Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
87. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his officials have given consideration to using money collected through the carbon tax and through the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Act 2023 to help tackle energy poverty in Ireland through measures such as the EnergyCloud initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20625/24]
View answerFrom the proceeds of the carbon tax, a total of €788 million was allocated as part of Budget 2024 to climate action measures and to ensure the most vulnerable are protected from unintended impacts of the carbon tax increase. In my own Department, €388 million of this total was allocated towards a series of projects which are actively contributing to the alleviation of energy poverty such as the provision of free energy efficiency upgrades to households in, or at risk of, energy poverty through the Warmer Homes Scheme.
Budget 2024 also introduced a total €2.2 billion suite of once-off Cost-of-Living supports, to assist families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities. This included a new Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme III through which €412.83 (exclusive of VAT) was credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €137.61 (exclusive of VAT) between December 2023 and April 2024. The Scheme was partly funded by the proceeds of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023 which was enacted in July 2023 and raised €167m for the exchequer in September 2023.
In relation to the proceeds of the cap on market revenues arising from the introduction of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Act 2023; these will be used to support final electricity consumers in line with Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854. My Department, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, are currently considering suitable measures.
