John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated extra non-budgeted cost to ESB Networks and Eirgrid of the damage caused by storms and other weather related events since September 2024; the extra charge that would have to be levied on customers to recoup these costs over a three year period; whether it is his intention to introduce a measure funded by his Department to assist the public in paying for these extra costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21151/25]

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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324. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that are been taken to ensure that the damage caused by falling trees and branches to both electrical and communications infrastructure is minimised in the event of future storms; whether it is intended to include the local authorities in a co-ordinated approach to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21153/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Following the damage caused to the telecoms networks by Storm Éowyn, my colleague Minister O’Donovan met with senior executives of both mobile and fixed telecoms providers to reflect on the lessons to be learned, and measures to be considered to build further resilience into telecommunications networks to avoid, where feasible and practicable, a reoccurrence of the same level of disruption to services.

I am advised that this was a constructive engagement, and it was agreed by all that it will require a strong collaboration between public and private entities to ensure that our communication networks are strengthened to withstand the kinds of weather impacts recently experienced.

Since this meeting officials in my Department have been working with industry to progress a plan to improve network resilience. The development of this plan is on-going and will be discussed at the next meeting of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, which is expected to take place in May.

My Department is also participating in the Storm Éowyn review process led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Strategic Emergency Management Framework. Learnings and recommendations out of this process will also be considered as part of the Department’s ongoing plans to improve resilience of telecommunications networks. As the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is leading this review, the involvement of the Local Authorities is a matter for that Department.

As the electricity grid asset owner, the upkeep of the electricity grid rests with ESB Networks, and as such is not an area in which I as Minister have a function. I understand that ESB Networks have an ongoing programme of timber cutting and that as set out in their Price Review 6 Business Plan, they have implemented a comprehensive timber-cutting review, culminating in the successful tendering and award of a new timber-cutting framework. Furthermore, on the 8 April 2025, ESB Networks published their enhanced Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan which 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. Within this plan the ESB have also identified a number of initial actions, including creating forestry corridors to protect overhead line corridors.

The Deputy may wish to engage directly with ESB Networks should he require further information in relation to this matter using the dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, oireachtas@esb.ie.