Written Answers Nos. 135-148
137. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the legislation for the cap on market revenues; when he expects it to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34884/23]
View answer152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the draft Bill for the cap on market revenues will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34972/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 152 together.
It is the intention of the Minister to bring the Bill to Cabinet for approval and publication before the summer recess.
138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the decisions to end the inframarginal revenue cap for electricity; when the revenue will be collected; if an analysis was conducted to estimate how much revenue would be earned by extending the measure to the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34885/23]
View answer139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the revenue collected from the inframarginal revenue cap for electricity will be used to fund targeted cost-of-living supports, as detailed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34886/23]
View answer140. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the revenue from the inframarginal revenue cap for electricity will be collected; how this revenue will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34887/23]
View answer143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the revenue from revenues earned from the temporary solidarity contribution and the cap on market revenues to address windfall gains in the energy sector will be distributed to large energy users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34911/23]
View answer144. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if large energy users will be excluded from the distribution of revenues earned from the temporary solidarity contribution and the cap on market revenues to address windfall gains in the energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34912/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 139, 140, 143 and 144 together.
The due date for revenue collection is anticipated to be December 2023. However, in order to ensure full compliance and non-circumvention of payments in line with the provisions of the Regulation, there will be a period of verification of payment amounts by the regulator, where appropriate.
According to Article 10 of the Regulation, Member States shall ensure that any surplus revenue resulting from the application of the market revenue cap is used to finance measures in favour of final electricity customers that are targeted at mitigating the effects of high electricity prices on those customers.
No decision has yet been taken on how to allocate the revenue. This will be a matter for Government, following the final settlement of the amount of revenue received.
141. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the cross-departmental and inter-agency Energy Poverty Steering Group; how many times it has met over the past year; the issues it addressed and the actions that followed from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34909/23]
View answer142. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the cross-departmental and inter-agency Energy Poverty Steering Group progress to address how the revenues earned from the temporary solidarity contribution and the cap on market revenues to address windfall gains in the energy sector will be distributed to provide relief from high energy prices; how many times it has met; how stakeholder voices have been included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34910/23]
View answer145. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum on 7 July 2023; the outcomes and any actions to be carried forward; and if there are plans to conduct another forum in the future. [34913/23]
View answer154. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the evidence base for the policies the Government has put in place to address energy poverty. [34983/23]
View answer156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the work of the research network on energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34988/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 142, 145, 154 and 156 together.
On 13 December 2022 Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan. The Plan is available at www.gov.ie and sets out a range of measures to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes. The implementation of the Action Plan is being monitored by a cross-departmental Steering Group, chaired by my Department.
This group was established in August 2022, and has met 5 times.
As part of the work of the Steering Group, the inaugural Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum was held on 7 July 2023. The Forum seeks to improve and accelerate the implementation of the plan, by fostering dialogue and cooperation among NGOs, industry representatives, and public bodies. It provides a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, assess progress on objectives from across the action plan, and share new ideas to combat energy poverty.
A report is being prepared on the recommendations and outcomes of the Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum.
The Action Plan also pledges support for ESRI research to develop metrics to measure energy poverty and track changes in its severity and scope over time. This three-year research programme will assist Government to ensure future actions protect those most at risk.
In addition, my Department commissioned a nationally representative fortnightly research tracker, which is indicating that Irish families are making every effort to reduce their energy use and that there has been a reduction in the difficulty of meeting energy costs.
Ultimately, the best way to combat energy poverty in the long-term will be by continuing to make investments to improve the energy efficiency of homes, boost renewable energy adoption, and deepen interconnection with Europe. Improving home energy efficiency and cutting our dependence on fossil fuels will ensure a cleaner, cheaper energy future.
The proceeds from the Temporary Solidarity Contribution and the Cap on Market Revenues may be used to provide financial supports to households and companies heavily affected by soaring energy prices. It may also be used to help support investment in areas such as renewable energy.
The Government has not yet made a decision on how the proceeds from the Temporary Solidarity Contribution and the Cap on Market Revenues should be allocated.
146. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the Government's summit on energy independence held on 6 July 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34914/23]
View answerThe Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and I convened an Energy Summit on 6 July. The Summit brought together representatives from the private, public and voluntary sectors to discuss Ireland’s decarbonisation of its energy systems. The summit provided an opportunity for participants, whose combined efforts will be vital to delivering Ireland’s climate and energy policies, to discuss how best to position Ireland to reap the environmental, economic and social benefits of moving away from fossil fuels and towards indigenous, renewable energy sources. The outcomes of the summit will support further developments and opportunities in the energy transition.
148. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of personnel in his Department at principal officer level or above who, on retiring from that position, were subsequently appointed to a State or semi-State board over the past ten years. [34921/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department.
The process for appointments to State Boards is managed in an open and transparent manner by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), and information on the professional activities of former employees after they have retired is not sought or retained by the Department.
