Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Households up and down the country are facing massive electricity bills this winter. October's bill will land shortly and households are already worried sick at the thought of it. We already know that people are struggling to pay their bills following never-ending hikes over the past 18 months. The facts speak for themselves. There were 715 domestic electricity disconnections in the first half of this year and that was before many of those hikes kicked in. We also know that 125,000 households are in arrears, and that figure is only going to get worse.

The Government's refusal to reduce and cap electricity prices at pre-crisis levels is a big mistake. It will leave hard-pressed families and households wide open to further increases and the possibility of disconnection. As families face into a long winter they worry that they will not be able to afford to keep the lights on. I must tell the Minister that what is being put in place to prevent disconnections is not good enough. The plan to introduce a ban on disconnections from December to February falls far short of what is needed. People cannot wait until December. They need protection from disconnections right now. What is needed is an immediate ban on disconnections now and to run that ban right through to the end of March for every household in the State.

We turn to the 346,000 households that use prepay electricity meters. Despite the Taoiseach's commitment that nobody will be disconnected this winter, we have still not seen any real plan from the Government to protect these households. We know that once the €20 emergency credit runs out, prepay customers are disconnected by default. The Taoiseach said yesterday that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is looking at waiving the fees for vulnerable customers to change to bill pay but that is only for medically vulnerable customers and not for those in financial hardship. The fees to switch to bill pay should be waived for all customers.

Households that cannot afford to pay need more than being told to seek help from social welfare or the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS. They need a specific solution as we come into the winter period and there are such solutions that can be brought about if the Government will is there to make it happen. As the Minister knows, many suppliers can extend an additional credit, sometimes called a friendly credit, at weekends and public holidays to prevent disconnections. This already exists. To protect prepay customers, this friendly credit should be extended to a 24-7 basis for the duration of the ban on disconnections. This is an unprecedented crisis for households and the Government has a responsibility to ensure that all households are protected from disconnection. There can be no exclusions in this.

We have asked the Taoiseach and Tánaiste what the plan is and today I am asking the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to do two specific things that can provide protection and certainty to households. Will the Government introduce the ban on disconnections for all customers from now until the end of March? Will the Minister guarantee that those using prepaid electricity meters are included by extending that friendly credit for the duration of the ban on disconnections?

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am conscious that funerals are taking place again for three of the victims of last Friday's terrible tragedy in Creeslough. I want to convey my personal and deepest sympathies to all of those who have been bereaved and to the wider community. I know the funeral of James O’Flaherty is taking place at this moment and this afternoon funeral mass will be held for Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising the issue of the cost of living and, in particular, the issue of the vital continuation of electricity supply for households all over Ireland. I acknowledge that a lot of people are worried because the level of inflation is at a 40-year high. We have had a raft of utility bill increases announced, which in many instances have only kicked in during recent weeks, and this coincides with a time when people will be using more energy when the days are shorter and the nights are getting colder.

That is why the Government has responded in what we believe is a very fair and genuine way in the context of the overall budget package of €11 billion we announced two weeks ago. Individuals in apartments and houses all over the country want to know what it means for them. Talking about billions is of little comfort when you are worried about the next bill. The Government completely understands this. That is why, yesterday, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, and I put flesh on the bones by laying out the specific payment dates for a range of payments through the social protection system that amount to some €1.2 billion. Those payments, which will start next week and which will conclude in early December, are for people who are among the most vulnerable, including older people, those living alone, carers, people on disability allowance and invalidity payments, and working family payment recipients, who are low-income working families.

We are going much further than all of that in the budget, with increases in core weekly rates that will kick in on 1 January and an expansion of eligibility for the fuel allowance for 80,000-plus pensioners and others on low levels of income. In addition, there are the three €200 electricity credits, the rental tax credit this year and next, a significant income tax package that will benefit hundreds of thousands of workers all over Ireland, a once-off reduction in the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, fee and improvements in maintenance grants, a reduction in childcare fees that will commence next year, free schoolbooks at primary level, the extension of GP visit cards to hundreds of thousands of people, the elimination of hospital charges, the extension of reduced public transport fares and so on. That is just to give an overview of the range of measures we are funding within the overall package.

The Deputy raised a specific issue that is of concern to many people. As she knows, the one-month pause in disconnections generally for non-payment has been extended to three months. She is correct that for vulnerable customers, the pause in disconnections for non-payment has been extended to six months. As the Taoiseach said yesterday, work is being progressed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to waive the fee to enable people to switch from pay-as-you-go payments to bill pay in order to allow people to avail of the protections that are available for vulnerable customers. In addition, the CRU has directed that all customers with a financial hardship meter, that is, pay-as-you-go customers, must be placed on the cheapest tariff available from their supplier from 1 December. Individual utility companies all have specific hardship funds that are available as well. A change has also been made to allow for a reduced payment for legacy debt reduction, allowing people to pay for new supply and for energy that continues to be provided. Of course, we will continue to fund the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, and our Intreo offices through the exceptional needs payment. I will respond further presently.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Before we proceed, I ask Deputies to take a second to check their phones are set to silent. I just got a bad feeling about my own phone.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Just like the Taoiseach yesterday, when we raised the need for a ban on evictions to keep people in their homes, the Minister spent most of his response reiterating what was in the budget. Some of what is in the budget, particularly for those on fixed incomes and who rely on social welfare, is welcome. However, we are talking about householders who face disconnection. A total of 715 households have already been disconnected in the first part of this year alone, before we get to the winter period. We do not have certainty as to the timeline for the electricity credits.

Of course, we would have taken different steps and made different decisions in order to provide certainty to households. The vast majority of people and households do not receive the fuel allowance. They are being left extremely vulnerable because they do not have supports in regard to energy prices, which are increasing, and they do not have as easy access as the Government contends they do to the additional needs payment, in respect of which it is taking between five and eight weeks for a decision to be made. If you have a utility bill, you cannot wait two months for a decision on emergency financial assistance. I am speaking specifically about a ban on disconnections for householders who are on prepaid meters, of whom there are 346,000. They will take no comfort from the Minister's response.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The reality is seen when we look at this in the round. Bill pay customers have that three-month period in which there cannot be a disconnection for non-payment. For vulnerable customers, that has been increased to six months. I have outlined a whole series of interventions that have been made to assist pay-as-you-go customers. We acknowledge they are in a different and more vulnerable situation because, in the absence of anything else happening, if their credit is gone, then the power, in essence, will stop. There should be no reason to do with financial hardship that anyone loses power supply this winter. We have to look at this in the round, including all the interventions we are making and all the cash supports that are being made available to the most vulnerable all over Ireland, in addition to the strengthening of protections being introduced as a result of the work the regulator is doing. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, continues to engage with the regulator. We certainly do not want to see any vulnerable household lose its electricity supply this winter. We do not believe that should happen and we believe sufficient supports have been put in place to prevent it from occurring.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The fallout from the controversy engulfing An Bord Pleanála continues to wreak havoc in the planning system. Yesterday, planning permission for 1,400 housing units was quashed in the High Court after An Bord Pleanála conceded three cases that were linked to its former deputy chairman, Paul Hyde. Those challenging the developments raised the issue of objective bias in the board's decision-making process. The board's legal advice was that it could not defend those challenges.

I want to say clearly that Mr. Hyde is facing a criminal prosecution following a Garda investigation into his conduct at the board, but my remarks do not relate to that. The criminal prosecution is not a matter for this House and I am no making no comment on it. However, the prospect of a large number of planning permissions being quashed in the High Court is most certainly something we should be discussing. It seems to me there is a concerted determination in Government circles to sweep the scandal of An Bord Pleanála under an increasingly large and bumpy carpet.

A number of reviews have been undertaken. Most recently, the Planning Regulator issued a report last week demanding urgent reform in An Bord Pleanála across a range of areas. The response of the board to that damning report was to welcome the fact it did not contain specific criticisms of the board's practices. How an organisation, not least an extremely important authority the reputation of which is currently in tatters, could read such a devastating critique of itself and issue such a cheery response is, frankly, beyond me. It raises serious questions about whether those who remain in leadership positions at the board are up to the task of instituting the kind of root-and-branch reform that is required. How can you drive reform if you do not acknowledge the problems?

A related issue arises. One of the outstanding reviews of An Bord Pleanála is one it is undertaking of itself. As far as we know, the conduct of other board members will not form part of that review or any review. This is despite the fact we know some sitting board members routinely overruled the reports of their own planning inspectors and made decisions on planning applications that were near or even next door to their own homes.

My questions to the Minister are as follows. How many planning permissions are going to be quashed as a result of this scandal? Has the Government been provided with that information? Is An Bord Pleanála likely to face legal action from developers in cases where permissions have been quashed? Does the Government have confidence in the chairman of An Bord Pleanála and, if so, does it have confidence in him to deliver the reform of the board that is so urgently needed? Why is it that the decisions of just one board member, Mr. Hyde, have been scrutinised when allegations have been made about others in news reports, including, for example, Michelle Fagan? It just does not make sense.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I start by assuring the Deputy the Government is not sweeping anything under the carpet. We regard the revelations that have emerged as being of the utmost seriousness. That is why the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has acted decisively and it is why the Government is acting. The Minister has obtained Government approval for an action plan for An Bord Pleanála, outlining a series of specific measures to address the Office of the Planning Regulator's phase 1 review recommendations. The issue has been discussed at Government level.

It is important to recap briefly. The issue that triggered all of this is one with which we are well familiar. On 27 July, the Minister received the report from Mr. Remy Farrell SC into the management of conflicts of interest and relevant disclosures by the deputy chairperson of An Bord Pleanála in respect of certain decisions of the board.

As the Deputy has acknowledged, in the middle of August, on the advice of the Attorney General the Minister referred the report to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, An Garda Síochána and the Standards In Public Office Commission, SIPO. The Office of the DPP is actively dealing with the matter and has requested that Mr. Farrell's report not be published or otherwise released until such time as the process has been concluded. In view of this, it would be inappropriate for me, or anyone on behalf of the Government, to comment further on that specific matter. I acknowledge that the Deputy has not asked me to do so.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has obtained Government approval for an action plan arising from phase 1 of the recommendations of the Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, as part of the review that was carried out by the OPR of An Bord Pleanála. The action plan includes measures to address conflicts of interest, changes to the board appointment system, strengthening the senior management team and the provision of further resources to An Bord Pleanála. A whole series of very significant and impactful changes have been agreed to and will be implemented. We provided significant resources to the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the budget for beefing up the capacity of An Bord Pleanála and to address a number of the issues that have been raised.

With regard to broader issues that have been raised in relation to the board's internal processes, on 24 August the OPR initiated its review of An Bord Pleanála systems and procedures of part of its review programme. The review, which is being undertaken by independent planning experts from other jurisdictions and Mr. Conleth Bradley SC, is being carried out in two parts in line with the terms of reference which have been published on the OPR's website. This review will help inform other internal changes as required and will also assist in identifying legislative amendments which may be required. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has welcomed the publication of phase 1 of the OPR review of An Bord Pleanála. The OPR review sets out a series of recommendations, a number of which the Minister and his Department will now act upon, and a number of which will fall to the board for implementation. In order to uphold trust in the planning system and maintain its ongoing functionality, the Minister has concluded that a range of actions are now required which involve both immediate and medium to longer term actions as well.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I asked the Minister if he is aware of the number of planning permission decisions that are likely to be quashed, whether the board will face further legal action or actions from people who have had planning permissions revoked, and if the Government has confidence in the chairman of the board. On conflicts of interest, there are other people who have had conflicts of interest, including in respect of making decisions very close to where they live when that is supposed to be precluded. Will the Minister address that? Last year, An Bord Pleanála spend 45% of its budget losing or conceding challenges in the High Court. Some of that goes back to the disastrous political decision to turn the planning appeals board into an application process for strategic housing developments, SHDs. That was purely a political decision. It was very predictable at that point that people would revert to the courts because they were not being given the opportunity to appeal. I think it was a desperate decision and I made that point when the decision was being made. I ask the Minister to respond to the questions that I asked.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

First, An Bord Pleanála is independent in its functions, but of course that does not put it beyond the reach of accountability. It has to be accountable. I cannot give the Deputy a figure on the number of planning permissions that might be overturned in the Irish courts, nor would it be possible for anyone to estimate that. Of course, any overturning of a planning decision by a court of law is a serious matter. To be honest, there have been too many instances, in particular, relating to SHD decisions by An Bord Pleanála, that have been overturned in the courts, presumably on very good legal grounds. We need to have a planning system that is more robust, where the final destination for the outcome of planning matters is in our planning bodies rather than in the courts of law. As the Deputy is aware, there is a substantive piece of work under way which is nearing completion now, whereby a new consolidated planning Bill will be brought forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage very shortly. We believe that that will significantly streamline and make the system more efficient. It will reduce the legal risk of planning decisions being overturned in a court of law. I will not comment on allegations that are being made by others. As the Deputy knows, an internal review is under way into particular allegations that have been made and specific decisions that certain parties were party to within An Bord Pleanála. I cannot comment on those.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not know if the Minister is aware of the situation facing local authority workers who work in water services. Under the current service-level agreement, SLA, these workers, who are employed by local authorities, provide services to Irish Water. Under the terms of the SLA, they can, if they wish, transfer to Irish Water in January 2026. Part of the agreement was that there would be a referendum to enshrine water services under public ownership and management. Recently, a draft framework agreement has been negotiated through the WRC, which brings forward the date of possible transfer to Irish Water to January 2023, which is about 10 weeks away, without any commitment to a referendum on water services being under public ownership and management. This has raised very serious concerns among these workers who, if the framework agreement is implemented, will lose their existing public service status, with concerns about their pension rights they currently have as local authority employees. Part of the agreement is that workers who choose to remain with the local authority will be redeployed. However, the local authority national managers' organisation has indicated that it will not redeploy these workers. To date, the relevant union has not held a ballot of the workers concerned. While the Minister can not do anything about that, I am sure he will agree that it is a serious democratic deficit. One thing the Minister and the Government can do to address these workers' concerns is to give a clear commitment to hold a referendum on water services in public ownership and management. I refer not just to a commitment in a words, but a definite commitment with a date and an outline of the wording of such a referendum.

In 2016 I introduced a Bill based on the wording agreed by the unions involved in the Right2Water campaign, which would bring water services very clearly under public ownership and also importantly, under public management. The Bill passed First Stage without opposition, but has been stuck, or buried, at Committee Stage for six years, with the excuse that we are waiting for possible amendments from both the present and previous Attorneys General. I do not believe any such amendments will ever be produced.

The Business Committee has now agreed that a debate on the future of water services will be taken by the first week in November. Maybe then certain political parties can come forward and honestly declare their true intention on this issue. I can assure the Minister that in discussions and contact that I have had with many of the workers involved, they have told me that they will resist, in every way they can, being railroaded into an agreement without a vote, without a guarantee on their public service status and without a referendum. They will not accept it. Will the Minister and the Government announce a date and wording to enshrine ownership of our water in the Constitution, preventing future privatisation?

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. First, to address the transfer of staff from within our local government system who are working in the area of water services to Irish Water, I am aware that very significant progress has been made. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has met directly with the representatives of the workers on a number of occasions. As the Deputy said, the offices of the WRC have been used to try to reach an agreement. My understanding is that there are up to 3,000 working across the local authority system in respect of water services. We want to have a system of provision of water and wastewater services that is seamless and integrated and where there is a very clear delineation in terms of the responsibilities of Irish Water relative to local authorities. As the Deputy is aware, as part of the framework and the progression of this issue, commitments have been given to workers, including that they will be transferred to Irish Water on terms that are no worse than their existing terms as employees of the local government sector. They are employed by specific local authorities and there is an SLA in place at the moment. Clearly, there are details that have to be ironed out. For example, the workers will be transferring into an Irish Water pension scheme and will be leaving a local authority pension scheme. The Irish Water pension scheme is Exchequer-funded, as such. The commitment that they are going to be looked after and are not going to be any worse off in terms of their pension entitlements and so on must be stood over and vindicated. My understanding is that very good progress has been made. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is working collaboratively with all of the stakeholders involved, including the WRC, Irish Water, the local government sector and, of course, the representatives of the workers to ensure that transfer goes through.

It is in everyone's interest that it does. Many staff will choose not to leave the local government sector and will be redeployed away from water services in many instances. That is a choice they will have. They are not being forced to leave the local government sector.

The Deputy asked about a referendum on Irish Water and public ownership. The most important reassurance I can give is that there is no threat whatsoever to the public ownership of Irish Water or our water network. We have a system whereby domestic users do not pay a separate charge for water whereas commercial users do. There is no suggestion from anyone in government, or any proposal I am aware of, that would put Irish Water at any threat whatsoever. We will respond to the proposal for a referendum to copper-fasten its status as a public utility.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I have had a lot of contact and discussions with the workers involved. They have told me they will resist in every way they can being railroaded into an agreement without a vote, a guarantee of their public service status and a referendum. They will not accept it.

The Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016, proposes that: "The Government shall be collectively responsible for the protection, management and maintenance of the public water system.", and that this be inserted into Article 28.4.2° of the Constitution. This Bill is in line with the recommendations of the expert commission on domestic water services and a special Oireachtas Joint Committee on Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. It is supported by the Right2Water unions, Unite, the Communications Workers Union, CWU, Mandate and the Operating Plasterers and Allied Trades Society of Ireland, OPATSI. It is supported by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which represents 600,000 members. It is supported by thousands upon thousands of people who were on the streets during the Right2Water campaign. It is supported by parties in the Dáil who supported the Right2Water campaign, including some members of the Government who, in 2018, declared they would support the thirty-fifth amendment Bill. If the Minister cannot give me a date today, will he assure me that the relevant Minister will announce the wording of a referendum, and a date for it, to protect our water service from privatisation within the next two weeks?

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. To reiterate the core point, staff are not going to be forced to do anything. Many staff are going to make the voluntary choice to stay within local authorities and the local government sector. Others will transfer.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The management has said there is no employment there.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Others will transfer. It is important they do so on terms that are acceptable to them and that defend and vindicate the rights they currently have and the terms and conditions they currently enjoy. That commitment is being given in the context of the framework that the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has brought forward. I will discuss the specific issues the Deputy has raised with the Minister, but that is my understanding of where the matter stands.

As the Deputy knows, there is a clear commitment in the programme for Government to retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national stand-alone regulated entity. We very much look forward to seeing what the Oireachtas committee brings forward. I will ask the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government to revert directly to the Deputy on the matter.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Why has the Government deliberately chosen not to cap the cost of electricity or implement a windfall tax on electricity providers in this country? Never has there been a more important time to be decisive and to reduce the crippling bills that households, small businesses and farmers are facing. All energy customers are once again facing extremely significant increases in their bills from this month, with seven providers applying massive price hikes. These companies are receiving little or no support from the community, public or businesses. Why would the Government do nothing and effectively hand these companies carte blancheapproval to do what they like? That is what it has done.

When all of the price increases since the start of last year are totalled, they add up to more than €1,700 per year to people's electricity bills and over €1,700 to their gas bills. In overall terms, these cumulative increases will mean an average household will be paying €2,500 more in energy costs than was the case in 2020. Those are the basic and bare facts.

The Government's only intervention of offering a rebate for households this winter is completely insufficient. This rebate will not even cover 25% of the increased cost of household energy bills above 2020 levels. It is a pittance. It is silly. For many households, that amount will not even pay one month's supply bill. Those are the facts of the matter. In all, the money from this voucher scheme will only end up going directly to the energy companies, which is not the desired effect. In reality, it is a bailout for those companies.

Ministers have been quick to recommend that customers change providers to obtain better prices. According to the CRU, however, customers who attempt to switch will be able to make no real savings because the discounts offered as incentives have been dramatically reduced. The companies are doing what they like all the time.

Electric Ireland has approximately 1.2 million electricity customers and 145,000 gas customers. Its parent group, the ESB, reported operating profits of €679 million for last year, an increase of 10% on 2020. The dividend it paid to the State was a mere €126 million. Why does the Government not take a much larger slice of that? The massive profits made by ESB Group during the current energy crisis should be used to reduce utility bills. This is especially true when one considers that ESB Group has reported overall profits of €1.5 billion in the past year alone. That is a staggering level of funds. No one would deny a company the right to make a profit but those are staggering, eye-watering figures. As the owner of this company, how can the Government allow it to make record profits off the backs of ordinary householders and small businesses amid soaring prices for energy?

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We absolutely recognise that there is a lot of worry out there. Many households, businesses, community groups, sports clubs and so on are genuinely worried about the months ahead and the bills that are coming their way. They worry about how they are going to be able to meet those bills. We accept that, and it is why we have brought forward a whole range of issues, which I will not go through again because I think people are well familiar with them. However, by any measure, it is a serious response from the Government. We have done the best we can in bringing forward an €11 billion package that will benefit every household in the country.

The Deputy made points about the energy companies. We are acting on that through the EU framework. There was agreement on 30 September at the Council of energy ministers. That will result in a temporary solidarity contribution from the fossil fuel production companies and a cap on market revenues for those energy providers that have not seen an increase in their costs. That will apply to providers involved in wind and solar energy, and so on. The commitment we are giving is that the resources that we collect, and we are currently calculating and assessing how much money Ireland is likely to get from those initiatives, will be given back to households and businesses to help them cope with the increased bills they are facing.

The cap on market revenues must be implemented by the start of December and the solidarity contribution by the end of December. That is a tight timeframe, given that legislation and technical implementation in the energy market will be needed. The Government is committed to doing that and to making sure that we provide the benefit of that extra revenue we will collect for those who need it most.

The temporary business energy support scheme will be up and running next month. It will be backdated to 1 September. As the Deputy knows, it provides for a payment, capped at €10,000 per month, to individual businesses which will meet 40% of the increase in their energy costs this year relative to last year. It will be based on the per unit price. Of course, that will be administered by the Revenue Commissioners. We believe it will be of significant benefit to businesses all over the country.

We know that clubs, service providers and community groups are facing a hard winter. We want to keep the floodlights on. We want to keep our community halls warm. We want people to be able to avail of all of these vital services and local amenities. That is why we have provided €340 million in extra funding between now and the end of the year across a whole range of areas. Some €35 million, for example, will be provided for our sports clubs to ensure that our children and all members of clubs across the country can continue to avail of the facilities that we and local communities have invested in over the years.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That was a pretty feeble answer. The Government is tired; it has created this problem itself.

The Government likes to blame the war in Ukraine but, as awful as that is, the Government has created this problem. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. That is what the Government is trying to do here. Some 40% is not nearly enough for businesses. I know of one SuperValu in Tipperary whose bill increased from €6,000 in February last year to €18,000 this year. What good is 40%? That is replicated for all other businesses, big and small.

The Departments did not have the energy to stop the money going to aid millionaires and people like ourselves who do not need it and can manage without it. What is wrong with the Government that it cannot do that? It is time for the entire Government to pack its bags, bí ar an bhóthar and go back to the people because the people know the Government has created this problem. It is blinkered by Green Party policies and no matter what happens it will continue with the folly of supporting the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and following him down this cul-de-sac from which there is no comeback or exit. It is a deep, dark cul-de-sac and that is where the Government will remain but the people of the country do not want to go down those cul-de-sacs. They are frozen, worried, they cannot afford to meet these bills and the Government is trying to kill their spirit. It will not kill that spirit because they are resilient people and they know they will get the Government out very soon from where they are sitting on their pretty seats.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

People are worried. We should not add to their worries by being unfair in our analysis of the situation. The price today for UK gas on wholesale markets is approximately £3 a therm. This day two years ago, the price was 50 pence a therm, yet the Deputy said that it is all the fault of the Government.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What about Shannon LNG?

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy completely undermined-----

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----his own argument by not even recognising-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Do you want glasses to see properly?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Let the Minister reply.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To be fair, the Deputy is not even recognising basic facts, namely, that the wholesale price of energy on the international markets has rocketed. For the Deputy to say that it is all the fault of the Government is just not accurate, not credible and he is just-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No place to hide.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----misleading people for his own political advantage, as he sees it.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister has no place to hide.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government has brought forward a package worth €1.2 billion of specific special payments that will be made between now and early December. That will be of real help to people. We stood by businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. We have seen a strong recovery in the Irish economy. We are now setting a scheme and are focused on getting that up and running. Of course, we will keep it under review and if the Government needs to do more next year, at least we have the resources to do so because we will have a surplus next year. We have put funding away so that we have the capacity to respond and to provide extra help to people if we need to-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Businesses are disappearing by the hour.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----over the course of next year.