Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the development of the new action plan on energy poverty; the timeline for the publication of the action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54983/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government published a review of the Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty, alongside a public consultation in August. The Review showed strong delivery with many of the original actions exceeded. The responses to the consultation helped to inform this year’s Budget as well as the development of the forthcoming Action Plan to Combat Energy Poverty.

Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion was included in Budget 2023. The Budget package included a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments over the coming three billing periods.

Along with the Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme, Budget 2023 also introduced measures to support people with the increased cost of living including:

- €400 lump sum payment to Fuel Allowance recipients

- €200 lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase

- €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting Working Family Payment

- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children

- €500 cost of living payment for people receiving Carer's Support Grant will be paid in November

- €500 lump sum cost of living disability support grant will be paid to all people receiving a long term disability payment

A total budget of €337 million was announced as part of Budget 2023 for the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes next year including 6,000 free upgrades for homeowners at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes scheme. This budget allocation will also mean that the special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation will continue to be available to homeowners next year. In addition, €87 million has been allocated by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to upgrade the energy performance of 2,400 local authority social homes.

The new Action Plan will set out the measures being implemented this coming winter, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are supported and protected. It is intended that the new plan will be published in the coming weeks.