Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

186. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline details of engagement during 2025 between the Government and ESB regarding the future development of Moneypoint power station; and to detail the plans that exist for the transformation of the facility into a renewable energy hub. [46971/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Along with officials from my Department, I have engaged with ESB a number of times this year to discuss a range of matters as the State continues to work to rapidly develop enduring generation capacity, in line with our commitment to a renewables-led electricity system that is secure, affordable and sustainable. The retention of existing conventional power generation, including Moneypoint, is both a necessary and critical component of our energy security at this time.

In June 2025, Ireland successfully phased out coal fired power generation at Moneypoint, marking a significant milestone in Ireland's energy transition. Moneypoint will now be run only as a generator of last resort on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), to only be dispatched on instruction of EirGrid in order to help to ensure security of electricity supply. Once the capacity of Moneypoint is no longer required by the system for security of supply purposes, the existing generation plant at Moneypoint will be fully decommissioned.

I am advised that this arrangement will not impede ESB’s redevelopment of Moneypoint into an offshore wind and flexible generation energy hub as part of the ESB’s Net Zero by 2040 Strategy.

Minister of State Dooley, at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, visited Moneypoint in June and welcomed the site's contributions to Ireland's energy security, including the transition from coal, as well as the ESB's future plans for the site as a strategic energy hub in the Mid-West.