Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We welcome the changes to the TBESS. However, it is difficult for businesses to go through the whole process of applying for it. That is what many business owners are telling me. My colleague, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, spoke about the energy costs for businesses. It is shocking and it has to be tackled by the Government. Wherever I go, whether to a café or a local shop, I am told by business owners that their bills have gone from €1,000, €2,000 or €3,000 last year to €10,000, €11,000, €12,000, €13,000 or €14,000 this year. That is not going to continue. They are not going to continue in business.

I heard a man from west Cork on the radio station C103 recently. He said that he can take the hit this time because he can pay the bills from the profits he made last year but how is he going to pay the next bill? His next electricity bill is going to be more than €13,000. The same situation applies to many members of the public.

Unfortunately, the situation in my own constituency is that more and more places, whether they are in Clonakilty, Drimoleague, Dunmanway or Schull, are closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and are only open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Some are not even open on Thursday because they cannot afford to open the door. There is something wrong somewhere. We have to tackle the energy crisis and the companies have to be taken to task by the Government. We cannot keep trying to provide grant aid or give some bit of money to people like that. The Government must tackle the problem at its source, which is the energy companies. They need to be brought before the Dáil and held accountable by the Dáil and by the Government but that is not happening at this present time.

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