Pay-as-you-go energy customers will not be cut off this winter, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said.
The country is facing into a bleak winter without a guarantee power blackouts will not occur. Energy supply is in a delicate position due to the Russian war with Ukraine.
Russia is one of the biggest suppliers of gas to the EU and the war has disrupted the supply which has driven the cost of energy soaring. And concerns were raised that those on pay-as-you-go energy deals could be effectively cut off because they cannot afford to put any more money on the meter.
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However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin guaranteed the Government will not let this happen. 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."
The Taoiseach said energy consumption reduction must be part of the Government's plan. He said: "That is part of responding to a crisis of this kind.
"We have to support people financially, but equally we have to look afresh at how we consume energy."
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