Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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118. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he aware of the extent of energy poverty in Ireland; the measures that will be put in place to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50387/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and commits to bringing forward measures to contain energy costs and tackle energy poverty. Government has introduced a suite of measures over recent years to help households and businesses deal with the cost of energy. In Budget 2026, Government approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity until 31 December 2030. This had traditionally been 13.5%, but has been 9% since 2022 in response to the energy price crisis. This is in addition to an increase to the fuel allowance payment from January 2026, providing an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season.

My Department has also established a cross-Government 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. The taskforce has developed an interim report, which set out measures for consideration as part of the Budget 2026 process. This report has been published on Gov.ie, in advance of further analysis and the publication of the Energy Affordability Action Plan in 2026.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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120. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the actions his Department is undertaking to tackle rising electricity prices; whether his Department will initiate new actions in view of the recent IEA report on electricity prices (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60469/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government acknowledges the pressure that high energy costs place on Irish households and businesses. Energy affordability is a key priority for me as Minister, and in June of this year my Department established a cross-Government 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.

The taskforce has developed and published an interim report, which set out measures for consideration as part of the Budget 2026 process. This report has been published on Gov.ie, in advance of further analysis and the publication of the Energy Affordability Action Plan in 2026.

The role of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in the retail energy market entails monitoring both gas and electricity prices to ensure customers benefit from effective competition among suppliers. The functioning of the retail energy market in this regard was reviewed in both a 2023 Report on Retail Energy Markets and the Household Electricity and Gas Prices Information Note released in 2024.

The Programme for Government commits to the commissioning of an independent review into the speed and level of pass through from wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment of the overall price dynamics and an overall focus on the competitiveness of the Irish economy. My Department is working with the CRU to support them in building on their existing body of market monitoring work to deliver this important commitment.