Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
235. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the dates on which the National Energy Affordability Taskforce has met since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14289/26]
View answer236. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the dates on which the cross-Departmental group on energy poverty has met since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14290/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was established last June to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. Addressing energy poverty will be a key focus of the Taskforce.
Following the establishment of the Taskforce, I chaired three meetings of the group on 19 June 2025, 31 July 2025 and 3 October 2025. The next meeting of the Taskforce will take place next month. It is important to note that ongoing bilateral engagement and sectoral work to address energy affordability and energy poverty issues continues between formal meetings of the Taskforce. Minutes of the Taskforce meetings are available at www.gov.ie. The First Report of the Taskforce, published last November, set out measures for consideration in the Budget 2026 process.
The Taskforce builds on the work of the Energy Poverty Steering Group which was established in August 2022 and formally met 8 times. The dates of the meetings are set out in the table at the link below. Members of the group also engage on a bilateral basis. Two Stakeholder Forums were held. The Steering Group published a Report in May 2024 outlining progress under the various actions in the Energy Poverty Action Plan.
The work programme of the Taskforce will incorporate the work of the Energy Poverty Steering Group and examine how targeted schemes can best assist households in energy poverty, including consideration of supports for households struggling to meet their energy costs. The Taskforce is now preparing an engagement and consultation process to inform the development of an Energy Affordability Action Plan which is due to be published in Q3 2026.
