Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. The report referred to in the question from the Deputies is the ESB submission on the energy Green Paper. It is one of over 1,240 submissions received earlier this year during the period of public consultation on the Green Paper. That submission, like all those received is a useful contribution to the process of developing a definitive energy policy. That process is continuing, with further stakeholder engagement planned over the coming months, including a number of events at various regional locations before the end of the year.

We had a very useful seminar this week in the Chester Beatty Library. I encourage Deputies, as I have said before, to participate in the process regarding the preparation of the White Paper which will be the definitive energy policy statement for this country for the next generation. We will develop this in the next six months. The process is not being rushed. Deputies will have an opportunity to contribute and I encourage those on both sides of the House to do so.

Deputy Heydon is correct. My Department is focused on ensuring that the assumptions on which the final policy paper will be written are tested and accurate, so as to produce a dynamic and responsive evidence-based framework. This work will facilitate us in steering an appropriate course as we seek to address sustainability, security and competitiveness challenges and opportunities. The text of the policy paper will be progressed during the first half of 2015, with a view to publication of the final policy paper by September 2015.

The ESB and EirGrid are fully in agreement on the need for critical energy transmission and distribution infrastructure. Both companies also acknowledge the need for Irish electricity networks to address citizen and community concerns, to take account of changes in the level of electricity demand due to changing economic circumstances and to accommodate evolving European energy policy. The ESB and EirGrid work closely together on development and reinforcement of the transmission and distribution systems in order to ensure security of supply and to meet customer and stakeholder needs.

As a matter of course, EirGrid regularly reviews its strategies and projects. Grid 25 was originally developed in 2008 when the macro-economic climate was very different. In line with Eirgrid's review policy, Grid 25 was updated in 2011, when the scale and scope was reduced to reflect the change in circumstances. As a result, the cost was revised downwards from €4 billion to €3.2 billion.

Grid 25 was developed to improve security of supply and to provide a high quality of electricity supply to all areas, including the west, and to enable the delivery of electricity generated from wind farms to the major urban areas. In May this year, EirGrid initiated a further update of Grid 25 to take into account the most up-to-date information available, including technical innovation and future economic and demand projections. Following discussions with my Department, this update also includes an independent review to verify the strategies of Grid 25 on the basis of changing circumstances since 2008. EirGrid expects this review to be completed and published early in 2015.

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