Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has slammed the government after it emerged that a record-breaking 301,379 households are now in energy arrears, the highest number ever recorded in the State.
“This is a damning indictment of a government that has completely failed to get to grips with the cost-of-living crisis,” said Deputy Brady. “More than 300,000 households are now in debt just to keep the lights on and heat their homes. That’s not just a statistic, that’s hundreds of thousands of families up and down the country forced into energy poverty, with no meaningful support in sight”.
Brady said the situation is being made worse by decisions at the very top that benefit big business at the expense of ordinary workers and families.
“The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities is preparing to hike network charges for households, while actually planning reductions for large data centres,” he said. “These are the same data centres that are hoarding our energy, pushing our grid to the limit, and delaying the delivery of new homes because there simply isn’t the electricity capacity”.
The Wicklow TD pointed to the latest price hike from Flogas, which last week increased its rates by 7%, despite massive profits by its parent company, DCC PLC, which reported earnings of €713million this year.
“This is corporate greed, plain and simple,” Brady said. “And it’s happening with the full knowledge of a government that refuses to intervene in any meaningful way.”
The government, he said, continues to “hide behind task forces and steering groups” rather than delivering real solutions.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are recycling the same empty promises. They’ve now launched another so-called ‘taskforce’ to investigate energy prices, just like the ‘steering group’ set up under the last government. These are nothing more than PR exercises to give the illusion of action, while families continue to suffer.”
Brady is calling for immediate and targeted measures in September’s Budget, including the extension of the reduced VAT rate on electricity and gas and the reintroduction of energy credits for struggling households.
“Sinn Féin would take decisive action,” he said. “We would use the upcoming budget to deliver a proper cost-of-living package, including energy credits and extended VAT cuts. We would also reverse the outrageous plan to reduce energy costs for data centres while punishing ordinary families.”
“The time for delay and denial is over. The government must stop protecting profits and start protecting people.”