Stay warm saving scheme
By Kim O'Leary
A Stay Warm Saving Scheme to help people save for their home heating oil or solid fuel is making a real difference and is being further rolled out in County Kildare.
With a minimum order for home heating oil at around €200 a once off payment at that level can cause problems for many families trying to balance their household expenditure.
The Stay Warm Saving Scheme helps families save throughout the year by purchasing saving stamps at €5 each and using these stamps to meet the cost of their home heating oil and solid fuel.
Stay Warm saving stamps are currently widely available from Post Offices, Supervalue, Centra, Mace, Londis, Vincents and other local shops in Clane, Kilcock, Kildare Town, Naas and Staplestown. The scheme will be rolling out in Celbridge and Ballymore Eustace shortly. There are 13 suppliers in the Kildare area accepting the Stay Warm stamps as part or full payment for deliveries.
The Stay Warm Saving Scheme is a pilot scheme initiated by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) and the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (now Department of Communications, Climate Change & Natural resources). It is supported by SEAL and MAB and it is being managed by SVP East Region. In addition to Kildare, it is also being rolled out in Wicklow and will target Dublin next.
Jimmy Scurry Project Manager for the scheme said: “This two-year pilot scheme which began last year stemmed from an initiative of the SVP Conference in Kilcock. It is making a real difference for families and households who really struggle to manage their heating bills. The Stay Warm Saving Scheme is available to anyone who wishes to save in this way, not just those who seek help from SVP."
"Anyone can purchase the €5 stamps and saving card from any local shop where they are available. It may be a traditional way of saving, similar to the TV Licence Stamp saving scheme, but it can be a huge benefit to the many people who do not have banking facilities and therefore cannot pay for their oil or solid fuel by direct debit and those who are reluctant to use online facilities," he added.
Information about the Warm Home scheme can be obtained by calling 01 8550022.