Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I broadly agree with the Deputy. The probability is that energy prices will fall back and ease, and I hope they do, but there will be an upward trend in the cost of energy over the next five or ten years. As a result, the solution cannot always be subsidies and tax cuts. We have to help businesses and householders reduce the costs of energy, make their homes and businesses more efficient and embrace solar and microgeneration to bring down their costs. On the business side, I had a look at this the other day and there are 20 different schemes available to businesses to help them reduce their energy costs. These range from advice to audits and helping with cattle costs and those investments. There are almost too many schemes. There are 20 schemes and in the round they are inadequate, which is something we need to work on, both for householders and businesses.

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