Donegal TD claims local households need help
RECORD numbers of households across the county are struggling to pay their energy bills and are already facing winter fuel poverty, it has been warned.
The Economic and Social Research Institute has claimed that energy bills are higher in rural areas like parts of Donegal.
And comparison website bonkers.ie consumer expert Daragh Cassidy warned that energy bills are only going to get dearer.
It follows shock new figures that show an unprecedented 500,000 families are struggling to pay their electricity and gas costs, which are amongst the most expensive in Europe.
Data from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) revealed the depth of debt and home arrears – and Donegal deputy Pearse Doherty claimed customers have reached “crisis point”.
He branded it “shocking” that 319,000 families cannot pay their electricity bills and 183,000 cannot afford their gas bills, according to the CRU.
The Donegal News has asked the CRU for Donegal-specific figures of families and households that need with their arrears.
Dail TD Doherty also warned that many families fear there is “no end in sight” and said: “These are shocking figures in this day and age that we have half a million domestic electricity and gas accounts of families who can’t pay their bills.
“This is increasing month on month and they amount of money that they cannot pay is also increasing.
“We need energy supports right now for families who are trying to raise their children,” he told RTE.
Electric Ireland, which is the country’s biggest residential electricity provider, last month announced a rise in energy prices from the start of next month.
There will be an eight per cent jump in electricity and a 7.7 per cent rise for gas customers.
Other providers, including Yuno energy and PrepayPower, also last month announced price rises.
Donegal TD Pearse Doherty in Dail about energy bills.
Deputy Doherty, who is his party Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on finance, raised the price increases in the Dail during Leaders’ Questions.
He said: “At a time when many families are already trying to keep pace with rising costs, energy bills are set to rise again.
“Last week, the biggest energy supplier, Electric Ireland, announced sharp increases
“Families have cut back where they can. They have adjusted their own budgets and absorbed increase after increase. But many feel there is no end in sight.”
He added: “For the first time ever, there are more than half a million household energy accounts in arrears.
“And families are facing prices going up yet again. Timely action now, including energy credits, would ease the pressure on workers, families and pensioners who are already struggling to keep up.”