Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In 2024, the ESB made €706 million in profit. At the same time the ESB and the Government have failed to put the proper infrastructure in place to prevent the loss of electricity that carried on for weeks in some areas because of Storm Éowyn. While the ESB decides what to do with €706 million in profit, some people are struggling to keep the light and heat on, and to pay their bills in the middle of one of the worst cost-of-living crises in the history of the State.

That is not just me saying it or Sinn Féin saying it. Just this week, the ESRI has said that low-income households had to make high-risk changes to their finances to cope with the cost-of-living crisis. People are taking on more debt. They are using up whatever savings they have. They are cutting back on essentials like food, clothes and energy because they are struggling and running into arrears and borrowing money. While I know some people in my constituency are going to the credit union, others have to go to loan sharks because there is nowhere else they can get money. People are struggling and we are seeing high levels of stress and mental health issues, especially for parents with young children. The pressure on them is unbelievable.

In 2023, Uisce Éireann made €329 million and made hundreds more millions in 2024. At the same time, Uisce Éireann cannot supply safe drinking water in Cork. We have a public health crisis in Cork while at the same time we have a cost-of-living crisis nationally. The Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agenda of privatisation with Uisce Éireann or other aspects has caused huge damage.

The Minister brought forward an amendment here, but he failed to include sporting organisations, voluntary groups and many others which have been affected by the storm but are not being supported. I again ask the Minister to look at those groups.

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