Environmental Justice Network Ireland (EJNI) has produced a statement on the failure of Ireland’s Budget 2027’s to provide for Ireland’s Social Climate Plan – the EU scheme that would unlock up to €663 million to help vulnerable households and transport users with rising energy and transport costs. Ireland’s plan was due to the European Commission in June 2025. It still hasn’t been submitted. Accessing the funding requires Ireland to co-finance at least 25% of the plan’s cost (an estimated €220 million) through the Budget itself – and today’s Budget confirms that provision, once again, has not been made. Asked directly in the Dáil days before the Budget, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment confirmed in writing that “no allocation has yet been made” for this, and that a “new timeline” for submission is being agreed with the Commission, with no date given. Meanwhile vulnerable households head into another winter without the home energy upgrades or transport supports this funding could pay for.
Social-Climate-Plan-Press-Statement.pdf