Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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361. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to proceed to split out ESBN as a separate organisation from ESB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54263/13]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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362. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to have the ESB Distribution System Operator constituted and structured as a completely independent organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54264/13]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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363. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends to move to reduce ESB’s market share by forcing it to divest assets and thereby reduce its 40% market share to 25% market share; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54265/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 to 363, inclusive, together.

The Government has committed to retaining the electricity networks in State ownership and to retaining ESB as a vertically integrated utility as a strong strategic player in the all island energy market and in due course in the integrated European Market.

In January 2009, a new legal entity charged with the operation and management of the electricity distribution system in Ireland was set up. The new entity - ESB Networks Limited - remains a part of the ESB group of companies but is legally and functionally distinct from any other ESB operations.

The Commission for Energy Regulation occupies a strong role in ensuring proper development of the Grid system in Ireland in addition to statutory responsibility for review of network expenditure.

In October 2012 the Government requested ESB to develop proposals for the sale of some non-strategic generation capacity, with the specific objective of delivering special dividends to the Government targeted at up to €400M by the end of 2014. In that regard, ESB has announced its intention to sell its two peat stations, West Offaly Power and Lough Ree Power. In selling West Offaly Power and Lough Ree Power, ESB will be proposing to prospective buyers an arrangement under which it continues to operate and maintain the Peat Stations with existing staff.