Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Deputy Pauline Tully, has warned of a spike in arrears and disconnection figures as energy costs continue to cripple households.
New figures provided by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) reveal there are now more than 400,000 households in arrears across the state.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Tully said that households are under huge pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and need support with their energy bills.
She says these latest figures are "shocking" and highlight clearly that energy companies have "run rough-shod over consumers".
Deputy Tully added that behind the "staggering figures" are ordinary workers and families who are facing the deeply distressing situation of being unable to afford to live in rip-off Ireland.
"Due to the actions of this government, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Between February and May there has been an increase of over 10% in the number of households in arrears and this means that there are now over 400,000 households in arrears across the State. Many of these households will be in Cavan-Monaghan.
"The reality is that energy costs have more than doubled in the last two years in Ireland. This is leading to insurmountable, unsustainable levels of debt for people that they simply cannot overcome. It is patently clear that the Government has not done enough to protect workers and families from rip-off energy costs here.
"This is on top of people in Cavan and Monaghan already coming under huge pressure due to sky high rents, rising mortgage interest, huge grocery costs and childcare bills. The Government must get to grips with this deteriorating situation urgently. They must heed Sinn Féin calls to hold energy companies to account and to address Ireland's rip-off energy bills.
"Without urgent and appropriate intervention, ordinary workers and families in Cavan and Monaghan will continue to suffer," she said.
