Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress that has been made rolling out low-cost initiatives that can help families reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions which can be quickly rolled out such as heat controls, public electric vehicle chargers, utilisation of smart meters and so on. [28308/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am acutely aware of the impact of rising energy prices on people and families and Government has taken significant action, in particular, to provide enhanced energy efficiency upgrades to those most at risk of energy poverty.  

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operate a number of energy efficiency upgrade schemes on behalf of my Department and support for Heating Controls is available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme. All homeowners whose homes were built and occupied before 2011 can apply for the €700 grant to upgrade their heating controls.  

In addition, over 750,000 smart meters have now been installed. With 1.1 million meter installations due to be reached by end 2022, Ireland has now achieved a critical mass. Since smart services went live last year customers can now sign up for time of use tariffs. To further the benefits of this critical public infrastructure, under the National Energy Security Framework, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will leverage the successful roll out of the National Smart Meter Programme to provide electricity customers with access to their data and greater insight into their consumption patterns, thus enabling them to select the most appropriate tariff. 

The Government’s draft EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy, currently out for public consultation, promotes the rollout of publicly accessible charging points for EVs. It focuses on meeting the needs of EV owners who are unable to home charge, as well as top-up charging at destinations and on major routes. Work is currently being progressed to expand the EV home charger grant to include shared parking in apartment blocks and similar developments. The Department of Transport is working closely with the SEAI and expects a scheme for apartments to open in the near future.