Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
266. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is currently assessing an alternate method to deliver the €200 rebate payment to those full-time mobile home residents considering in many cases their income levels and vulnerability (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19934/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 established a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account. The credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) is being applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April and May, and includes prepay meters. This scheme is in addition to the Government’s longstanding measures to address energy poverty and the protection of vulnerable customers, and is in addition to the measures introduced in the Budget.
Where residents of mobile homes hold domestic electricity accounts with a supplier of their choice, they will receive the credit, and do not need to apply for it. In cases where residents of mobile homes hold a tenancy agreement, parties are encouraged to refer tenancy disputes to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for resolution. The RTB encourages parties to work with its mediation service.
Where other arrangements apply, such as a contractual arrangement with an operator of a mobile home park, this is a contractual matter between residents and the operators of these parks.
This Credit is an exceptional measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number, to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible in 2022.
Existing measures, additional to this scheme, which are designed to target support for people in need of assistance to address energy poverty and wider social protection needs, were increased in the Budget, and additional measures have ben announced by Government to deal with rising energy costs.
The Deputy may also wish to note that information updates on the electricity credit, including frequently asked questions, are available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/.
