Written answers
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Energy Policy
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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209. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update of all the actions in the energy security review, broken down by action; the breakdown of completed actions, of actions still in progress, and those that have yet to commence; and the breakdown of estimated timeline for delivery of each action, in tabular form. [33356/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 was published in November 2023 and outlines a strategy to ensure energy security in Ireland for this decade, while ensuring a sustainable transition to a carbon neutral energy system by 2050. The report was published as part of an Energy Security Package, containing a range of supplementary analyses, consultations, and reviews, which have informed the recommendations and actions related to energy security.
The 28 actions outlined in Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 are overseen by the Energy Security Group (ESG), which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and attended by officials from relevant Government Departments and Agencies.
The table below provides an update of the actions to end Q1 2025:
| ACTION | STATUS | ESTIMATED TIMELINE FOR DELIVERY |
|---|---|---|
| 1. To transpose the European Energy Efficiency Directive | IN PROGRESS | Oct-25 |
| 2. To standardise the approach used to evaluate the affordability of new and existing policy initiatives on consumers | IN PROGRESS | Priorities have been realigned under the PfG resulting in the establishment of a National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) which will have its inaugural meeting on 19 June. The drafting, publication and implementation of a National Energy Affordability Action Plan will be a key output of the NEAT. The relevant actions in the ESP are being incorporated into the work programme of the NEAT. |
| 3. To improve the ways that homes and businesses can manage their energy use by providing an evidence-based programme of communications activity and by supporting ‘active consumers’ through smart metering and smart energy services | IN PROGRESS | Q4 2025 |
| 4. To review gas connection policy and introduce gas demand flexibility measures | IN PROGRESS | Q3 2025 |
| 5.To identify and support new, innovative approaches to integrating large-scale demand sustainably into Ireland’s energy systems that align with the overriding objective to decarbonise | IN PROGRESS | Q3 2025 |
| 6. To utilise the National Energy and Climate Plan to ensure all policy incentives are aligned on a regular basis | COMPLETE | COMPLETE |
| 7. To work within the updated European Electricity Market Design to continue to reduce emissions associated with Ireland’s conventional capacity over the medium-term | IN PROGRESS | 2030 |
| 8. To complete implementation of the CRU Security of Electricity Supply Programme | IN PROGRESS | 2027 |
| 9. To increase resilience by implementing an updated, risk-based, evidence-based reliability standard in the electricity sector | IN PROGRESS | 2027 |
| 10. To implement consenting reforms and align to planning reforms to provide greater certainty to the sector | IN PROGRESS | Primary legislation in place by end Q4 2025. Secondary legislation to be developed over the course of 2026 with phased implementation to end 2026. |
| 11. To ensure a fit for purpose electricity grid that supports Ireland’s energy and climate ambition | IN PROGRESS | Q4 2030 |
| 12. To accelerate delivery of power system flexibility | IN PROGRESS | 2026 |
| 13. To successfully complete and integrate additional Electricity Interconnections | IN PROGRESS | 2030 |
| 14. To finalise studies to inform the development of long-term gas storage solutions which can store renewable gas, in particular hydrogen | IN PROGRESS | Research due Q4 2028 |
| 15. To secure the existing onshore ‘Inch gas pipeline’ for wider strategic uses | IN PROGRESS | Ongoing - engagement with relevant parties on means to arrange transfer of assets has commenced. |
| 16. To ensure a fit for purpose gas grid, that supports Ireland’s energy and climate ambition | IN PROGRESS | CRU and GNI are undertaking a number of initial measures to support this medium- to long-term action. |
| 17. To create a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve to protect Ireland in the event of a gas supply disruption as Ireland makes a secure transition to majority renewable energy | IN PROGRESS | Government decision in March 2025 to progress the deliver of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve. |
| 18.To strengthen supply chain of secondary fuels for Gas-fired power generation | IN PROGRESS | Substantively completed in 2024, with ongoing analysis of this area to continue in 2025 between relevant bodies. |
| 19. To resolve Long-Term Sourcing Issues for improved Oil Security | COMPLETE | Analysis commissioned and complete on Refining in Ireland |
| 20. To expand the energy expertise and capacity available to Government and representing Ireland Internationally | IN PROGRESS | Chief Technical Adviser appointed. Dedicated graduate recruitment in place. New International division established and resources at EU level enhanced. |
| 21. To regularly review the scope, functions and resourcing of the delivery organisations that are driving the energy transition | IN PROGRESS | Ongoing. |
| 22. To integrate the forecasting framework for the electricity and gas sectors | IN PROGRESS | 2027 |
| 23. To extend International Energy Agreements to support energy security | IN PROGRESS | MoU in place - work plan to be developed. |
| 24. To continue to regularly Review Energy Emergency Exercises and Preparedness | IN PROGRESS | Ongoing. Exercises conducted, future exercises planned and actions being implemented following each Exercise. |
| 25. To update the approach to Industry and Stakeholder Engagement in policy deliberation | IN PROGRESS | Ongoing across multiple forums. |
| 26. To enhance energy sector oversight and governance | IN PROGRESS | Ongoing. Review of CRU ongoing to enhance oversight, governance, resources and engagement with the CRU. |
| 27. To establish Annual Energy Security Reporting and Regular Energy Security Reviews | IN PROGRESS | 2026 |
| 28. To establish a permanent Energy Security Group | COMPLETE | COMPLETE |
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 10 June 2025, to provide a breakdown of the revenue generated from the temporary solidarity contribution that was used to support measures for final energy customers, introduced in Budgets 2024 and 2025. [33493/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices provides for a temporary solidarity contribution on unexpected surplus profits (“windfall gains”) in the fossil fuel production and refining sectors as a result of the Ukraine war.
The temporary solidarity contribution was implemented in Ireland through the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023. This Act provides for two payments of temporary solidarity contribution in respect of the years 2022 and 2023 and also provides the Revenue Commissioners with the legislative powers to administer, collect and enforce the temporary solidarity contribution.
Classified as non-tax revenue in the Exchequer Returns, the Temporary Solidarity Charge collected amounted to €167.2 million for 2023 and €99.7 million for 2024. Proceeds from the contribution must be used for financial support measures for final energy customers, and in particular vulnerable households, to mitigate the effects of high energy prices, in a targeted manner. These funds were used as part of the financial support measures for final energy customers introduced in Budgets 2024 and 2025.
As part of Budget 2024, 2.2 million households were granted energy credits in 3 instalments of €150 which were applied on 1 December 2023, 1 January 2024 and 1 March 2024. For this Budget 2024 measure, the total cost to the Irish Exchequer was approximately €1 bn. The €167.2m collected in 2023 was used to part fund these energy credits.
As part of Budget 2025, a similar measure was applied where Energy Credits were granted in 2 instalments of €125 which were applied on 1 November 2024 and 1 January 2025. For this Budget 2025 measure, the total cost to the Irish Exchequer was approximately €570 million. The €99.7m collected in 2024 was used to part fund these energy credits.
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