Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to go back to the question I asked earlier on large energy users. Given that ordinary consumers and small and medium businesses face an increase of 21% in the price of electricity and data centres are getting reduction, and when we take into account the 29% of families and households experiencing energy poverty, I want to look at the sustainability of this situation. Is Ireland biting off more than it can chew by attracting more data centres? I am a member of the infrastructure and national development plan committee. In my constituency there is DART+ to Kilcock and Celbridge. People are looking for more EV chargers. There is growing regional demand without attracting any more data centres. Do the witnesses think this is sustainable, when we have 29% of households experiencing energy poverty? Their bills are increasing and those of data centres are reducing, and it does not seem right and fair.