Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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97. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to report on the conclusion of the private wires consultation; when the Government will bring forward a private wires policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27558/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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During 2023, my Department held a public consultation on private wires. The consultation ran from 18^th August until 27^th October 2023 and during this time over 120 submissions were received. Work in respect of the consultation submissions is currently ongoing within my Department, with a report on submission responses now expected for publication during the summer. This report will include both a summary of the responses and an appendix of all responses received.

The aim of this consultation was 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. Publication of the consultation represented the first step towards a final policy and completed action EL/23/15 of the Climate Action Plan 2023.

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.

In accordance with Action EL/24/9 of Climate Action Plan 24, it is intended to publish a private wires policy during Q4 2024.