John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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221. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to the publication of the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland in July 2024, how his Department intends to address the safety and regulation concerns that are now widespread in communities across the country where new electricity storage installations are proposed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37539/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland was published by my Department in July 2024 in line with the Climate Action Plan (action EL/24/16).

Chapter 4 of the Policy Framework provides an overview of the existing safety and regulatory framework in place for grid scale electricity storage systems, including battery electricity storage systems in the European and Irish contexts.

Given the wide-ranging nature of grid-scale electricity storage safety and regulation and its spread across the remits of various Government Departments, chapter 4 outlines and clarifies the roles and remits of various regulatory authorities and organisations in relation to standards, planning, construction, licencing, and safety of grid scale electricity storage systems in Ireland.

It is important to note that different aspects of the safety of battery electricity storage systems are handled by different sets of regulations, agencies and Departments. While the policy framework delivers an overview it is a matter for each institution or Department to implement their remits in line with their governing legislation.