Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My questions are for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The cost of renewables came up in our earlier session in terms of the delivery task force for offshore wind. Will that have a cost dimension? We are an outlier in terms of the cost of renewables. Are auctions and the potential of further auctions to deliver further high-cost electricity within the Department's mandate or area of focus? What is it doing about that?

Grid capacity is related to cost. EirGrid has outlined a schedule of works or areas of the grid that will be rated up or upgraded. However, it has given no indication of timelines or when those works will be completed. Will all of them be delivered? It could be June, July or August of 2029. Has EirGrid given the Department an indicative timeline for those projects in the shaping our energy future report? If it has, will the Department officials share that with the committee?