Two Irelands

MORE than 210,000 ESB and Bord Gáis customers are in arrears on their bills, with many thousands more having agreed alternative payment plans.

The figures were unveiled just a day after the state-funded Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) revealed it is assisting more than 45,000 people with an average debt of €20,000.

Combined with latest inflation figures which show the price of clothing, electricity, insurance and petrol all rose last month, the news has dampened the claims yesterday by Taoiseach Enda Kenny that Ireland is “heading in the right direction, and confidence is returning”.