Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on his intentions to improve local electricity infrastructure and ensure increased redundancy to mitigate the impact of adverse weather events. [6706/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. Both of whom are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.

The Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent 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’.

Planning, building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system are functions which are assigned to the respective Distribution and Transmission system operators and for which they are accountable to the CRU. It is for system operators to determine the means of delivery of infrastructure. In particular it is a technical decision for them as to whether an overhead or underground line should be used for any part of the network.

Notwithstanding that Government does not direct System Operators to particular types of technologies, I met with representatives from the CRU and ESB Networks on Friday the 31st of January, to discuss the Storm Éowyn response and the impact on customers.

I requested a number of actions be taken, once the initial storm response has been completed. These measures include an enhanced Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan. This will be developed within the next month, and will be implemented by ESB Networks between March and October to enhance the resilience of the grid in the most vulnerable locations for the upcoming winter.

I also requested a full review by ESB Networks and CRU, as part of the PR6 (Sixth Annual Price Review) decision-making process, of the planned grid enhancement and in light of the damage caused by Storm Éowyn, with specific additional projects and investments identified to future proof Ireland’s energy grid and to adapt to the challenges of climate change.