Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
191. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will devise an alternative process other than the MRPN system for those on sub meters to access the electricity grants to ensure that those who are already struggling do not fall into energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51424/22]
View answer192. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an elderly person living in a rental accommodation scheme flat that has a coin meter and no separate MPRN number from the main building would be eligible for €600 electricity credits; the way in which they could apply in order that they could also benefit from the credit allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51446/22]
View answer193. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the €600 energy credit in Budget 2023 can be used towards a person's gas bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51453/22]
View answerI propose to take Question numbers 191, 192 and 193 together.Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion included in Budget 2023. The Budget package includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023 and March/April 2023. The estimated cost of this scheme is €1.211 billion and will be provided to my Department through a Supplementary Estimate.The payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application/approval process. This mechanism allowed payments to be made automatically to 2,138,939 domestic electricity accounts, over 99.36% of eligible accounts, under the first scheme which operated between April and June of this year.
It is not being applied to domestic gas accounts on the basis that it is intended to be a universal support. Not all consumers use gas but electricity is supplied to all households. While the majority of residential tenants will hold their own domestic electricity accounts, and therefore receive the credit directly, others could have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment. A small proportion could have other arrangements in place whereby electricity costs are part of the rental cost. Where tenants have a dispute relating to tenancies including any terms relating to electricity payments, these can be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for dispute resolution. As there is not data set identifying this cohort, increasing awareness of entitlements of existing social protection measures, which include provision for help with household bills, is an important way of supporting people in this situation.Along with the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme Budget 2023 also introduced measures including:
- €400 lump sum payment to Fuel Allowance recipients- €200 lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase- €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting Working Family Payment- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children- €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer's Support Grant will be paid in November- €500 lump sum cost of living disability support grant will be paid to all people receiving a long term disability paymentThe CRU has a dedicated email address for deputies to contact them oireachtas@cru.ie for timely replies.
