Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In December 2022, Government published the energy poverty action plan. The plan sets out the range of measures introduced to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are protected and supported to adequately heat and power their homes. The implementation of the action plan is being monitored by a cross-departmental interagency steering group chaired by my Department.

The inaugural energy poverty stakeholder forum was held in July 2023. The forum provided a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, to assess progress on objectives from across the action plan and to share new ideas to combat energy poverty. A report on the recommendations and outcomes of the energy poverty stakeholder forum was published at gov.ie. An annual report outlining progress under the various actions in the plan will be published in the coming weeks and public consultation will soon commence on a revised action plan, to be published later this year.

To support households in the near term, Government approved a new tranche of electricity credits in budget 2024. Over 2.2 million households are benefiting from a total of €450 per household. Three payments of €150, including VAT, are being made between December 2023 and next month, April 2024, at a cost of just over €1 billion. The Government also provided for a suite of one-off social welfare financial supports to assist people with the cost of living, including a lump sum of €300 to all fuel allowance recipients in November 2023.

Ultimately, the best way to combat energy poverty in the long term will be to continue to make the investments we have already discussed to improve the energy efficiency of homes, to boost renewable energy adoption and to increase interconnection with Europe to help reduce electricity costs.

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