The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, has today (Tuesday) received Government approval for proposed Supplementary Estimates to the value of €954 million for the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (Vote 29), the Department of Rural and Community Development (Vote 42), the Director of Public Prosecutions (Vote 5), and the Department of Finance (Vote 7).
A Supplementary Estimate of over €938 million will be provided to the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (Vote 29) largely for payment of energy credits. As part of the Budget 2024 Cost of Living package, three credits of €150 (inc. VAT) will be provided to over 2.2 million domestic household electricity accounts. The credits will be provided in the periods December 2023, January-February 2024, and March-April 2024.
A Supplementary Estimate of €11 million will be provided to the Department of Rural and Community Development (Vote 42) to fund Ukraine community supports under the Social Inclusion Activation Programme (SICAP) and Community and Voluntary Sector programmes.
Further Supplementary Estimates of €4.5 million for the Director of Public Prosecutions (Vote 5), largely relate to fees to Council and to redistribute funding in the Department of Finance (Vote 7), which has also been agreed.
Further Supplementary Estimates will be brought to Government in the coming weeks.
Minister Donohoe said:
“Today I have agreed an additional €954 million for the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Director of Public Prosecutions’.
“This includes funding for the energy credits announced as part of the Budget 2024 Cost of Living package. The three €150 energy credits will support over 2.2 million households with elevated electricity costs throughout the winter season. It will ensure the credits can be reflected on household bills in a timely manner with the first of these payments beginning in December.
“I have also agreed an allocation of €11 million for the Department of Rural and Community Development to provide community based supports to those arriving from the Ukraine. This includes €10 million of additional SICAP funding to allow Local Development Companies to continue promoting social inclusion and equality in communities. This funding will support 270 events to help over 15,600 Ukrainian arrivals adapt and integrate into life in Ireland.”
ENDS