Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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220. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if an organisation (details supplied) which works to address issues of energy poverty, would be suitable for inclusion on the Cross Governmental Task Force on Energy Affordability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33717/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government 2025 acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward measures to help contain energy costs. Earlier this year, the Government approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity by a further six months to October 2025 at an estimated cost of €85 million.

A Cross Government Energy Affordability Taskforce has been established by my Department to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. I chaired the first meeting of the Taskforce on 19 June. The membership is comprised of representatives from the following organisations:

• Department of the Taoiseach
• Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
• Department of Finance
• Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Sector Reform and Digitalisation
• Department of Social Protection
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
• The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)
• ESB Networks
• EirGrid
• Gas Networks Ireland

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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221. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way in which he plans to advance the Programme for Government commitment to explore ways to use surplus renewable energy to help reduce energy poverty, ensuring that renewable energy benefits all communities; if measures to achieve this commitment will be set out in the Climate Action Plan 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33718/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s Climate Action Plans recognise the need for the electricity sector to become more adaptable and flexible, in response to the ever-increasing volume of distributed renewable energy sources on the grid. To ensure reliability in such a distributed energy system, as well as to minimise the network upgrades (and costs for all) needed to accommodate peaks in demand, it will be vital to align our electricity use with periods of plentiful, low-cost renewable generation. Ireland’s citizens (including energy poor and vulnerable households) can play a central role in this transition by flexibly managing their energy assets in response to the level of renewable energy on the grid and, by doing so, can lower their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

Furthermore, my Department is leading a new Cross Government Energy Affordability Taskforce which aims to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, operating within the broader policy context set by the Programme for Government and Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. A key output of this Taskforce will be to develop and publish an Energy Affordability Action Plan which will identify a comprehensive range of solutions including demand-side solutions for households to allow them to adjust their energy demand and avail of low cost, or otherwise surplus renewable energy.