Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor D. McGuinness, has slammed the Government as the number of households in energy arrears reaches a record-breaking 301,379 – the highest level ever recorded. The Waterford TD said the figures reflect a deepening crisis for ordinary families, including here in Waterford, where households of all sizes and types are struggling to cope with soaring bills while the Government cuts costs for corporate data centres.
Teachta McGuinness said:
“Every day I speak with workers, parents, pensioners and students who are under enormous pressure just trying to cover basic energy costs. Many are falling into debt simply to heat their homes or keep the lights on.
“New figures obtained by my Sinn Féin colleague Lynn Boylan MEP show over 301,000 households in energy arrears – the highest ever recorded. That’s not just a number. It represents real households in crisis, including thousands here in Waterford.
“And what is the Government doing? They’re cutting energy network charges for data centres – the same data centres that are hoarding power, driving up demand, and blocking urgently needed housing projects.
“At the same time, energy giants like Flogas are hiking prices yet again – up 7% last week – while boasting about plans to double profits. Their parent company, DCC plc, posted profits of over €700 million this year. Meanwhile, families are going into debt. It’s scandalous.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are talking about a new ‘taskforce’ to look at prices. But we’ve seen this before – the last government launched a ‘steering group’ that delivered nothing. This is more spin, more delay, more wasted public money.
“These aren’t accidents or technicalities. They are political decisions. And this Government is choosing to protect profit over people.
“We need urgent action in Budget 2025. That means scrapping the planned cost cuts for data centres and introducing targeted energy credits for households and small businesses. It also means extending the reduced VAT rate on electricity and gas to the end of the year – as Sinn Féin has consistently called for.
“Sinn Féin would take a different approach – putting workers and families first, and ending the profiteering that’s driving this crisis.”
ENDS
Conor D. McGuinness TD 