‘It is scandalous’ - Families in Waterford ‘struggling’ with rising energy costs
Two Waterford TDs have addressed the issue after new figures were released
Families in Waterford are “struggling” with rising energy costs, two local TDs have said.
Sinn Féin TDs David Cullinane and Conor McGuinness have spoken on the issue following the release of new figures by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
The figures show that a record 322,298 households across the country are now in arrears on their energy bills.
The Waterford TDs said families across Waterford are continuing to face unaffordable electricity and heating costs.
They added that the Government is withdrawing household supports and providing subsidies and reduced network charges to large businesses and data centres.
Deputy David Cullinane said the figures demonstrated the scale of the cost-of-living pressure still facing households.
Deputy Cullinane said: “More than 322,000 households are now behind on their energy bills, the highest number since available records began.
“This is another stain on the record of this Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government.
“Families in Waterford and across the state are continuing to struggle with high electricity bills, grocery costs, rents and mortgages, yet the Government has withdrawn the energy credit without providing a meaningful alternative.”
He went on to criticise the Government for not taking action on the issue.
“Rather than taking decisive action to reduce bills, the government established another taskforce while the number of households in arrears continued to rise.
“Almost 24,000 more households are behind on their bills than when the government announced its taskforce in June last year.
“There are also almost 22,000 more households in arrears since the government announced the ending of the energy credits in last October’s Budget.
“This is the cliff edge that Sinn Féin warned the government about.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Conor McGuinness said that the Government’s treatment of households stood in stark contrast to the supports being offered to major corporations and data centres.
Deputy McGuinness said: “Households across Waterford are being asked to pay more and more, while large businesses and data centres are being offered subsidies and discounts.
“The Government secured EU approval for a €300 million subsidy for big business. That is equivalent to providing every household in the state with an energy credit of €125.
“At the same time, households face substantial additional costs to fund upgrades to the electricity grid, while data centres benefit from significantly reduced network charges.
“This is completely the wrong set of priorities.”
He continued by outlining the cost of living challenges facing households in Waterford.
“People in Waterford are already struggling to keep up with energy bills. Many families are being forced to cut back on heating, food and other essentials, while the government continues to approve energy-intensive data centres that are placing further pressure on the electricity system.
“It is scandalous that hundreds of thousands of households are in arrears while some of the biggest and most profitable companies receive preferential treatment.
“Enough is enough. Households must be given the same urgency and attention that this government routinely gives to big business.”
Deputy McGuinness concluded by saying that Sinn Féin will continue to demand targeted supports for struggling households in Waterford and elsewhere.