Offaly TD highlights Government 'inaction' on high energy costs for local businesses

INDEPENDENT TD for Offaly, Carol Nolan, has strongly criticised the responses provided by Alan Dillon, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to recent Parliamentary Questions on supports for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in County Offaly facing escalating energy and operational costs.

Deputy Nolan expressed her disappointment that the replies rely heavily on future reports from the Cost of Business Advisory Forum, general signposting to existing schemes, and references to past grant programmes, while offering no targeted or immediate relief for businesses currently struggling under persistently high energy bills.

While the Minister highlighted a decline in the CSO Wholesale Price Index and pointed to schemes such as the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant and Power Up payments, Deputy Nolan in turn pointed to recent analysis published by Eurostat and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland that show Irish household electricity prices reached 31.72c per kWh in the first half of 2025, making Ireland the third most expensive in the EU for electricity.

“This data clearly undermines claims that the cost of doing business is being effectively addressed. Indeed anyone who wants the facts on this issue need only talk to any local business owner and they will put you right regarding the substance behind the spin,” said Deputy Nolan.

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“Offaly SMEs are not feeling any meaningful relief. Wholesale price fluctuations have not translated into lower bills and any minor reductions that may occur will be offset by the ongoing trajectory of carbon tax increases, including the recent rise to €71 per tonne and its application to additional fuels from May 2026. Indeed, we know that these carbon tax increases are going to be relentless as Government has committed to reaching €100 per tonne by 2030,”

“Long-term efficiency grants, while welcome in principle, do nothing to ease the immediate cash-flow pressures caused by energy costs that remain among the highest in Europe.”

“Business owners in Offaly are telling me they are at breaking point. They need direct, tangible support now not referrals to hubs or promises of future report recommendations.”

“The ESB don’t accept government rhetoric as a form of payment.”

“The Government must move beyond generic responses and deliver real measures to reduce energy costs for rural enterprises like those in Offaly.”

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