Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he raised the potential role that Ireland’s offshore renewable energy plans can play in the formation of a European super grid with his European counterparts in the context of Europe’s current energy security crisis. [11663/22]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will raise the potential role Ireland’s offshore renewable energy plans can play in the formation of a European supergrid at the next European Economic Council meeting. [11664/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan highlight the key role that offshore renewable energy will play in achieving Ireland’s increased energy and climate ambition and include the objective of achieving

5GW of offshore wind by 2030. The Programme for Government further commits to developing a longer-term plan to take advantage of up to 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our deeper Atlantic waters, which would enable Ireland to become a major regional generator and exporter of offshore renewable energy.

To facilitate this overarching ambition, my Department will continue to support development of regional offshore electricity grids and engagement with viable proposed new offshore infrastructure projects, including electricity interconnectors. It is also important to highlight the technical market and infrastructure discussions focused on the establishment of European offshore grids that are taking place in working groups within the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC), of which Ireland holds the rotating Presidency during 2022.

The importance of establishing European offshore grids has also been the focus of recent discussions I have held with my EU and UK Ministerial counterparts, and is an issue I will continue to promote during future bilateral and Council meetings. 

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will advise as to the way households who have installed their own totally electricity supply, micro-hydro, wind or photovoltaic off-grid systems will benefit from the energy credit given that they run generators or pay standing charges to suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11795/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The aim of the Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 is to establish a scheme to make a once off payment, in 2022, of an Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. This is an exceptional measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number (MPRN), to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible in 2022 using the existing electricity billing infrastructure. The payment will be applied to the domestic electricity account rather than an individual. Therefore the scheme is without application or further qualifying criteria.The scheme will also include pre-pay customers.

Domestic premises, which are connected to the electricity grid and so have an MPRN assigned, and have a micro-generation system installed, will have the payment credited to the electricity account associated with that MPRN. There is no need to sign up as the scheme will be automatic and apply to all domestic electricity accounts.

The Deputy may also wish to note that regular information updates, including frequently asked questions, are being made available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/.