1,800 customers have electricity or gas cut off every month

Over 1,800 households are having their gas or electricity supplies cut off every month as families find themselves under increasing pressure to make ends meet.

The figures emerged as the Government signalled there will be no easing of austerity over the next two budgets, despite an expected extension of the time to repay the bailout loans as well as figures showing Ireland is ahead of its deficit reduction targets.

Fianna Fáil has ramped up the pressure on the Coalition, urging it to use “whatever headroom” it has gained to give people “some respite in the next budget”. The party is urging a re-balancing between austerity and growth measures, in order to create more jobs and accelerate economic recovery.