Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his contribution on the matter. I acknowledge that he has raised a serious and specific query regarding an issue in his constituency. As I said, the national electricity grid must deliver locally. That should mean providing quality electric supply for new and existing customers. Under the grid connection policy set by the CRU, connection applications are dealt with on a sequential, first-come, first-serve basis. As I outlined, the Government has invested heavily in acknowledgement that the grid is at capacity and that there is a need to improve and enhance it. I have already outlined just how much money the Government has put behind this investment. Under my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, we have also established the infrastructure delivery task force to ensure infrastructure is delivered effectively and in a timely manner and barriers that have been identified are removed. This is critically important for the development and maintenance of our economy going forward.

The Deputy has raised a specific issue relating to Cappincur. I appreciate that businesses and projects in that area need certainty. I will bring back the message he has delivered this evening to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to determine whether we can get certainty for the projects in question in Cappincur.

We do and should expect ESB Networks to be able to identify, in a more timely fashion, exactly what is going to be needed. If a long lead-in time is needed for infrastructure improvements, it should be able to give the businesses in question the time to plan accordingly. As I said, the Government has invested heavily in acknowledgement that infrastructure improvements are needed. We want to see those rolled out in a timely fashion.

See this speech in context