Ms Justina Corcoran:

We have an interdepartmental inter-agency steering group that oversees the implementation of the energy poverty action plan. The Department of Social Protection is on that group as well as officials from the Departments of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Health, and Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The areas that I and Mr. Deegan deal with, and a couple of other areas, are represented. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and other agencies are also represented. The group meets every four to six weeks. We oversee the implementation of the actions in the energy poverty action plan. We also meet bilaterally with the Department of Social Protection outside that group coming up to the budget, particularly when dealing with energy credits, to ensure a balance of payments as regards energy credits and the fuel allowance. We would look at the impact on people who are particularly vulnerable to energy poverty. There is ongoing engagement with that Department.