Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the supports available to a household facing high electricity bills due to essential medical equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48060/25]

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 acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward taxation measures to help contain energy costs.

The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households who were registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register The scheme is wholly managed by the registered Energy Suppliers, with each supplier contacting their own eligible customers directly, in line with the work plans for their associated solar PV installers.

The CRU has published enhanced customer protection measures for Winter 25/26. For the upcoming winter period 2025/26, some of the key customer protection measures that will remain in place include minimum timelines for debt repayment plans, discounted tariffs for financial hardship meter customers and promotion by energy suppliers of the vulnerable customer register.

A disconnection moratorium for reasons of non-payment of account for special services registered vulnerable customers will remain in place from 1 November 2025 – 31 March 2026, while the moratorium for priority services registered customers will remain in place all year. The winter disconnection moratorium for all other domestic customers will be in place from 8 December 2025 – 16 January 2026.

This is in addition to the existing sources of support, such as the Additional Needs Payment scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection.

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.