Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I also thank the Minister of State for being here to discuss the issue.

I know from conversations with colleagues throughout the country, particularly in south Kildare, that there have been an awful lot of unplanned power outages in recent weeks and months. There are considerable knock-on effects for families as a result. One of the biggest effects relates to medical devices. Along with colleagues of mine, I have been contacted by a number of families who cannot plan to use medical devices because of the increasing number of power outages that are occurring in their areas. One such family was using a sleep assistance machine and it has cut out on a regular basis in recent months. There is a built-in danger for that person. There is a reason the person is using the machine and needs the power. All of these outages are unplanned, with no notice given, and are causing a lot of grief for that family.

The affected area seems to stretch from Rathangan and Monasterevin in my area to Athgarvan and the Wicklow border. There is also an issue for those who are working from home. We have encouraged people to work from home and many people have enjoyed that experience and, importantly, need that experience. However, they are finding on too many days that they cannot work from home and are rushing into work to try to get back up live, onto the Internet and working again. It is frustrating. It is happening too often at this stage and an explanation needs to be given by the Government and EirGrid. I have mentioned previously that EirGrid's web page states: "EirGrid develops, manages and operates the electricity grid in Ireland". It is responsible for making sure everyone has electricity when and where they need it. I have fielded calls on this issue from people from the Minister of State's own county of Laois in recent months. It seems that we do not have the power for these people when they need it most. The most important aspect is the unplanned nature of what is happening. Families cannot plan. Those who require medical devices cannot use them. Those who are working from home are struggling to ensure they can continue working from home and do not have to travel back into their offices, where they were prior to working from home.

I want to read into the record some of the many comments I have received in recent weeks and months. One correspondent told me that the power was out again in Monasterevin without any reason or explanation. My correspondent told me that the same had happened on a Friday two weeks previously. My correspondent said there was no consideration for anyone or for those who have days when they work from home and called the situation absolutely ridiculous. Another correspondent told me they live in the Athgarvan area. Two people in the household are working from home and they feel that when no notice of outages is given, it is very frustrating. Another correspondent told me that in the past three months, the Mountrice and Lackagh area has had five planned power outages. There was a planned outage on the day prior to the correspondent contacting me and another outage without explanation on the day they made contact. My correspondent noted that we pay the highest prices for electricity in the EU and that the providers are making super profits but none of them are being reinvested in the infrastructure. My correspondent stated it is time for the Government to demand better from those companies. That is the reason I have tabled this Commencement matter. I hope the Minister of State will give us some reassurance that the unplanned power outages are being looked at by the Government, EirGrid and everybody involved in the provision of power in this country. I hope we can provide some solutions to those in all areas but particularly in the south Kildare area.