Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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75.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposed investment for the national grid to support delivery on our renewable energy targets by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24618/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not myself as Minister.

The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for, inter alia, the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks, distribution, and Eirgrid, transmission. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU.

System operator spending is agreed with the CRU in five year cycles, referred to as Price Reviews. Price Reviews set the level of investment in the grid over a given 5 year period. The current Price Review, PR5, covers the period 2021-2025 and saw the CRU sanction €4 billion euro investment in the grid. The CRU has commenced work on Price Review 6 which will see the CRU approve the investment in the grid spanning the period 2026-2030. While a decision is not expected until late 2025, the CRU have recently published their strategy paper to inform and seek comments on their approach to deciding the funding for the period.

Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Network. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network. The Transmission and Distribution Networks make up the national electricity grid.

The CRU, Eirgrid and ESB Networks are independent of myself as Minister in the exercise of their functions. The CRU, Eirgrid and ESB Networks have respective contact email address for Deputies, of which they are aware, should they wish to raise matters of concern such as that raised in the question. In this instance the Deputy should direct their query in the first instance to the CRU.