Energy Prices
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-24
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

I see why the Deputy wants to isolate the electricity part in the context of the household benefits package, but we cannot isolate it without looking at the other changes that have been made in the context of additional payments. I focused on the fuel announcement, particularly for the cohort that applied for household benefits - the change in income and in savings and investments, which will allow people to qualify for the fuel allowance. That is why we have 100,000 more people qualifying for the fuel allowance since 2020, never mind since 2013. In the context of the fuel allowance, people are not directed towards one form of energy. This is important to me and the Department. Through the fuel allowance, people have the flexibility to decide their own fuel and their own source of fuel. They are not directed towards any particular kind of fuel. As I said, we are constantly focused on how we can address energy challenges, and looking at the various challenges that exist. The expansion and flexibility of the fuel allowance programme is my best initiative and tool at a time of such volatility in the energy market.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-24