Sinn Féin Leader Claims Government Allocated «Diddly Squat» for Energy Arrears Amid Crisis

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticized Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Dáil on Wednesday, stating the Government has allocated «diddly squat, sweet feck all» to families struggling with electricity arrears and the energy crisis. She renewed her call for an emergency budget, highlighting that 316,838 households were in electricity arrears in February, with over half in arrears for more than 90 days.

McDonald noted 197 households have been disconnected this year and many switched to higher-tariff pay-as-you-go accounts. She accused the Government of ignoring warnings from the energy regulator and discontinuing energy credits, leaving households exposed.

Taoiseach Martin countered that Sinn Féin’s proposals, including Universal Social Charge cuts, would cost up to €6 billion and increase inflation by 2 to 2.5 per cent. He stated the Government has allocated €750 million in supports since the fuel crisis began, one of the largest packages in the EU, and plans further «measured» assistance in the October budget.