Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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104. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total cost to the Exchequer of the €200 electricity credit; the number of beneficiaries who received the payment; the number of beneficiaries who received two, three or more payments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35025/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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105. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if persons with a second meter for storage heating in the same residence received two €200 electricity credit payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35026/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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106. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if any beneficiaries received an additional €200 electricity credit with respect to a holiday home; if so, the number of beneficiaries who received a further payment in respect of one, two or more holiday homes, in tabular form; the number of payments that were made in regard to holiday homes in cases in which the beneficiary lived in Northern Ireland or elsewhere abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35027/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 104 to 106, inclusive, together.

The Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 established a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. The credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) is being applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May and June, and includes prepay meters.

The scheme is operated by ESB Networks and electricity suppliers with oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The Scheme uses a single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number (MPRN) with the credit being applied automatically to all domestic electricity accounts held with suppliers on 29 March.

The payment is being applied to domestic electricity accounts i.e. those which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2), as set out in section 1 of the Act. The DG associated with a residence makes no distinction in terms of the use.

As of 27 May 2022, 2,129,832 domestic electricity customers had been credited, with 1,845,142 of these customers having been notified via a line item on their bill or prepayment vend receipt meaning that 99% of all eligible customers had the credit applied to their account at that point. Based on an estimated 2.25 million domestic electricity accounts, the estimated cost of the scheme is €379,347,208.02.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has considered the introduction of sustainable energy grants for new builds; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that all new builds are now bound by regulations dictating the type of home heating that can be installed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who are constructing a new build are facing multiples of the costs facing a person carrying out a retrofit; his views on whether it is fair that a person carrying out a retrofit qualifies for assistance but a person constructing a new build does not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35044/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their existing properties. The schemes offer grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy upgrades for people at risk of energy poverty. Improving these homes has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light.

Near Zero Energy Building requirements for new dwellings were introduced into the Building Regulations in April 2019 by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The NZEB requirements make it more attractive for builders and homeowners to further incorporate renewable technologies and move away from fossil fuels for heating. There are options for meeting compliance including heat pumps and/or solar PV.

The Building Regulations have been progressively updated over the last decade in order to improve the energy and carbon dioxide emissions performance of all new dwellings. Many of the techniques required to achieve NZEB, such as improved fabric and renewables, have been introduced on a gradual basis into Part L of the Building Regulations since 2007. These incremental improvements have effectively eased the transition and minimised the additional effort and costs required to achieve the NZEB performance for dwellings.

A modelling and cost study was carried out by an external cost economic consultant for the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for NZEB. The average uplift in cost across all dwelling types modelled was 1.9%.

Grant funding to improve energy performance are available for existing homes because these homes were not required to meet the most up to date NZEB Building Regulations. It is important to note that the grants available through SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer. Grants are not targeted at meeting compliance requirements when building a new home.  

Full detail of the grants and grant amounts are available on SEAI’s website.