Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the high costs of energy in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47689/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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140. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Irish households are now paying the highest monthly electricity bills in the European Union, averaging €150 per household in September 2025, compared with €115 in Germany and €38 in Lithuania; and the measures being taken to address this disparity. [48833/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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144. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he accepts responsibility for the fact that Irish families are now paying the highest electricity bills in Europe; and if he will convene a cross-departmental strategy to reduce household energy costs to the EU average. [48841/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 140 and 144 together.

The most recent Eurostat report on European energy prices, published in April 2025 for the second half of 2024, lists Ireland as having the third highest electricity prices in the EU after Germany and Denmark. There are a number of historic reasons for this, including our dispersed population and low level of interconnection with European markets. Additionally, Ireland is import-dependant for energy, making it particularly vulnerable to price volatility in the wholesale gas market. However, when adjusted for purchasing power parity, a more accurate reflection of costs as experienced by consumers across Europe, Ireland is far closer to the European average. In this accounting, Ireland ranks eighth for household electricity prices.

The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward measures to contain energy costs and tackle energy poverty. Government recently 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.

In June 2025, my Department established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce 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.

Taskforce members are currently working to finalise the preparation of an interim report, which will set out measures for consideration by Government as part of the Budget 2026 process.