Louth TD has slammed scheme that saw household subsidising large energy users

The "braindead" government scheme that saw household electricity customers subsidising big business and large energy users must be rectified and households should get their money back as soon as possible, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú told the Dáil last week.

The Sinn Féin TD raised the issue, first revealed through a Freedom of Information request by his colleague, Senator Lynn Boylan, with Tanáiste Micheál Martin.

Deputy Ó Murchú said it was "wrong and unfair" that households, struggling to pay bills, were subsidising big business and large energy users.

He said: "The Commission for Regulation of Utilities failed to protect the public interest. That is why Sinn Féin has been pursuing this issue.

"That’s the reason my colleague, Senator Boylan, submitted freedom of information requests on the issue was to get fairness for hard-pressed households.

"We welcomed the fact that, as a result of shedding light on this issue, households will now each get €50 back. However, it was reported in the media that it appears this will not happen any time soon.

"Does the government agree that the CRU must provide a full breakdown of how much this subsidy has cost domestic users so we can know exactly what households are owed?

"Will he commit to ensuring that households are repaid immediately for this overcharging, as a result of an absolutely braindead Government scheme and CRU failings?"

Minister Martin said: "Last autumn, the Government made an unprecedented allocation of resources and outlined an unprecedented cost-of-living package to help householders with their electricity bills, energy bills more generally, and also a whole range of payments within the budget.

"I think that has given some help to people to deal with the unprecedented energy price crisis we are currently experiencing.

"I will talk to the Minister in respect of the €50. I believe there is an onus on the agency, in this context the ESB, to pay back what is due as quickly as possible. I will talk to the Minister about that."