Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is very hard for people in counties such as the one I represent, Donegal, to listen to the lecturing of the Minister of State's party leader, the Minister for Transport and the Environment, Climate and Communications, on their responsibilities, considering the failure to deliver alternative renewable sources of energy over such a long time. The microgeneration scheme has been on the agenda for years and years. Deputy Stanley tried to promote it. It is the most basic form of utilising our resources. It is not done. Obviously, we have optimum capacity for offshore wind energy. Wind energy is not dealt with. Green hydrogen is not dealt with. Electricity infrastructure is not available in rural areas. What does the Government do instead? It has the stick ready at all stages. The reality people face right now is a 50% to 60% increase in the cost of fuel over recent months, which is having a horrendous impact on families. The cost of home heating oil has more than doubled, which is also having a horrendous impact. The reality in which we live is such that people in rural communities such as Donegal now have to use solid fuels, unfortunately, to get by. That is having a horrendous impact.

What is the message from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan? Is it to go to the social welfare officer? Christ almighty. "Slow down" was his message recently. The Minister of State needs to talk to his senior Minister and tell him that that is deeply offensive and that people are struggling to get by. Those people have been failed by Government policy and do not take kindly to lectures when the Government has not met its responsibilities to deliver energy security and renewable energy. That is why they are left at the mercy of the profiteering conglomerates we see now. It is because of Government failure for so many years. In the here and now, people need help with this. They need an emergency budget to help them deal with this crisis. I dread what is coming in the winter. I dread the stories I hear about the cost increases on home heating oil, coal, petrol and diesel that may be coming. The Government needs to do something now.

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