul says. The annual cost of energy bills has risen by €500, according to the charity with gas prices up by a third over the past three years.
In addition, it said that these higher costs have outpaced the €20 weekly fuel allowance paid to social welfare recipients and pensioners.
The St Vincent de Paul fuel assistance was increased threefold between 2008 and 2011.