Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the engagements he has had with electricity network operators since Storm Éowyn this year to ensure that critical electricity infrastructure remains operational during and after damaging storms as many communities faced extensive outages in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46623/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made in light of the impact of Storm Éowyn regarding the reduction of severe weather impacts on critical infrastructure and essential services, including energy supplies; if he will outline the investment plans in place to strengthen such networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47235/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 197 together.

The damaging, dangerous and destructive nature of Storm Éowyn on 24 January 2025 was unprecedented, causing widespread power outages and leaving the electricity grid destroyed in parts due to broken poles, lines and wires. At the peak, 768,000 customers were without electricity supply. It also had a far larger impact on other critical infrastructure than any previous storm, with telecoms and water being severely impacted.

The response was coordinated by the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as the Lead Government Department for severe weather emergencies.

Following the recovery period, Government asked ESB-N to prepare a Winter 2025 Resilience Plan as a priority. The plan which has been in progress since April involves the following actions to build resilience in the electricity network ahead of Winter 2025:

1. Surveying the electricity network following the storm, making hazards safe and identifying remedial works needed to refurbish network weakened by the recent storms.
2. ESB-N working with Coillte and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify segments of the network at highest risk of further windfall. Analysis of customers most affected by windfall has identified priority areas for remediation. Overhead line equipment is being refurbished in areas most damaged by the storm and hedgerow timber is being cut.
3. Emergency stocks of spare parts and materials are being replenished.
4. Staffing levels and available contractor resources are being increased through provision of targeted training programmes via the Education and Training Boards. In conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, my Department has progressed the issue of permits for skilled workers from outside the EU to advance urgent forestry work.
5. Given the support received from other utilities across Europe in assisting with Storm Éowyn restoration, ESB-N is working to strengthen relationships with European colleagues ahead of winter 2025.
6. ESB-N is completing the process of a formal Storm Review, which may identify additional recommendations to be implemented in advance of future storms.

My Department continues to engage with ESB Networks on challenges to grid resilience in advance of winter 2025.

Significant investment in the Grid which supports overall resilience is ongoing.

On 3 July 2025, the CRU published their Draft Determination on Price Review 6 (PR6), funding investment in the electricity grid for 2026-2030. This draft determination sets out the envisaged investment, in both long-term capital projects and operational costs, which will take place in our electricity grid over the period 2026-2030. The draft determination represents a step change in investment in our electricity grid infrastructure and one of the biggest changes to the overall system in memory.

The CRU is proposing to approve an investment of up to €18.08 billion in our electricity system between 2026-2030, with a €14.1 billion baseline investment guaranteed. This includes increased spending on asset management, underground cables and replacement of aging overhead lines and poles. ESBN also plans to scale up its timber-cutting programme.

The National Development Plan will provide for the provision of up to €3.5 billion in additional equity to support this unprecedented investment in electricity grid infrastructure over 2026 – 2030. €2 billion will be provided to EirGrid and €1.5 billion to ESB. This equity will enable both companies to raise finance for the planned investment of up to €18.08 billion.

My Department has been working on the Electricity and Gas Networks Sectoral Adaptation Plan, due for publication by the end of September 2025. The EGN SAP sets out how Ireland’s electricity and gas network sectors, comprising of generation, transmission and distribution, will become more climate resilient.

All of the measures that are set out in EGN SAP 2025 will be monitored and managed to ensure that Ireland continues to adapt to shifting climate trends in the coming years.