Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise a serious issue relating to electricity connections in the Cappincur area of Tullamore, County Offaly, where two important projects are currently stalled due to ESB capacity constraints. The first concern is the Cappincur recycling centre, which suffered a devastating fire on 1 March 2024. Anyone who has experienced a fire in a workplace understands the uncertainty and hardship it creates for both workers and owners. To their credit, the owners rolled up their sleeves, rebuilt the facility, complied with every regulatory requirement, completed all necessary works and are now ready to reopen and provide employment again in what is a critical environmental sector. However, despite everything being ready, the plant cannot reopen because it is still awaiting a reconnection from ESB Networks. The operators have been engaging with ESB Networks since last September seeking that reconnection. Workers are ready to return to their jobs, yet the facility remains unable to open.

The second issue concerns Waterways Ireland's new craft centre of excellence, which is also located in the Cappincur area. This is a major public infrastructure project that will support the maintenance of 120 locks across the 420 km of navigable waterways and provide a base for approximately 70 staff. Waterways Ireland has been engaging with ESB Networks for over two years, with a formal connection estimation in August 2025. Both of these projects have now been informed that ESB Networks requires a further two-month review of grid capacity in the Cappincur area before it can confirm when connections or reconnections can be delivered. Depending on the outcome of that review, delays of up to 12 months or longer may arise.

Another aspect that is particularly concerning is the timeline involved in even notifying these organisations about the review process. In the case of both the recycling plant and Waterways Ireland, engagement with ESB Networks has been ongoing for months. In the case of the recycling plant, engagement has been ongoing since last September. In the case of Waterways Ireland, it has been for more than two years. However, it was only recently confirmed that a two-month capacity review was required before any timeline could even be provided. In fact, it was only when my office made direct inquiries that clarity was provided that such a review was even under way. That raises a very fair question. How can it take nearly six months for customers to be informed that a review is required before a connection or reconnection timeline can even be considered?

The longer this situation continues, the more precious taxpayers' money is wasted through delays to a major State infrastructure project. That money should be delivering infrastructure and services for the public. Certainly, it cannot be redirected to resolve the reconnection issue facing a private recycling plant that is ready to provide employment.

The Government is investing significant sums into electricity infrastructure through the national development plan, with billions of euro directed towards strengthening and expanding the electricity grid. ESB Networks has a major capital programme to upgrade the network to support electrification, economic development and the transition to renewable energy. While all of that investment and reform are welcome, the situation in Cappincur raises a fundamental question - does the system currently have the capacity to deliver connections efficiently and effectively? We cannot have businesses, public bodies and workers left waiting indefinitely for connection or, worse again, a reconnection. What exactly are the grid constraints affecting the Cappincur area of Tullamore? Why are both projects now subject to two-month capacity reviews before any connection timeline can even be indicated? What immediate steps can be taken to ensure connections at both Cappincur recycling centre and Waterways Ireland are delivered without further unnecessary delay? Workers and businesses in Offaly cannot be left waiting indefinitely for electricity connections.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. I will outline the ongoing initiatives for developing capacity in the electricity grid and relay the advice received from ESB Networks on the matter received. The Government does not have a role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is in line with the 2012 Government policy statement on the strategic importance of transmission and other energy infrastructure, which states: "The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies." The Government, however, can assist and is assisting to ensure the right environment exists to enable the delivery of this critical piece of infrastructure.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, an independent regulator accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas, has responsibility for the economic regulation of the electricity system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks. System operators are tasked with building, safely operating and maintaining a fit-for-purpose electricity system. Our electricity grid is made up of two interlinked networks, namely, the transmission network operated by EirGrid, which allows us to transport electricity around the country, and the distribution network operated by ESB Networks, which brings power to communities, businesses and homes.

In December, the CRU published its final determination on price review 6, PR6, setting out the investment that will take place in our electricity system over the coming five years. PR6 represents the largest ever investment in our electricity grid and will see up to €18.9 billion invested by EirGrid and ESB Networks between 2026 and 2030, with a baseline of €13.8 billion guaranteed. PR6 will enable the delivery of major upgrades and developments to the electricity network across the country, facilitating housing growth and heat and transport electrification, all while enabling and driving industrial and economic growth in Ireland.

The Government is committed to delivering electricity infrastructure. That is why we are investing €3.5 billion in equity in EirGrid and ESB Networks. The equity injection will support the ability to finance the unprecedented investment in our electricity system under PR6, with €1.5 billion transferred to ESB Networks last December to support the financing of our onshore electricity infrastructure. The remaining €2 billion will transfer to EirGrid over the next five years to support its investment in offshore transmission infrastructure.

Now that the investment plans for the next five years have been published and funding for the grid secured, it is critical that, as a country, we deliver the infrastructure. That is why the Government has established numerous task forces to accelerate electricity generation and grid infrastructure. In 2024, under the accelerating renewable electricity task force, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment established a future grid working group. The working group brings together key delivery staff from across the Department, the CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks. It is tasked with accelerating delivery of the grid, identifying issues that are impeding grid delivery and potential solutions to same, along with identifying priority grid projects. The work of the future grid group has fed into and is supported by the work of the accelerating infrastructure task force under the Department of public expenditure, infrastructure and reform. In December, the Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan to help deliver efficient delivery of infrastructure across Ireland. The action plan contains 30 time-bound measures to address 12 barriers to infrastructure development previously identified by the work of the task force. The national electricity grid must deliver connections locally and provide a quality electricity supply for new and existing customers.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I hear what he is saying but the concern locally is that this situation could drift for a long time. I understand the Government does not have any say over what ESB Networks does but, at the same time, it has influence. Both projects have effectively been told that ESB Networks needs two months simply to complete a capacity review and only after that will it be known whether further reinforcement works are required. If that review concludes that upgrades are needed, we could be looking at delays of one year or more. That is not acceptable. It means that a recycling plant, which has already been rebuilt after a devastating fire and has been engaging with ESB Networks since last September seeking a reconnection, could remain idle with workers waiting to return to employment. At the same time, a major State infrastructure project could remain delayed, leaving taxpayers to continue to bear the cost while construction timelines slip further and further.

Businesses and public bodies understand that infrastructure takes time. What they cannot plan for, however, is the situation where it takes months just to be told a review is to take place and then potentially months or years more before a connection can be delivered. Will the Minister of State engage urgently with ESB Networks and the CRU to determine whether temporary capacity solutions, interim connections or accelerated network upgrades can be put in place to ensure these projects in Cappincur are not left waiting indefinitely? The workers, employers and public bodies involved have done everything asked of them. They now need the system to deliver for them.

A recycling plant rebuilt after a fire and a major State infrastructure project are now sitting idle in Offaly while everyone waits months just to find out whether the electricity can be turned back on. That cannot be acceptable.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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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.