New taskforce to provide options for short-term energy reliefs

Darragh O'Brien updates Cabinet colleagues on the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce

Climate, energy, and environment minister Darragh O'Brien. Brian Lawless/PA 

The Government’s energy affordability taskforce is set to provide options for short-term energy reliefs in the second half of the year, with proposals expected to form part of negotiations ahead of October’s budget.

Environment minister Darragh O’Brien updated Cabinet ministers on the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT), with an action plan due to be delivered in the coming months.

The taskforce itself is currently assessing “policies and measures” which could be brought forward by Government as an immediate response to the ongoing energy crisis.

Any such proposal would feed into annual budget negotiations.

It is also trying to identify measures to support demand reduction, which could be used to assist with affordability or security of supply issues.

The action plan is expected to be approved by Government in Q3.

Mr O’Brien said the Government needs to be “honest” about the energy crisis. He said it could not insulate people from future price spikes without reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Social housing plans

Meanwhile, housing minister James Browne updated Cabinet on the design and build approach used for social housing delivery.

This sees early designs for social housing projects being prepared by individual local authorities, while a contractor later becomes responsible for detailed design and construction.

The design and build approach has been implemented across 25 local authorities, with the remaining six to enter the scheme by 2027.

Mr Browne told ministers that over 3,000 homes have been proposed through the design and build system, adding this will provide time savings and additional cost certainty to the Exchequer.

The Government has said time savings of between four and six months are achieved during pre-construction, alongside six to nine months saved during the construction phase depending on the project’s complexity.

O'Callaghan defends comments during fuel protests  

It comes as justice minister Jim O’Callaghan defended his communications strategy during the fuel protests, where he said the Defence Forces would be called in to move on people blockading streets.

Mr O’Callaghan said he did not have regrets about how he handled the communications during the protests.

“I sometimes think if I hadn’t announced it as I did, I could have faced very legitimate questions from you when the army did go in on Saturday morning,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“‘Why didn’t you announce this, who knew about this, why wasn’t there a communication from the Minister for Justice who knew this was happening?’

“I think it is unfair to criticise a minister for being transparent and to say what actually happened.”

Mr O’Callaghan said he believes he was “better off” being transparent, adding it was the case that Gardaí were engaging with the Defence Forces for their assistance.

During the week of the protests, Mr O’Callaghan released a statement announcing that the assistance of the Defence Forces had been requested by Gardaí.

However, this statement was published before any request form was submitted to the Defence Forces.

• Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter