Fuel Prices
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-28
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

I certainly disagree that SMEs are being left behind. This is one of the most substantial packages across the European Union. It is all about supporting jobs and those who are most impacted but also ensuring they can absorb some of the cost increases that they are facing. We cannot cushion all the price increases. There is a reality here that many governments are trying to grapple with. A sum of €750 million is really substantial. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, met many of the pillar banks as recently as last week, advising them that these schemes are in place and that they would provide working capital to many of these businesses in the short term until they get this money into their bank account. That was received well.
We want the scheme to be simple in nature. We are all about simplification and being fast and agile. I expect that would be the approach for many Department officials with regard to trying to get this up and running. Looking at the more structural interventions we need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we are looking at a large investment, through price review 6, PR6, into the grid and infrastructure, in ESB Networks and EirGrid. That will ensure we have the renewable energy deployment required right across the country, that we have energy efficiency supports and that we are looking at large-scale industrial decarbonisation. That is backed by over €300 million in environmental aid. We all know we cannot continue to go from shock to shock and not build resilience into businesses. That is why the Tánaiste is working through the Department of Finance in looking at hybrid heat recovery pumps, hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, and other energy efficiency measures to reduce that burden either through tax measures or through grant supports and subsidies. They will have a meaningful impact for businesses across the country.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-28