Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of the areas included under that heading is the roll-out of smart meters. The Minister may not have the figures in front of him and if he does not, that is understandable. It is a big part of transitioning to more sustainable energy in particular. The target is for 2.2 million or 2.25 million smart meters to be rolled out. We are at approximately 1.2 million of them, which is slightly more than 50% of the target. That is certainly an improvement. Key to this, however, is encouraging people to use those smart meters. For example, only 6%, or 80,000, of those 1.2 million smart meters are being used. I believe that is down to the simple fact that the night-time rate, through which people can avail of cheaper energy, kicks in at 11 p.m. People do not put on appliances after 11 p.m.; many of them are in bed at that hour. I know it is not directly under the Minister's Department but I appeal to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to ensure the night rate kicks in earlier in order that more people make use of it through their smart meters, thereby saving emissions.

See this speech in context