Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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128. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the parliamentary oversight processes for the collection and allocation of revenue from dividends from commercial State bodies such as NewERA designated bodies. [25569/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In relation to An Post, while there is a statutory basis for the payment of dividends to the Exchequer by the company, there has been no dividend paid. Were any dividend to be paid it would be a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, to determine how the revenue from any such dividend would be allocated.

It would be a matter for the Board to determine at their discretion in any year whether a dividend should be declared when, in their opinion, the profits of the company justify such payment.

Any decision by the Board of the Commercial Semi State Bodies regarding declaration of a dividend is agreed jointly between the Body, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR). This is because dividends are not voted expenditure and so do not fall within the Estimates or Revised Estimates process.

Additional detail may be found in the relevant Annual Report and Accounts as published by the Companies.

My Department does not have a role in the allocation of the dividend. The dividend is paid by the State Body directly to the exchequer, and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has responsibility for its allocation.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the staffing levels of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, by job title; the estimated full-year cost of filling each position, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26409/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the staffing levels in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and their salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26333/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 169 together.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was established under the Sustainable Energy Act of 2002. The Authority is a body corporate with functions and responsibilities as set out under Section 6 of the Act, which include inter alia promoting and assisting;

• environmentally and economically sustainable production, supply and use of energy,
• energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy,
• the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
• minimising of the impact on the environment of the production, supply and use of energy,
• research, development, and demonstration of relevant technologies.