'Plenty around here have had their electricity cut off for less than €60'

IN JOE Lynch’s hands is a letter from the ESB. It is a reminder the father of five had entered into a payment plan for arrears on his bill. He owes the company €64 and had agreed to pay off €14 a week.

“But, well, I had to let it slip a week here and week there, constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul. There was always something we had to pay first and now they are sending letters and phoning.”

The letter, dated December 18th, 2010, notes he has not kept up with the terms of the payment plan and warns: “It is important you act immediately on notification to ensure continuation of your electricity supply.”

Sitting in his kitchen, coats and jackets are required to stay warm even thought the heating has just been put on, “because you were coming”, he says.

Mr Lynch is unemployed, having been laid off from his job in construction at the start of last year.

As his wife, Bernie, works as a childminder, he is entitled to just €123 a week jobseeker’s allowance.

“She gets about €400 a week. She feels the pressure most. She really frets about money and bills. She had a mini-stroke last year so we try to keep her relaxed.”

Their combined, guaranteed income is €27,196 a year.

His children range in age from 15 to 23. One works part-time and another gets odd jobs as a plumber. They contribute when they can to the household income.

Sitting in their three-bedroom council house in Finglas, Mr Lynch tells how they pay €133 a month in rent to Fingal County Council and spend about €200 a week on food and groceries.

“We’re very careful about money. Our heating is gas. We have a metre card for that and it’s about €50 a week at the moment in this cold. We only turn it on as little as possible. We turn it on now when we know someone is calling over.”

Some of the windows are doubled-glazed, others not.

“Fair play to the council. They have said they’ll finish the windows and they have insulated the attic.”

The family also has a substantial debt with the credit union. He has stopped paying a car loan, having returned the car, but is worried he may yet be asked to make further payments.

“I do worry. I worry a lot about making ends meet. We just about do it, but it means not paying some things, to get other bills paid.”

As for Christmas, whereas previously he would buy a few items for each of the children, this year it was “one thing each only”.

“We never go out any more, for the sake of saving a few bob. Holidays? They are a thing of the past. No, you’d never get new clothes. It really is just about surviving week to week.

“I am trying to get work. I’ve done a Fás course in security and I am six months now waiting for the PSA [Private Security Authority] licence.”

He is worried about the future and further cuts to his benefits and his wife’s pay.

“No one knows what is going to happen. We are not the worst off. We haven’t had to go to Vincent de Paul.

“There are plenty around here who have had their electricity cut off for less than €60. We’ll just have to keep going and hope something better comes up.”