Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
150. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures being put in place to ensure that Travellers who pay their rent directly to local authorities have access to the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme; if Travellers who missed out on phase one of the scheme will be refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58520/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra151. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures being put in place to ensure that Travellers who live on unauthorised sites, without meter point reference numbers, have access to the electricity costs emergency benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58521/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together.
Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. That is why the €2.4 billion package of supports implemented in 2022 has been followed by a further package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion and as part of Budget 2023. This 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.The payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts 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). This includesaccounts with pre-pay meters. The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN)to ensure payments are made directly and automatically to those accounts, without application or means testing. Under the first scheme, operated in quarter 2 of this year, over 99% of eligible accounts received the payment.
Despite this advantage, the scheme does have limitations. As a result there are cohorts that did not receive the payment.
A particular cohort, identified since the first scheme, includes approximately 1,000 traveller households who use Local Authority accommodations and who were unable to access the credit as, in this situation, the MPRN is registered to the Local Authority and supplies multiple households. However, this group is identifiable through their use of Local Authority accommodation. Therefore, in approving the second Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme, Government also approved funding for this group. DECC is working with the County and City Management Association (CCMA) to provide this benefit to Traveller families through Local Authorities. I understand that there are a number of unauthorised sites in various locations throughout the country, however, these sites are not included in this scheme.
