The Cabinet has approved plans to pay three electricity credits worth €200 to every household in the country over the next six months.
One of the highlights of Budget 2023 was the announcement of a €600 electricity credit for households. This will be paid over three bills, and it is expected that households will receive the €200 credits in November, January and March.
The Taoiseach told the Dail this afternoon that the Government is also considering how to help "certain categories that fall outside the framework" of the energy credit. It comes as Ireland is facing into a bleak winter without a guarantee power blackouts will not occur, due to energy supply issues as a result of the Russian war with Ukraine.
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The Taoiseach recently said that work is ongoing to ensure that pay-as-you-go energy customers will not be cut off this winter. He told RTE's The Week in Politics: "In an energy crisis of this kind we cannot have disconnections. We are very clear about that.
"We don't want people disconnected, particularly vulnerable people and people who will find it difficulty in terms of meeting their bills".
He said the Government will be working with the energy providers and the regulator is also working on this. Mr Martin said: "And also through the Social Welfare system we will underpin and help people in terms of meeting their bills".
The Taoiseach added that the Government is taking measures in terms of energy procurement and while he anticipates this winter should be fine, he said there is no "guarantee". He said: "Next year will be challenging... and the following year ... and that is why we have to accelerate the planning and permitting system around wind energy."
He went on to say that energy consumption reduction must be part of the Government's plan. He said: "That is part of responding to a crisis of this kind."
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