Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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217. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a timeline for when the terms of reference for the National Energy Affordability Taskforce will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37141/25]

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.

The National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) 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. The core objectives of the Taskforce include drafting an interim plan identifying measures to support energy consumers in advance of Budget 2026, and an Energy Affordability Action plan, which will examine measures and structural reforms to lower costs for households and businesses.

The NEAT Terms of Reference were agreed by members at the first Taskforce meeting on 19 June 2025. This document is available on the Taskforce webpage at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/national-energy-affordability-taskforce/.