Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date on which a private wires policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17088/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Developing a private wires policy is of importance to this Government and an action was included in the Programme for Government to expedite the delivery of this policy. This is a complex area with a range of potential options. Work on the policy is ongoing within my Department; initial policy proposals will be published shortly.

Having received Government approval, on 4 July last year, my Department published a set of guiding principles for the development of a policy on private wires. Alongside the guiding principles, a summary report of the Private Wires Public Consultation and an appendix setting out all responses received was also published.

The principles, while not making immediate changes, are to guide any changes which are to come and provide guidance to the public and industry as to the direction of travel in respect of this key area, while reiterating the central role the national electricity grid will continue to play in the electricity system.

The Private Wires Policy will aim to unlock private sector resources to build new electricity infrastructure by expanding the rights of private undertakings to connect supply directly with demand. The intention is that by allowing “private wires”, an accelerated investment in new electricity infrastructure to include renewable generation and storage will be seen, which will ultimately benefit the whole electricity system.