Blow for householders as Minister confirms no more energy credits, despite increases on the way

There was intense scenes in Dáil Éireann today as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe confirmed that energy credits will not be part of the next Budget. 

Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane posed a question of concern to the Minister, as he worries how already struggling families are going to cope without these credits, particularly since it has been confirmed that energy bills are only going to increase over the next five years. 

Along with this, the TD claims that gas bills are already 90% higher today than they were at the start of the crisis, and  electricity bills are also 61% higher meaning on average, people are paying a whopping €1,779 per year for electricity and €1,503 per year for gas.

Mr Cullinane labelled the move as "deeply cynical" to which the Finance Minister assured him that both he and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Deputy Jack Chambers, are exploring other avenues to prevent the impact of the cost of living on households and businesses. 

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The Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe, said, "I cannot stand here in front of the House today and say that the level of payments that we have made available over the last number of years can become the norm. Those payments were made available at a time in which inflation was at 5%, 10% and 15%. They were made available across a world that is very different from today. 

"That level of payment is something that, if we begin to normalise it and say it will be available year after year, of itself runs the risk of creating difficulties for our country and economy in the years ahead."

In response, Mr Cullinane stated, "The Minister has said he cannot take to his feet and say to people with all credibility that he will continue with the supports that were previously put in place. The Minister says this knowing that price increases are on the way. What he has not said is that during the course of the election campaign his party leader was well able to stand up and commit during the course of the campaign to cut electricity prices.

"What are people faced with? They are faced with five more years of increases," The Sinn Féin TD concluded.