Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I am very happy to have an opportunity to speak in this Private Members' debate.

I, too, am very concerned at the reports of high levels of disconnection of electricity. I saw a figure of 2,500 disconnections and many of them would be in rural areas. I have made a case for many people who have come to me on this issue and I hope that there will be some improvement in the situation. I appeal to the ESB to engage in more discussion with those who have difficulties paying their electricity bills. I have seen figures for gas disconnections at the rate of 20 disconnections a day. Those disconnections probably are mostly in the city areas.

In tonight's short debate, I want to look for more investment in energy infrastructure because there has been under investment in that area for a number of years. I was heartened when I saw funding provided for the Tuam water and sewerage scheme over a year ago that at least we were putting in gas mains and pipes along with the work that was done in the town. In fact, the gas pipes went in with telephone lines and broadband. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, played a pivotal role in ensuring that happened. It would not have happened without his intervention. That is an important point on infrastructure.

I am glad that there has been a fall in electricity prices in recent years and there have been falling gas prices. I understand our prices are close to the EU average which is a positive development, but I would like more competition and more reductions in electricity prices.

On the question of the PSO levy which Deputy Ring mentioned, the Government has decided to cover the full cost of the levy for households in receipt of the free electricity allowance and, obviously, that is something I very much welcome. The energy efficiency programmes are also very important. I would hope that we will get the funding for renewable energy. There is a great deal of talk about it but I would like to see more action on it. Indeed, we in the west all know the great potential for wind power.

There have been many references to those who are most at risk of fuel poverty or energy poverty. I am certainly one who will be pushing very much for an increase in the fuel allowance. Last year there was a particularly bad winter and we needed funding for that scheme. There are now 340,000 recipients of the fuel allowance and €231 million was provided in the period 2009-2010. Those schemes, both the fuel allowance and the smokeless fuel scheme, were very important to them. The household benefit package, which has been improved in recent years, is a good scheme. There are 380,000 people in receipt of that package and the costs involved are approximately €200 million for this year.

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