Ms Siobhán O'Shea:

Grid capacity is complex and not the easiest thing for individuals to understand. When we look at the grid, the solutions that are built at transmission level are to meet all the policy objectives of the Government. At a very fundamental level that is security of supply, but we are also looking at the facilitation of renewables and the meeting of all kinds of demand, including demand in relation to the electrification of heat and power, housing and commercial and industrial needs more generally. The programme of work we have designed for the next five years is the most ambitious infrastructure programme of work that has ever been carried out on the transmission system. Within that programme are 231 projects to be delivered within the next five years by the end of the price review, PR, 6 period. This is to unlock that greater energy independence and security and all the societal needs. The significant transmission infrastructure projects will allow the grid to be ready while we are also unlocking the generation on the other side and to ensure the power can travel to where it needs to go so the demand can be met. Within that programme we have identified 29 transmission priority projects. They make up approximately 50% of the network capital expenditure ask for the PR6 period. Those 29 priority projects have been identified as the most strategic projects to unlock the benefits for society across the country.