Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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89. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is concerned at high household energy costs; the steps he will take in areas under his remit to lower the cost of the energy for households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59247/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime, wherein these markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. They are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Price setting by energy suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned.

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.

We have already acted on that commitment though:

• An extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to electricity and gas to the end of 2030.
• An increase in the Fuel Allowance payment by €5 to €38 per week, equating to an increase of more than 15% from January 2026. This will provide an additional €140 to over 460,000 recipients during the annual fuel allowance season. The payment has also been expanded to include those in receipt of the Working Family Payment.
• A record capital allocation, under Budget 2026, of €558 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including the Solar PV scheme, to support the delivery of our National Retrofit Plan. This is an €89 million increase on last year’s Budget allocation. It means that more funding than ever will be available to make homes warmer, healthier, more comfortable and less expensive to heat. Analysis carried out by my Department and the SEAI indicates that a household can save between €750 and €1,120 per year by installing a deep package of measures.