Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad Deputy O'Connor has added his voice to the pressure that is now on energy companies to reduce their prices. Energy prices went up in an understandable way because of the Russian war on Ukraine. The Government has responded to this through supports for sports organisations and for households. People should not forget that we have also introduced windfall measures through the European Union. That will take back some of the extraordinary profits being made by energy companies and producers and give them back to the people. Obviously what is more relevant to the people at the end of the day is that there is a lower price on their bills. How we can help people get lower prices is to upgrade their homes, in most cases, and in this case upgrade the sports facilities to see whether we can get a reduction in energy usage. Sports clubs are rising to this challenge through the sports capital programme, their own fundraising and other measures the Department has introduced.

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