Electricity grid in Kildare North 'not fit for purpose', Dáil hears
Deputy Réada Cronin (SF) made the claim in the Dáil this week
Constituents in North Kildare are living with an electricity grid that is “not fit for purpose”, a Kildare North Sinn Féin TD has claimed in the Dáil.
Deputy Réada Cronin was speaking when “Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]” came before the House on Tuesday, May 12 2026.
According to Deputy Cronin, ordinary workers and families are being “fleeced” by energy companies making “eye-watering profits.”
She said: “The rip-off legacy of this Government continues unabated. Last week, Eurostat reported what we already knew, namely, that Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the European Union. “This is under the watch of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, sponsored by the Independents. In Ireland, we are paying nearly €500 more per year than our fellow European citizens.
“At the same time, many of my constituents in north Kildare face constant blackouts from a grid that is simply not fit for purpose.
“Ordinary workers and families are being fleeced by energy companies making eye-watering profits. What is the Government doing to address the issue? Absolutely nothing. What should we expect it to do? Its reputation as a do-nothing Government precedes it.”
Deputy Cronin said that although Sinn Féin has “offered solutions” to the problem, the government has refused to listen.
She added: “The Bill before us tonight could drastically reduce the cost of electricity bills for people now and into the future. It would empower the CRU to monitor the hedging practices of these companies and sanction anti-competitive behaviour if energy companies are profiteering from a crisis.
“This is something the Government could do immediately.
“This would provide the regulator with real teeth to enforce laws that would protect households. The regulator wants these teeth but it seems the Government would rather protect data centres than households.”