Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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185. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the work carried out to date on the Government’s review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems; if he has received a draft of the completed review; when he hopes to bring the review forward to Government; and when he hopes the completed review will be published. [15289/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department engaged consultants to carry out technical analysis on Ireland’s energy system for the period to 2030 to support its work on the review of the energy security of Ireland’s electricity and gas systems. A consultation on the review was published in September 2022 and the deadline for submissions was the end of October 2022. My Department received over 450 submissions from a broad range of individuals and organisations. The consultation responses were reviewed and analysed, and provided important insights on a number of aspects such as risks, mitigation options and policy measures. My Department is now completing the review and I will bring proposals to Government shortly.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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186. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the development of a national biomethane strategy; the expected timeline for statutory consultation and publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15318/23]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Task Force, under which auspices a biomethane working group will be tasked with developing Ireland’s national biomethane strategy, has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15319/23]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress that has been made to date regarding the establishment of a biomethane working group, which was as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15320/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 187 and 188 together.

The Heat and Built Environment Taskforce has been established to accelerate and drive delivery in respect of retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat, decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of the building stock. The overarching aim of the Taskforce is to: identify work on the critical paths to key targets under each area; ensure alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments; and, proactively manage risks to ensure targets are achieved.

Membership of the Taskforce aligns with the initial allocation of Ministerial responsibilities for the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings, as agreed by Government. The Taskforce, which has met twice to date and is scheduled to meet again before the end of the month, is supported by other groups established to examine specific aspects of its remit, including a Working Group to develop a National Biomethane Strategy.

Chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, the Biomethane Working Group has been established and held its a first meeting on the 1st March 2023. The Group intends to meet monthly and will oversee an all-of-government approach to developing the Strategy, which aims to deliver up to 5.7TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030.

Development of an anaerobic digestion industry is at a nascent stage in Ireland and a primary focus of the Working Group will be the examination of the types of supports necessary to develop this industry. The Group will also carry out extensive analysis on the best end use of the 5.7TWh target, paying particular focus to producing biomethane in a sustainable manner.

CAP 2023 has committed to delivering the National Biomethane Strategy by Q3 2023 and the Working Group is currently developing a high-level action plan, which will include extensive stakeholder engagement activities.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how the proceeds from the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) Bill 2023 will be used to lower profits for consumers; if an energy credit will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15361/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment about the market revenue cap included in the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) Bill 2023 the motivation to backdate to December 2022 only, excluding the months in which the profits of energy companies were at their peak throughout 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15362/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices came into force in October 2022. This Regulation seeks to address windfall gains in the energy sector through a temporary solidarity contribution based on taxable profits in the fossil fuel production and refining sectors and a cap on market revenues of specific generation technologies in the electricity sector.

A General Scheme of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) Bill 2023, which will implement the temporary solidarity contribution and the cap on market revenues, was approved by Government and published on 21 March.

The cap on market revenues in the electricity sector will apply for the period December 2022 to June 2023. The Council Regulation does not provide scope to extend the cap on market revenues prior to this period.

It will be a matter for Government, as part of the annual Budget process and in line with the Council Regulation, to determine how the proceeds collected from the temporary solidarity contribution and cap on market revenues will be distributed.