Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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222. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to parliamentary Question No. 69 of 28 February 2023, when the ESRI is due to report on proposing a metric for measuring energy poverty that combines expenditure and energy efficiency and to propose metrics to measure changes in the trend of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18131/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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On 13 December Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan. The Plan is available on gov.ie and sets out the range of measures being implemented this winter, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes.

As set out in the plan, as part of the ESRI’s research programme, Government is providing funding to examine whether existing supports are well-targeted towards those who are at risk of energy poverty and the impact of those supports on the level of energy poverty. As part of this research the ESRI will:

- propose a metric for measuring energy poverty that combines expenditure and energy efficiency;

- propose metrics to measure changes in the trend of fuel poverty regarding the number of households and its severity;

The research programme is a three year programme and the ESRI will publish papers throughout this time.

The implementation of the new Action Plan is being monitored by a cross-departmental Steering Group, chaired by my department.