TD criticises government over record energy arrears

CARLOW-Kilkenny TD Natasha Newsome Drennan has criticised the government over record energy arrears affecting more than 300,000 households nationwide.

The number of Irish households in energy debt has reached an all-time high of 301,379, according to new figures obtained by Sinn Féin, prompting Carlow-Kilkenny deputy to condemn government inaction on the cost-of-living crisis. The Sinn Féin TD said the record arrears figure, compiled by party MEP Lynn Boylan, highlighted the government’s failure to address spiralling energy costs affecting families across Carlow and beyond.

“New figures obtained by Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan show a record 301,379 households are in energy arrears, the highest number ever recorded,” Ms Newsome Drennan said.

The TD, who represents the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency since her election in 2024, criticised planned network cost increases for households while data centres receive cuts.

“The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is preparing to hike the network costs that you have to pay, but to cut them for data centres,” she said.

Ms Newsome Drennan argued that data centres are “hoarding more and more of the energy we produce, stalling the delivery of badly needed homes and putting our grid under real pressure”.

The criticism comes as energy supplier Flogas increased prices by 7% last week (set to take effect towards the end of August). In February, Flogas CEO publicly stated that he planned to “deliver our strategy to double profit”. 

While Flogas doesn’t report profits directly, its parent company DCC Plc recorded profits of £617.5m (€713m) in the year to March 2025.

“Big energy companies like Flogas are intent on continuing to jack up their energy prices, all while raking in eye-watering profits,” the Carlow TD said.

Ms Newsome Drennan dismissed the government’s energy taskforce as “another talking shop to waste taxpayers’ money”, noting that the previous government had already launched a similar steering group. She called for immediate action in September’s budget, including energy credits and extending reduced VAT on electricity and gas bills until the end of the year.

“This government needs to step up and tackle these issues,” she said. “September’s budget must include energy credits as part of a cost-of-living package to reduce the pressure households are facing.”