Written Answers Nos. 377-386
377. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current waiting times for ESB connections to homes; the number of homes currently on the waiting list in each county waiting for a connection, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1481/26]
View answerThe provision of connection agreements for customers of ESB Networks is an operational matter for that organisation and is not one in which I, as Minister, have any function. The development of electricity grid capacity and the provision of connections for customers are the responsibility of the national Transmission System Operator, EirGrid, and Distribution System Operator, ESB Networks.
These system operators are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions, and both are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas.
In this instance the Deputy may wish to engage directly with the system operators ESB Networks or EirGrid. ESB Networks and EirGrid have respective contact email addresses for Deputies should they wish to raise matters of concern (oireachtas@esb.ie, oireachtas@eirgrid.ie).
379. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to ensure that red brick houses are more energy efficient and to ensure they are covered by the SEAI scheme. [1601/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025 commits to ramping up the achievement of retrofit targets through continued delivery of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) residential and community energy upgrade schemes. This includes revising and improving the provision of grants and financing models for homeowners who wish to retrofit to enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs, and targeting older homes still using oil to switch to renewable heating systems. These commitments are framing the work underway by my Department on continued delivery and development of the SEAI's residential and community energy upgrade schemes.
In this regard, my Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the SEAI, to support homeowners, landlords and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to improve the energy efficiency of their dwellings. This includes SEAI part-funded schemes which offer grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades, as well as free energy upgrades for people at risk of energy poverty through the fully-funded Warmer Homes Scheme. The grants are available to all homeowners and landlords for a range of house types, including red brick properties.
It is important to note that the retrofit of certain buildings can raise complexities that require careful consideration. For example, the question may arise as to whether external wall insulation will materially affect the external appearance of the structure and whether planning permission is required. The relevant Planning Authority will be able to assist with this question.
Likewise, where traditional buildings are concerned, the materials and techniques used in energy efficiency upgrades must be suitable for the buildings in question, including for use with vapour permeable construction where applicable. This is to ensure that upgrade works don't create issues such as damp or mould.
In this regard, to support the appropriate upgrade of traditional buildings, the SEAI launched a pilot scheme for the retrofit of traditionally built homes in September 2024. The initial pilot is limited to 100 dwellings with the objective of gathering data on the types of solutions set out in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage guidance: Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings: Guidance for Specifiers and Installers. The pilot scheme is available under the SEAI’s National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which provides an end-to-end service for homeowners.
Any decisions to expand traditional home retrofits beyond the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme will be informed by the final findings of the pilot scheme, which are expected as the retrofits start to be completed later this year.
380. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the dates upon which he received arrears data, in each of the years 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1611/26]
View answer381. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the most recent arrears data he has received from the CRU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1612/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together.
Regulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. However, officials from my Department correspond with the CRU on an ongoing basis to track developments in retail and wholesale energy markets, including the effect of Government supports on arrears levels, among other indicators.
The CRU releases market monitoring data monthly to my Department, including items such as estimated annual bills for households and the number of households in payment arrears on their electricity and gas bills. The most recent of these releases includes the most up-to-date estimated annual bills and the latest available data on the number of customers in arrears. As arrears data operates with a two-month time lag due to the way suppliers report these figures to the CRU, the latest arrear data is for October 2025.
|
Domestic/Commercial Electricity and Gas Customers (October) |
Number in Arrears/Switches |
Average Value of Arrears |
|
Domestic Electricity (Arrears) |
300,515 |
€446.51 |
|
Domestic Gas (Arrears) |
176,723 |
€185.09 |
|
Commercial/Small Business Electricity |
27,774 |
- |
|
Commercial Small Business Gas |
5648 |
- |
|
Commercial/Medium Business Electricity |
3570 |
- |
|
Commercial/Medium Business Gas |
231 |
- |
|
Domestic Electricity Arrears >90 days |
186,054 |
- |
|
Domestic Gas Arrears >90 days |
152,430 |
- |
|
Domestic Electricity Disconnections |
311 |
- |
|
Domestic Gas Disconnections |
64 |
- |
|
Domestic Electricity Customer Switches |
46,860 |
- |
|
Non-Domestic Electricity Customer Switches |
2174 |
- |
382. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the dates on which he and-or his officials met with representatives from the deposit return scheme; if the value of unreturned deposits was disclosed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/26]
View answer383. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if there is a requirement for the body in charge of operating the deposit return scheme to regularly report the value and level of unreturned deposits; the frequency and the dates upon which he received it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1650/26]
View answer384. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the regulation that exists for the allocation of not returned deposits as part of the deposit return scheme; if there are rules which mandate how this money can be spent and how long a deposit must be retained before it is spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1651/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 to 384, inclusive, together.
The governance and oversight framework for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is set out in the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 33 of 2024) (the 2024 Regulations), the Ministerial Approval issued to Re-turn under those regulations and the Code of Corporate Governance for Compliance Schemes.
Regulation 4 of the 2024 Regulations provides how the costs of operating a scheme shall be recouped by the scheme operator and this includes from unredeemed deposits.
Regulation 5 of the 2024 Regulations provides for the conditions attaching to an Approval issued to an Approved Body for the purposes of DRS and this includes providing the Minister with all reasonable information to verify compliance with the Regulations.
Further detailed obligations on Re-turn, the scheme operator, are set out in the Approval issued under the 2024 Regulations. Those obligations include the requirement to report to the Minister annually on operational and financial matters.
In July 2025, Re-turn published its 2024 Annual Report & Financial Statements. A link to the report can be found here: re-turn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024-Annual-Report.pdf
On page 14 of its Annual Report, Re-turn outlines how unredeemed deposits are being reinvested by the organisation (Chief Executive's Review, Unredeemed Deposits).
On page 54 of its Annual Report, Re-turn provides clarifications around its financial treatment of unredeemed deposits, including its treatment of the timing of redemptions (Notes to the Financial Statements, 4. (b) Critical accounting estimates and assumptions).
Re-turn is responsible for all operational and funding matters relating to DRS and while I have no function in the day-to-day business operations, officials from the Department monitor performance of the scheme closely and meet with Re-turn monthly to review progress. Quarterly meetings are held to discuss strategic priorities and governance matters and this includes an update on unredeemed deposits.
At the most recent quarterly meeting in December 2025, Re-turn reported to the Department, for the first 9 months of 2025, the accrual of a further €55.1m in unredeemed deposits, before VAT at 23%. This figures is provisional and subject to final audit. Appendix 1 at the link below details the dates when meetings took place in 2025 and to date in 2026.
In addition to these meetings with officials, I have met with Re-turn's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on two occasions - 26 March and 25 November, 2025. At these meetings, the company gave me an overview of Re-turn’s operations to date and future plans.
I understand that Minister O'Brien also met with the CEO of Re-turn on 23 May, when a general discussion took place regarding the Scheme's progress to date and future development plans.
385. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the date on which a Supplementary Estimate or Supplementary Estimates were sought in respect of his Department’s Vote for each of the past ten years, and to date in 2026; the gross and net amount involved in each case; and the Vote subheads to which each Supplementary Estimate related. [1787/26]
View answer386. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the value of expenditure originally allocated in the Estimates to specific programmes or staffing measures that could not be spent as planned within the year for each of the past five years; and whether such underspends were surrendered, carried forward or reallocated to other areas within the Vote. [1808/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.
Details of Revised, Further Revised and Supplementary Estimates for all Departments are published by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and are available at the following link: -www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/the-revised-estimates-volumes-for-the-public-service/
The Revised Estimates also included details of unspent capital carried into the following year.
With regard to the value of expenditure allocated in the annual estimates and not spent as planned, detailed allocations and expenditure outturn are published in my Department’s annual audited Appropriation Accounts which are published by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General at the following link - www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/
The 2025 Appropriation Account for my Department is currently being prepared and will be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit once complete.
