Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for introducing increased urgency into our challenge. The Government accepts that consumers are currently facing volatility in energy prices due to a particular spike in international gas prices. It has taken action to address this by using the tax and social welfare system. This includes measures such as the fuel allowance increase, a credit payment to all domestic electricity accounts and a reduction in VAT on gas and electricity bills, as mentioned.

Other measures include the wider package of energy-efficiency supports, including from the SEAI, that make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes with lower energy bills. Changes to the warmer homes scheme involve a significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades for those most at risk of energy poverty. For those not eligible for free upgrades, grants for cavity wall and attic insulation have more than tripled. These are highly cost-effective upgrade measures that can be deployed rapidly and at scale this year. It is expected that these works will pay back in between one to two years in most houses. However, the best long-term approach for Ireland to reduce consumers' exposure to volatility on international wholesale energy markets is to invest in energy-efficiency, in renewable energy and in interconnection with the UK and the EU to deepen the internal energy market. I understand planning permission was agreed yesterday for the interconnector between Ireland and France.

I will finally outline the role of the CRU. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of electricity and gas retail markets under the Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for the co-ordination of the smart meter programme. The Deputy will note the CRU is accountable to a joint committee of the Oireachtas, not the Government or the Minister, for the performance of its functions. He may also wish to note the CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas Members as well.

On local authorities not taking up the grant on EV chargers, I thank the Deputy for highlighting that. They are certainly not doing it in adequate numbers. In my own area, the local authority is putting in EV chargers. They may not be accessing the grants but they are putting them in. They are not putting in enough of them but there is some action happening on the ground in my area at least.

See this speech in context