David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the current position with regard to developing a policy on 'private wires'; the number of applications made, refused and granted since the transposition into Irish law of the Internal Market in Electricity Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41157/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Currently my department has a public consultation open for submissions on Private Wires. Publication of this consultation represents the first step towards a final policy, which will be delivered in 2024, and completes an important action of Climate Action Plan 2023.

The aim of this consultation is to gather the views of the public, stakeholders and interested parties alike, to consolidate our understanding of the role which Private Wires may play in the future Irish electricity ecosystem, as well as to identify the challenges and opportunities such a policy change may present.

If permitted for, Private Wires would allow private individuals and/or undertakings to install their own privately owned electricity infrastructure linking generation with demand. This would represent a major shift in electricity policy in the State and as such may impact upon all citizens while also overhauling aspects of the electricity sector which have been in place since soon after the foundation of the State.

I encourage everyone to engage with and respond to this important consultation. The deadline for responses has now been extended to Friday 27^thOctober 2023.

As regards applications made under IMED I believe the Deputy is referring to Direct Lines which is separate to the referenced consultation and is a matter under the remit of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and ESB Networks and not something in which I have a function. As such I have forwarded this part of your query to the CRU for their direct response.