Written Answers Nos. 151-171
151. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which emergency market adjustment charges, which were introduced by energy companies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, were calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56144/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cap on the market revenues of certain electricity providers was introduced under the following legislation, the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Act 2023.
The legislation implemented the emergency interventions introduced by EU Council Regulation 2022/1854, which aimed to protect energy users from significantly increased electricity prices following the invasion of Ukraine. The Act capped the revenues of energy companies operating within the State. Surplus revenues were directed to a market cap fund, to be disbursed in the form of measures to support final electricity customers.
The setting of the cap and the calculation of the surplus revenue to be collected were provided for by Part 2, Chapter 1 of the 2023 Act. Section 6 specified the persons liable to make payments, namely, licensed producers of electricity with a capacity greater than one megawatt, authorised intermediaries of such producers and persons authorised to sell electricity on behalf of producers. Section 7 listed the sources of electricity production subject to the cap.
Section 8(2) specified various figures for the market cap in cost per megawatt hour, depending on the source of electricity production. The cap was set at €120 per MWh for wind, solar and hydro-based generators; €180 per MWh for other non-gas generation such as geothermal, waste and lignite; and a variable cap was set for electricity from sources with variable cost structures, including biomass and peat.
Under section 9, the collection agent was required to publish a “market index price”, a weighted average price of a quantity of electricity traded in the day-ahead and intraday markets for each month of period during which the legislation was in force. With reference to this figure, sections 10, 11 and 12 outlined a set of rules for the calculation of “adjusted surplus revenue”, the amount which a producer, intermediary or trader was liable to pay in respect of the market cap.
It should be noted that EU Council Regulation 2022/1854 envisioned “exceptional, targeted and time-limited measures” and included an explicit time limit. This reflected a policy aim of preserving price incentives to reduce energy demand and save energy, enabling energy producers to recover their investment and operating costs and incentivising investment in a decarbonised and reliable electricity system. Accordingly, the 2023 Act enabled a cap on market revenues to be applied for the period beginning on 1 December 2022 and ending on 30 June 2023.
152. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the meetings he has had with energy suppliers since coming into office; the dates on which these meetings took place and the specific company that he met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56249/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment regarding the decision to withdraw energy credits as part of Budget 2026, the engagement he has had with the CRU to address the impact that will have on energy arrears; if he anticipates there will be an increase in the level of arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56280/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 154 together.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation, and has statutory responsibility for the compliance by energy suppliers with their consumer protection obligations. The CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister.
The CRU published a report on retail energy markets in September 2023 in relation to competition and supplier pricing in the energy market. The report was in response to a request by then Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, to examine supplier hedging practices and pricing strategies in the Irish energy market. Based on a review of supplier prices and wholesale market costs, the CRU considers that retail prices are broadly continuing to reflect underlying cost drivers, such as wholesale gas and electricity prices, but with a lag period due to supplier hedging strategies. This hedging reduced the impact on consumers of the sustained high and volatile prices, during the period in advance of and coinciding with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This slower and smoother increase, facilitated by hedging, is expected to be mirrored by a similar slower and smoother decrease, should wholesale and futures prices continue to decline.
Government is deeply conscious of the impact which rising energy prices, driven by an unprecedented increase in wholesale prices and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have had on Irish consumers and businesses. The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward taxation measures to help contain energy costs.
In Budget 2026, Government approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity until 31 December 2030. This is traditionally 13.5%, but has been 9% since 2022 in response to the energy price crisis. From January 2026, the Fuel Allowance Payment will increase by €5 to €38 per week, equating to an increase of more than 15%. This will provide an additional €140 to over 460,000 recipients during the annual fuel allowance season. This payment has also been expanded to include those in receipt of the Working Family Payment.
The CRU has published enhanced customer protection measures for Winter 25/26. For the upcoming Winter period 2025/26, some of the key customer protection measures that will remain in place include a disconnection moratorium, minimum timelines for debt repayment plans, discounted tariffs for financial hardship meter customers and promotion by energy suppliers of the vulnerable customer register.
As Minister, I meet with a range of stakeholders on important topics, including energy prices, and I can confirm that I have met with both the CRU and energy suppliers in relation to the arrears situation since being appointed as Minister. On 26 September 2025, I met with the four biggest energy suppliers in Ireland. In addition to my interactions, my officials meet with suppliers on a regular basis and a key message to them is the critical importance of prices being reduced as soon as possible.
Under the Programme for Government 2025, we have committed to commissioning an independent review into the speed and level of pass through from wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment of the overall price dynamics, including an overall focus on the competitiveness of the Irish economy. This is a priority and my Department has established a cross-Government National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability.
153. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the breakdown of the recycling that Ireland exported in each of the years 2020 to 2025; the measures he is taking to reduce this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56256/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe waste management industry in Ireland remains reliant, in part, on the export market to meet its processing needs for waste packaging produced here. Given the volume and grade of material collected, this is mostly recycled abroad for reasons of economic viability.
Notwithstanding these constraints, a number of measures are planned or underway which will boost recycling rates and make recycling on the island a more attractive proposition for investors.
These measures include:
• The recent introduction of our national Deposit and Return Scheme which is already delivering a separate high-quality stream of PET for recycling.
• Requirements for recycled content in all packaging under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and for PET bottles specifically (under the Single Use Plastics Directive), which should increase demand for quality recyclate.
• Requirements for harmonised labelling, and design-for-recycling criteria, under the PPWR, which should further help in the correct segregation and easier post-consumer treatment of plastic waste.
In keeping with the polluter pays principle, Extended Producer Responsibility schemes have a key role in meeting national collection and recycling targets and also in supporting investment to ensure that as much as possible can be recycled and recovered domestically. Both Re-Turn and Repak are working with investors to maximise the recycling of all types of plastic packaging here.
In addition, changes in the recently revised Waste Shipment Regulation will ensure a more level playing field in the EU plastic recycling market for EU operators. After 21 May 2029, plastic packaging waste can be exported for recycling to non-OECD countries only if those countries have proven to the European Commission that they can manage such waste to an environmental standard equivalent to EU recyclers.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the competent authority for the collation of national waste statistics and reports annually on Ireland’s performance against a range of European waste directive and regulations, as well as waste exports. These are used for reporting on Ireland’s performance in meeting its legal obligations, for policy and waste management planning purposes and to inform the general public. This data is available at the EPA website: www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/waste/national-waste-statistics/.
155. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline analysis that has been carried out on the cost of energy for households between 2022 and to date in 2025; the measures he is taking to reduce them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56281/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraElectricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime, wherein these markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and are overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Price setting by energy suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned.
I am advised that, currently, weighted market average for estimate annual bills is €1,802 for electricity and €1,536 for gas. There has been no significant change in these figures since January 2024. These figures are, however, 19% and 18% lower respectively than their peak in September 2023.
The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses, and commits to bringing forward taxation measures to help contain energy costs.
In Budget 2026, Government approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity until 31st December 2030. This has traditionally been 13.5%, but has been 9% since 2022 in response to the energy price crisis.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce has been established by my Department to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability.
156. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the energy market reforms he is considering to reduce the cost of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56282/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has made a number of important commitments to address the continued high cost of energy, while accelerating the decarbonisation of Ireland's energy system. The Programme for Government acknowledges the pressures on households and businesses caused by high energy costs.
In June 2025, my Department formed a National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, operating within the broader policy context set by the Programme for Government and Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. A key output of this Taskforce will be to develop and publish an Energy Affordability Action Plan.
The Taskforce and associated action plan provide an opportunity to consider the broad range of factors which influence energy costs, and potential supports to those most vulnerable to high energy costs. Without pre-empting the Taskforce’s programme of work, the action plan will include targeted measures to support households in energy poverty to meet the cost of energy, as well as structural reforms within the energy sector to lower costs for households and businesses.
Additionally, the New Electricity Market Design Directive (EU 2024/1711), published in the Official Journal of the European Union in June 2024, puts the consumer at the centre of the clean energy transition, enabling active consumer participation, and a strong framework for consumer protection.
The Directive includes measures intended to ensure that active consumers are empowered to lower the cost on their electricity bill through activities such as energy sharing, that all customers are free to have more than one electricity supply contract or energy sharing agreement at the same time, and that consumers shall have the right to fixed-term, fixed-price supply contracts and dynamic electricity price contracts, amongst other provisions. The Directive also includes strong oversight measures for national regulatory authorities to oversee suppliers and ensure they are hedging responsibly. The Directive is currently being transposed into national legislation by officials in my Department.
157. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will reform the PSO levy to reduce the cost of energy for households. [56283/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is a vital policy support for the development of renewable electricity to enable Ireland to reach energy and climate targets. Under the PSO, over 4.6 GW of renewable generation is supported through the REFIT and RESS schemes.
The PSO is set annually by the CRU to recover or return electricity consumers funds associated with renewable supports. It applies to all electricity customers and can be a charge or a credit depending on wholesale prices. For 2025/26 the CRU has set the monthly PSO charge at €2.01 for domestic customers. In contrast, the PSO was negative in 2022/23, resulting in payments to customers, and set to zero for 2023/24. Thus the RESS provides for consumer protection, whereby supported projects are required to credit monies to households and businesses when market prices exceed their RESS support price.
The PSO protects consumers by supporting investments in renewable energy at predictable prices and reducing reliance on importing fossil fuels. The PSO helps shield consumers from international price volatility.
The CRU administers the PSO within legislation and sets the PSO transparently each year in light of market conditions. Concerns of energy affordability for both households and businesses are currently considered best addressed through broader, targeted measures beyond the PSO Levy. That includes the through the establishment and work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce whose goal is to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses.
158. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the analysis his Department has conducted to assess the impact of the draft decision of PR6 on household bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56284/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to investing in our critical infrastructure. Price Review 6 (PR6) will deliver upon the Programme for Government priority to ensure that the necessary investment is made in our electricity grid. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as the independent economic regulator of EirGrid and ESB Networks is responsible for PR6. The CRU are proposing to approve an investment of up to €18.08 billion in our electricity system between 2026 and 2030, with a €14.1 billion baseline investment guaranteed. Government is investing €3.5 billion in equity in EirGrid and ESB Networks to ensure that PR6 can be delivered. A final determination on PR6 by CRU is expected by year end.
The impact on customer bills during PR6 will vary by their usage and connection type. While the PR6 draft determination included an estimated annual impact of the network tariffs, this will be superseded by the final determination. CRU, as the independent regulator, will provide updated impact assessments as part of the final determination.
Affordability is a key objective for the government. The National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) has been established by my Department to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability.
The core objectives of the Taskforce include drafting an interim plan which analyses energy price trends, and identifies measures to support households and businesses in the near term. This report will be published in the coming weeks. This work precedes the preparation of an Energy Affordability Action Plan which will examine the possibility for structural reforms to lower costs for households and businesses.
159. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of people in arrears in each of the years 2020 to date in 2025, broken down by month. [56285/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulation 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.
The CRU releases market monitoring data monthly to my Department inclusive of key 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 arrears data, which is available on the CRU website, is for June 2025.
A breakdown of arrears figures from 2020 to 2025 is set out below.
The Deputy may wish to engage directly with CRU in relation to the matters raised. CRU provides a dedicated email address, oireachtas@cru.ie, for Oireachtas members which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters.
160. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will include the upgrade works, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency this month, at the Ailesbury pumping station in Sandymount in the National Development Plan's departmental programme next month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56292/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised by the Deputy is a matter for the National Development Plan's Departmental programme at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in conjunction with Uisce Eireann and the EPA.
I have been advised by staff in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 and one in which the Minister at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no function.
If Deputies have any queries on specific issues in relation to water services, Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
The Deputy can also contact the EPA via email to oireachtas@epa.ie.
162. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total value of cash reserves currently held by a company (details supplied); the purpose for which these reserves are maintained; and whether his Department has imposed or intends to impose any limits or conditions on the accumulation of such reserves. [56362/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised by the Deputy is a matter for the National Development Plan's Departmental programme at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in conjunction with Uisce Eireann and the EPA.
I have been advised by staff in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 and one in which the Minister at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no function.
If Deputies have any queries on specific issues in relation to water services, Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
The Deputy can also contact the EPA via email to oireachtas@epa.ie.
166. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether any directors, executives, or shareholders of a company (details supplied) have had commercial or contractual relationships with beverage, packaging, or waste-management companies regulated under the scheme; and if his Department has undertaken due diligence in this regard. [56366/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe governance and oversight framework for the Deposit Return Scheme is provided for within the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2024, the Ministerial Approval issued to Re-turn under those regulations and the Code of Corporate Governance for Compliance Schemes.
As a producer-led scheme, directors of Re-turn are reflective of the makeup of the scheme’s membership and stakeholder base. The board is structured to represent the different categories of producers and retailers, ensuring balanced decision making and oversight. In addition to industry representatives, the Board comprises an independent Chair, two independent directors and the CEO.
Board membership is outlined in Re-turn's Annual Report for 2024, which can be found here: https://re-turn.ie/re-turn-2024-annual-report/
Re-turn has advised that no Re-turn executives have had a commercial or contractual relationship with beverage, packaging or waste management companies regulated under the scheme.
167. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total revenue generated from unclaimed deposits under the return scheme to date; the means by which these funds have been utilised or invested; and whether he intends to require that unredeemed deposits be returned to the Exchequer or reinvested directly in environmental infrastructure. [56367/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been introduced to encourage more people to recycle plastic bottles and cans and to deliver on our ambitious EU targets for the recycling of those products.
Re-turn always encourages consumers to redeem their deposits and it is important that the public is aware that Re-turn retains an open-ended liability to refund deposits to consumers, regardless of when or where the product was purchased.
On 25 July 2025, Re-turn published its 2024 annual report and a link to the report can be found here: [www.re-turn.ie/re-turn-2024-annual-report/].
In the report, Re-turn declared that €66.7m in unredeemed deposits were on hands in respect of 2024, before VAT at 23%. Unredeemed deposits are available to the not-for-profit company and may be used to invest in the scheme. It should be noted that the Ministerial Approval requires Re-turn to build a Contingency Fund of €50m. In its Annual Report, Re-turn has set out its approach to management of the unredeemed deposits. As the return rate improves, unredeemed deposits are reducing in parallel. For the first 6 months of 2025, Re-turn reported to the Department the accrual of a further €26.4m in unredeemed deposits before VAT at 23%.
As with other DRS schemes, unredeemed deposits are retained by the operator and are reinvested in the development of the scheme. In its Annual Report, Re-turn has outlined how it intends to invest the funds in a range of measures to promote and improve collection rates including:
• Improving Reverse Vending Machine coverage and optimising convenience for consumers
• Enhancing accessibility to maximise the scheme for all users
• Introducing larger, bulk-fed machines enabling quicker, higher volume returns
• Communications and awareness, supporting the consumer’s understanding of DRS and the benefits of a separate collection for these materials
• Recycling infrastructure development
170. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of formal complaints, representations, or requests for information received by his Department regarding the financial or operational conduct of a company (details supplied) since its establishment; and the actions taken by his Department in response. [56370/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, 204 items of correspondence from the public relating to the Deposit and Return Scheme have been received by the Department. Of these, 13 related to either the financial or operational matters at Re-turn. Officials provided appropriate replies to these queries and no further action was required.
In addition, 28 requests under the Freedom of Information Act relating to the scheme have been received since 2023. The Department publishes summaries of all non-personal Freedom of Information (FOI) requests at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/published-foi-requests/.
171. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the EU funding opportunities that will be open for application for schemes under his Department and at agencies under his aegis in the next six months and in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56444/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought in the Question is set out in the attached document. The Question is an operational matter for the agencies under the aegis of my Department. A list of contact email addresses for each of the agencies is also attached should the Deputy wish to contact the agencies directly in relation to this matter.
