Government prepared to engage with energy companies on bills - Donohoe

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said the Government has made every effort to help people with energy bills and was prepared to engage with energy companies on the issue.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show he said that in future there would be targeted measures rather than energy credits.

Mr Donohoe said he wanted to see energy prices reduced with the same speed they had been increased, once there were signs of stability.

Since January 2022, the Government had made €9 billion available to help people, he said. Mr Donohoe urged people who had received high bills to engage with the energy companies while the Government would do what it could to help.

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If people were concerned about their bills there were steps that could be taken, he added. The Energy Regulator would also have a role to ensure that no people had their power cut off while steps were taken to pay off their bills.

Among the steps the Government could take were windfall taxation and a different level of dividend for energy companies associated with the State.

The price levels being set by the energy companies would have to be monitored more closely, he said.

There would not be another energy credit considered until Budget 2024.