18. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Taoiseach for an update on the first progress report of Climate Action Plan 2025. [12367/26]

Sentiment score: 0.14

We all accept the transition needed in our energy system. We need renewables and investment and we need to tackle climate change seriously, but we cannot balance climate ambition on the backs of working families. Most countries that are transitioning their energy production to renewable sources are now seeing decreases in the price of electricity. Why are Irish families not seeing that? Why are they still paying the third-highest household electricity prices in Europe? Why are more than 300,000 households now behind on their electricity bills? That is 70,000 more in arrears than this time last year. The difference is that the Government has pulled the energy credits. People are working flat out and still falling behind. This data is from the start of winter and, undoubtedly, things have become much worse during January and the first two weeks of February. When gas is counted, almost 500,000 households are in arrears. While families are being hammered, the Government seems to shrug its shoulders and play denial, saying it is not going into energy credits. We need to see it happen because families are struggling in my constituency, in the Taoiseach's constituency and in many others across the State.

Sentiment score: 0.05