Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the interdepartmental engagement process on the distribution of revenues raised from the windfall gains in the energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32085/23]
View answerThe windfall gains in the energy sector will be collected through a temporary solidarity contribution on fossil fuel and refining activities and a cap on market revenues of specific technologies in the electricity sector. The temporary solidarity contribution will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners and the proceeds remitted to the Exchequer. The cap on market revenues will be collected by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
Council Regulation 2022/1854 requires the proceeds to be distributed in accordance with Article 17 for temporary solidarity contribution and Article 10 for cap on market revenues. There will be a Government decision on the specific distribution of proceeds from both the temporary solidarity contribution and cap on market revenues. In advance of the Government decision, the Cross-Departmental and inter-agency Energy Poverty Steering Group, chaired by my Department will be consulted on the distribution of these proceeds. The members of the Energy Poverty Steering Group are:
• Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications
• Department of Social Protection
• Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage
• Department of Health
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
• Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)
• Health Service Executive
• Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
• Department of Finance
• Department of Rural and Community Development
