Energy and Fuel Costs: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-29
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Mike Kennelly (FG), Labour Panel

I welcome the Minister of State this evening. I also welcome and support this important motion on fuel and energy costs. It is an issue that affects every household, business farm and community across Ireland. Energy is a necessity. Families need it to heat their homes. Businesses need it to keep their doors open. Farmers need it to run their farms. Workers need affordable fuel to get to and from work.
When energy prices rise, everyone feels the impact, particularly in rural counties such as Kerry, where I come from, where many people rely on home heating oil, and where long journeys for work, education and healthcare remain a fact of life. That is why supports such as the fuel allowance, which has been mentioned, are so important across Ireland. Over 470,000 households are receiving this support, including 17,200 households in Kerry alone. It is particularly important for older people in older homes, for carers and for low-income working families. In Kerry, over 5,000 carers receive carer's benefit, while dedicating themselves to caring for spouses, parents, grandparents and people with disabilities in their homes.
For many households, this payment is the difference between heating their home and going without. Today, I am calling on the Government to increase the fuel allowance by €5 to €43 per week, and to reduce the carbon tax element on home heating oil. This will help pensioners and vulnerable households remain warm throughout the winter. I also welcome long-term supports that work for our people. What families are asking for is certainty and security, not short-term measures that come and go. Our Opposition wants a mini-budget every week. As far as I can see, most of them are written on the back of a stamp.
We must also look at Ireland's long-term energy security. Recent international events have shown how quickly energy markets can be disrupted. Ireland remains heavily dependent on imported energy, leaving us vulnerable when global supply chains come under pressure. That is why I believe liquefied natural gas, LNG, must play a key role in Ireland's energy future. This is not a choice between LNG and renewable energy. We need both. Ireland should continue investing in wind and solar power, but we must also be realistic. When renewable generation is low and demand is high, we need a reliable backup supply. LNG can supply that security. What is particularly frustrating is that we have a shovel-ready LNG terminal project on the Tartbert-Ballylongford land bank in north Kerry, yet we are still waiting for action and approval on this project. Quite frankly, it is totally unacceptable. For years we have spoken about energy security, but progress on critical infrastructure has been far too slow. A national LNG facility would strengthen energy security, support the industry, protect local jobs and help shield households and businesses from future energy shocks, such as what we are witnessing now. Energy security and renewable energy must go hand in hand.
LNG is not about abandoning climate targets, it is about ensuring a secure and reliable energy supply while we continue the transition to cleaner energy. We must also continue to expand renewable energy in a fair and balanced way, as has been mentioned. Solar energy has enormous potential but communities are concerned about the scale of some developments. In north Kerry alone, there are currently ten solar farm applications approved or in progress, covering over 4,000 acres. People are not opposed to renewable energy. They simply want proper planning, common sense and meaningful consultation with local communities. The Government should introduce clear national guidelines for solar developments to protect agricultural land, biodiversity and local communities while allowing renewable energy projects to grow. I am sorry I am nearly at my four minutes.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-29