Additional supports to be announced for those struggling to pay energy bills - Eamon Ryan

Further measures to assist low-income households, including financial supports, are being examined for inclusion in a forthcoming plan to combat energy poverty, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has said.

Speaking on Wednesday at the launch of a Government campaign to inform households about help available over winter as they face significant utility bills, Mr Ryan said there are a variety of supports in place to avoid people going cold this winter.

“We will take further measures in the next two weeks. Our department will publish an action plan around energy poverty, having listened to experts in terms of what’s the best way of doing this,” he said.

Asked if further measures would encompass financial supports, he said: “Yes, we’re going to look at different measures and the Government has always said we have to review this [situation] as we proceed.”

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“We don’t know yet what exactly is going to happen in the energy markets through this winter but we are prepared as a government to do everything to get our people through a difficult period,” he said.

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Mr Ryan pointed to an ESRI analysis which showed those on lowest incomes would be assisted by budget measures, but said there “may be gaps, there may be people who don’t, for one reason or another, have the necessary resources. In those circumstances there are further supports to help them through this period.”

He also said the Dáil will next week move ahead with legislation to streamline planning and consenting for emergency generation needed for next winter. There is a government plan to purchase €350 million of emergency backup generation.

The Green Party leader said he did not believe there would be agreement this Thursday among European heads of government on proposals to cap gas prices.

“We’re meeting as energy ministers again next Tuesday, we’ll further review the proposals that have come from the commission yesterday,” he said.

“You get a lot of easy political lines from this - just put a cap on it - even the Tories are retreating from some of that simplistic analysis. It’s easy to say just cap it, it’s not actually serving the people, you’ve got to get this right, and in a very complex market, that sounds easy but actually putting that cap in won’t be delivered in a way that is effective.”

He said that energy subsidies will begin arriving from November 1st, and urged people to try to avoid the use of energy thirsty equipment in the 5-7pm window when power is more expensive.