Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2022 Appropriation Account with Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, and 2022 Financial Statements of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, officials from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and representatives from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and will also examine the Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022: Chapter 8 - Performance of Certain Residential Retrofit Schemes.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is responsible for the delivery of policies and programmes in a number of critical areas, including climate action, energy and communications, the National Broadband Plan rollout and cyber security. The Department is funded through Vote 29 and in 2022, spending totalled almost €2.4 billion, up from €664 million in 2021. The main reason for the huge increase is €1.59 billion spent on the domestic electricity credit. When this exceptional spend is excluded, the ‘normal’ expenditure in 2022 was €778 million.

“Key concerns for the Committee are the Department’s capacity to deliver critical programmes in a timely way and the effectiveness of evaluation of strategic investments. Other areas of interest include residential and community retrofit programmes, the Energy Efficiency National Fund, the rollout of the National Broadband plan, and significant variations in a number of spending programmes.

“The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland works with householders, businesses, communities and Government agencies to create a cleaner and more efficient energy future. It receives funding mainly from DECC and the Department of Transport, and provides grant funding under a wide range of schemes, including homeowner grants, electric vehicle grants, community grants, business and public sector grants, and research and innovation grants. The Committee is particularly interested in examining expenditure on retrofit schemes and expenditure supporting the deployment of electric vehicle technology and charging infrastructure.

“Members will also examine the C&AG’s Chapter 8 report on the performance two home retrofit schemes on which €538 million was spent over the period 2013 to 2022. Around half of the retrofits inspected require some element of re-work, and a higher rate of inspection may be required. The report also examines how the effectiveness of the schemes is assessed against the targets set. The Committee looks forward to discussing these areas and related matters with the Department officials and the representatives of the SEAI.”

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.