Nephin Energy Donates €50,000 to SVP West Region to help the most vulnerable across the region pay their energy bills

Nephin Energy, Ireland’s largest domestic producer of natural gas and largest stakeholder in the Corrib Gas Field in Co. Mayo, has donated €50,000 to the Society of St Vincent de Paul’s (SVP) West Region. The donation is to be used to help address energy poverty among the most vulnerable people in SVP’s West Region of Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon.

Nephin Energy Managing Director Tom O’Brien said: “We are delighted to be able to support the great work of SVP in this small way. This donation is very specific in that it is to be used by SVP in counties, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, to help those who approach the Society for help with their energy costs.  Our operations are based in North Mayo, and we are delighted to be making this donation at a time when many vulnerable people in our community are finding it hard to pay their energy bills.”

Maureen Mitchell, the West Regional President for SVP, welcomed this donation from Nephin. She said that 2021 was a year that saw a huge increase in the number of people reaching out to SVP looking for support and assistance. “Having adequate heat and electricity is a basic living requirement but for many people who contact us they are often unable to pay basic utility bills or buy fuel. For vulnerable families who were already struggling the recent increase in energy prices has only further marginalized them and pushed them further into debt. SVP continues to advocate and take practical steps to reduce energy poverty among vulnerable children and families. This donation will allow our local volunteers to provide far reaching assistance to those in need of support with energy costs.”

The SVP West Region is made up of 63 local Conference (Committees) that operate in every corner of Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon. There are over 500 volunteers in the Region who are working in each local community, SVP volunteers take a practical approach to dealing with poverty by helping to alleviate its effects on individuals and families. SVP local volunteers do this primarily through in person-to-person contact by a unique system of home visitation where they offer direct, personal assistance that is non-judgmental and based on the need of the individual or family.

The SVP was one of nine charities supported by Nephin Energy during Christmas 2021.