Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Ireland will opt into the mandatory smart metering system. [44815/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Smart Meters are the next generation of energy device which will replace the traditional electricity and gas meters. These devices work by communicating with both the consumer and their energy provider, giving a view of actual energy usage. This provision of actual consumption information, as well as a range of possible additional services such as time-of-use tariffs, can deliver numerous benefits to both consumers and the wider environment.

European Directive 2009/72/EC requires, where the roll-out of smart meters is assessed positively, at least 80% of consumers shall be equipped with intelligent metering systems by 2020.

The National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP) is a programme of work which aims to successfully rollout electricity and gas smart meters on a national basis. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), working closely with my Department, established the NSMP in 2007.

To date the programme has involved various consultation phases, the most recent of which commenced on 8 December 2015 with the publication of consultation papers on consumer policy.

Decisions on the timing and scale of any rollout of smart meters will only be taken subject to the cost-benefit analysis results which are due in Q3 2016.