Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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167. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the means by which he is planning to synchronise local infrastructure investment in Cork to maximise benefits in energy resilience, cost relief, and renewable uptake, with the Celtic Interconnector due for completion in 2028. [46382/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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170. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the projected timeline for connection and activation of the Celtic Interconnector’s subsea cable, with laying now underway; and the means by which the benefits will be communicated and leveraged for regional investment. [46399/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 170 together.

Our key priorities for the future are the security, affordability and sustainability of our electricity system. This will be achieved through the diversification of our energy supply. The Celtic Interconnector is a major strategic infrastructure project that will play an important role in Ireland’s energy security, which is expected to be operational by spring 2028.

The Department for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation under the revised National Development Plan aims to boost Ireland’s infrastructure investment by providing a €3.5 billion equity investment in EirGrid and ESB Networks, which will act alongside the proposed investment of the CRU’s draft decision on Price Review 6 of up to €18 billion, with a guaranteed €14.1 billion between 2026 and 2030

Under Price Review 6, EirGrid’s Business Plan is preparing to meet a range of objectives with emphasis placed on key programmes of work, including delivery of new onshore infrastructure to support growth by expanding its infrastructure to facilitate projects such as the Celtic Interconnector.

My colleague the Minster of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, advises me that under their Regional Enterprise Plans, they have set goals to support regional shift to a low-carbon economy, emphasising offshore wind. These goals align with offshore winds economic potential, leading some regions, like the South-West, to create Offshore Wind Working Groups to promote development.

Both the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and myself as Minister of Transport engage in promotion of offshore wind and renewable energy, with ports like Cork developing infrastructure to support offshore renewable energy (ORE) projects, including a major hub at Ringaskiddy for large-scale ORE storage and assembly. This development, which received €38.4m in Connecting Europe Facility funding, will enable the Port of Cork to play a key role in the delivery of ORE projects in Ireland. It is due for completion in 2025.

Regional authorities are key to local development, aligned with national infrastructure and energy security goals. Advising on local or regional investment for a coherent breakdown would be best placed with the associated Local authority in regards to their Local development Plans. Answering on such would be outside the remit of my Department.