A new legislation from Fianna Fáil could have a transformative impact on over 1 million people in Ireland who are living in energy poverty.

The political party has published the Energy Poverty Reduction (Use of Surplus Renewable Energy) Bill, which aims to tackle the issue of wasted renewable energy by ensuring it is diverted to assist those most in need.

According to the Economic and Social Research Institute, energy poverty currently affects more than 550,000 households in Ireland. Simultaneously, hundreds of millions of euros worth of renewable energy is wasted annually as it is produced during periods of low demand on the national grid.

Since 2018, over €1.7 billion worth of renewable energy has been dumped and as there is currently no national strategy in place to address this issue, thousands of families are struggling to afford electricity and heating.

"The fact that over 1 million people in this country are struggling to heat their homes while we waste billions of euros worth of renewable energy is both unacceptable and avoidable," said Deputy Paul McAuliffe, co-sponsor of the Bill and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on social protection.

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"This Bill ensures that surplus energy is not discarded but is instead harnessed to help support families facing high energy costs.

"With the right strategy, we can tackle energy poverty head-on, and provide a lifeline to those who need it most."

The proposed legislation would require the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, to publish a comprehensive strategy within six months, outlining how surplus renewable energy can be harnessed specifically to assist families living in energy poverty.

Additionally, the Bill mandates setting specific, time-bound targets for the effective utilisation of surplus energy.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, co-sponsor of the Bill and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on the environment, said: "Wasting renewable energy is not only a missed opportunity to help vulnerable communities, but also a failure to maximise the environmental benefits of clean energy.

"By ensuring this surplus energy is put to use, we are making Ireland's energy grid more efficient and reducing the environmental impact of wasted resources.

"This legislation would set clear targets for the future, driving both social and environmental progress for generations to come."

He added: "The Energy Poverty Reduction (Use of Surplus Renewable Energy) Bill, marks a critical step towards a more equitable and sustainable energy system, ensuring that the benefits of Ireland's renewable energy revolution reach those who need them the most."