Léiríonn na figiúirí is déanaí ón CRU pictiúr thar a bheith gruama den bhrú atá ar theaghlaigh ar fud an Stáit. Don chéad uair riamh anois, tá níos mó ná 500,000 cuntas fuinnimh teaghlaigh i riaráistí. Níl na teaghlaigh a dhéanann iad féin a dhícheangal mar nach bhfuil siad ábalta íoc as méadar íoc-mar-a-úsáidtear san áireamh sna figiúirí sin. I gcás go leor seandaoine, iad siúd atá ina gcónaí leo féin agus teaghlaigh le páistí óga, bíonn iarmhairtí tubaisteacha acu maidir le sláinte, ar fholláine agus ar chaighdeán na beatha. Agus líon mór teaghlaigh ag streachailt chun íoc as bunriaráistí fuinnimh, tá méaduithe eile fógartha anois ag na comhlachtaí fuinnimh. Cad é go díreach atá an Rialtas chun a dhéanamh faoi seo? Cad é an freagra atá ag an Rialtas do na céadta míle teaghlaigh atá ag tabhairt aghaidh ar chostais fhuinnimh atá ag ardú agus an brú atá ar chúrsaí airgeadais?
The latest figures from the energy regulator paint a deeply concerning picture of the pressures that are facing families across this State. For the first time ever there are over 500,000 families with energy accounts in arrears. These figures show there are more 319,000 families who cannot pay their electricity bills and 183,000 families who cannot pay their gas bills. These figures only tell part of the story. They do not include households who silently disconnect because they cannot afford to top up a pay-as-you-go meter. For those living alone and families with young children these choices have real consequences for health, well-being and quality of life.
While record numbers of households are not able to pay for their basic energy needs we see energy companies have once again announced they are going to hike up energy costs. At at 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 in this State, Electric Ireland, announced sharp increases but there was not a peep out of those in Cabinet or Government. The Minister, Deputy Burke, points to economic growth and his Government points to record tax revenues and budget surpluses running into billions of euro. None of these things can reduce the bills that are landing on the kitchen tables each month and none of these things change the reality facing hundreds of thousands of families who are struggling with the cost of essential services. People are exhausted after years of rising costs. They have cut back where they can. They have adjusted their budgets and absorbed increase after increase but many feel there is no end in sight.
The most frustrating thing is this is all happening at a time when there are unprecedented financial resources at the Government's disposal. The Minister's Government claims to understand the pressures people are under but the regulator's figures tell a very different story. They show financial pressures remain severe for many households despite repeated assurances that conditions are improving. For the first time ever there are more than 500,000 households across this State in energy arrears and families are facing prices going up yet again. The Government still has an opportunity to act before the latest price increases take effect. Timely action now, including energy credits, would ease the pressure on workers, families and pensioners who are already struggling to keep up. Will the Government act now? Will it listen? Will it provide energy credits as an immediate solution for people who are really struggling? What is the Government's answer to the hundreds of thousands of families who are facing mounting energy costs and financial strain?
