Darren O'Rourke
Question:155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the evidence base for Government policy that seeks to address Ireland's high energy prices. [34984/23]
View answerThursday, 13 July 2023
Questions (155, 184)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:184. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 700 of 23 May 2023, to report on the monitoring his Department carries out on the effect of existing supports to address the high cost of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35145/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 184 together.
I propose to take PQs and together.
A cross-departmental and inter-agency steering group meet periodically to review progress towards the objectives outlined in the Energy Poverty Action Plan, including short and long-term actions to support people to meet the cost of energy. Officials from my Department meet regularly with stakeholders, including energy suppliers and representative organisations, to review the effect of existing supports and consider future policy directions. A stakeholder forum was held on 7th July in Dublin to facilitate greater stakeholder engagement in this area.
Regulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. However, officials from my Department correspond with CRU on an ongoing basis to track developments in retail and wholesale energy markets, including the effect of government supports on arrears levels, among other indicators.
In addition, my Department commissioned a nationally representative research tracker to monitor public sentiment and knowledge in relation to energy issues. The results of this tracker indicates there has been some reduction in the difficulty of meeting energy costs, and that Irish families are making consistent efforts to reduce their energy use. The Government is working towards completing the implementation of the Energy Poverty Action Plan, monitoring the efficacy of existing supports, and exploring further measures to support consumers in the context of Budget 2024.
My Department is also conducting a spending review of household energy budget supports during Winter 2022/23 with the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in order to provide an evidence base for policy making ahead of Budget 24.
Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 141.