Energy prices in Ireland are extortionate. Annual gas bills are €120 higher here than in other EU countries. When it comes to electricity bills, they are €350 higher. These sky-high prices, on top of extortionate and exorbitant housing costs, are causing real hardship for people. As we speak, a whopping 440,000 households around the country are in arrears. The previous Government introduced a tax on windfall profits. A total of €189 million was collected, but it is just sitting there. It was supposed to have been used to reduce energy costs but the Government has not acted. When will the Minister get around to using the windfall profits to reduce costs? Will he reintroduce the tax on windfall profits that has lapsed?

I acknowledge the ongoing issue of high energy prices across our economy, and that is why the outgoing Government, including through budget 2025, sought to support families through the electricity credit scheme. In the context of budget 2025, we will be specifically targeting any type of support that could be made available to individuals or families through the social protection system. We have been clear that we are going to move away from universal measures in the context of any support for families.

Specifically relating to what the Deputy referred to, I will ask the relevant Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, to respond on the specific allocation made in the time of the previous Government and on what was introduced then. I will ask him to provide the Deputy with the factual information.