Energy Prices
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-24
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Darragh O'Brien (FF), Dublin Fingal East

There is more work that needs to be done. That is why I established the national energy affordability task force. On what it has done so far, significantly before the last budget, it produced its interim report which guided us in the last budget. That work continues - things like looking at the structure of the bill and at how we actually pay for our grid investment. Critical to that, if we are to deliver permanent affordability, is to ensure that investment in our grid of €18.9 billion over just this five-year period actually takes place. There are 520 capital projects across the country that will enable us to bring more renewables into our system with cheaper, secure, green, clean energy. We need projects like the North-South interconnector delivered. That one project alone will deliver savings of about €120 on average per household on this island, and will improve grid resilience as well.
The Deputy can be assured that those who require assistance with regard to energy and energy poverty will receive the assistance they need in a targeted way. I would rather invest the close to €3.5 billion that was paid in energy credits into permanent changes in our energy system, which is what I am doing.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-24