Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
138. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the electricity rebate will be passed on to members of the Traveller community who pay electricity bills directly to local authorities; and if so, the way that this will be processed. [14437/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 has established a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. This scheme is in addition to the Government’s ongoing measures to address energy poverty and the protection of vulnerable customers, and is in addition to the measures introduced in the Budget.Where a domestic electricity account is set up directly by a member of the Traveller community, with the provider of their choice, payment of utility bills are matters between the account holder and their suppliers. In the event that local authorities hold the domestic electricity accounts, but a member of the Traveller community pays their electricity through local authorities, this is a matter between them and the local authority. Should members of the Traveller community have a dispute with their local authority, they should bring that up with their local authority in the first instance. The Ombudsman can examine complaints relating to local authorities. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is contacting local authorities to ensure that, electricity credit is being passed on to occupants of halting sites, as appropriately, in situations where tenants pay local authorities directly for energy.
