The latest figures from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) show 315,000 households are in energy arrears, down slightly from 319,000 in the previous report but still the second-highest total since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The number of homes behind by more than 90 days remains elevated, while the average amount owed has risen to €476.95.

Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, said minor improvements in some indicators do little to change the overall picture. "These figures are still beyond belief."

-- Advertisement --

She said arrears are up by around 33% compared with the same point last year.

Boylan added that the data do not capture more recent price pressures that she links to international events, and said the figures miss the impact of energy price spikes she attributes to Trump's attacks on Iran. "It has taken a global fuel and energy crisis for the government to announce any sort of half measure support to people – and it doesn’t go nearly far enough.

"At a time when the government has money to cut taxes for private jets, this will be doubly insulting."

Calling for stronger action, Boylan said: "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to get serious about helping workers and families that are drowning in energy debt by tackling the core issues driving this crisis.

"They should use Ireland's presidency of the EU to push for the decoupling of electricity from fossil fuels, to improve our grid for households instead of just data centres, and push back against the soaring demand from data centres who are also driving up energy prices here."