Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

Nothing better underlines the bad place we are in as a country and as a people than the fact that 80 people have their electricity disconnected every day. In 2010, 13,824 people have been disconnected. It costs €86 to have the disconnection completed, which is reprehensible. It costs €88 to reconnect, which is criminal. That should be paid from profits, from a VAT reduction or out of efficiencies. It is criminal that people getting their lives together through no fault of their own and who are able to reconnect, should be charged these sums and put into a debt trap. From November 2007 to October 2010, electricity costs have increased by 6.4% despite the fact the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, and the Government tell us there has been no increase in energy costs. This is wrong. There has been an increase according to the Commission for Energy Regulation.

Some €30 million has been returned unused to the Government from the Sustainable Energy Ireland fund. Whether it is due to incorrect marketing of the scheme or the application of the scheme, the pick-up is not adequate and the application of the scheme is inadequate. That figure condemns the Government at a time when we need to create jobs in the sector.