EDITORIAL: Are energy bill cuts a sign we are still kicking the can down the road?

If the sunshine this past week wasn’t good enough, households across the country are in for a late summer break in the form of cuts to their energy bills.

Airtricity and Electric Ireland announced they are to cut the cost of energy from November. This is in addition to Energia and Pinergy, who had already announced cuts to their prices.

The move will undoubtedly ease some of the financial burden on thousands of people.

But the question is, is it enough?

The Taoiseach certainly doesn’t think so. In an interview with RTÉ, Leo Varadkar said he would be asking energy companies to do more.

His comments are certainly strong, but words are cheap. All of this is in good time too, with Budget Day not even a month away.

We know the coalition is considering tax cuts, social welfare measures and potentially more energy credits.

But again, is it enough?

Households are struggling with grocery bills, rent and mortgages, and many other day-to-day costs. We need those companies to do more too.

It shouldn’t all be on companies, but perhaps even the Government are starting to realise that fiscal responsibility and austerity were and are not the same thing.

Years of neglect of public services like housing, medical care and mental health among others, have a cumulative effect. And we are now seeing the rather expensive effect of kicking the can down the road.

This week, the Government announced a group to look at future pandemic responses. They and the medical community recognise that crises happen, and the better prepared we are, the lesser the damage.

Perhaps we need the same for our public services. Energy credits have been a great help to many people, but they are a temporary measure.

And the cuts this week are too small. We need a plan to repair the past and build the future, not just a budget or a bone thrown by big business.