Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government given the frequent long delays for electricity connections on newly built houses, if there are plans to ensure available capacity and a timely response from the ESB to ensure no delays in housing delivery. [49109/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The development of electricity grid capacity and the provision of connections for customers are the responsibility of the national Transmission System Operator, EirGrid, and Distribution System Operator, ESB Networks. These system operators are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions, and both are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas.

Over the last four years, ESB Networks has connected over 147,000 homes and businesses to the distribution network, and housing developments continue to be offered grid connections. This comes at a time where Ireland, like many other European countries, is experiencing high demand for new electrical connections. This demand is driven by a growing population, the electrification of heat and transport, increased industrial activity, housing targets and large energy users.

To ensure the continued delivery of grid capacity to allow the expansion of housing supply into the future, Government is providing both vital investment and coordinated cross-government action. Government is providing a €3.5 billion equity investment in EirGrid and ESB Networks which will act alongside the CRU’s draft Price Review 6 proposing up to €18 billion grid investment, with €14.1 billion guaranteed between 2026 and 2030.

My Department is in regular engagement with the CRU and system operators in working to develop grid capacity and facilitate customer connections, including households. Our Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce brings together these organisations to focus on identifying key barriers and potential solutions to accelerating the delivery of critical grid infrastructure. This work complements that of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce and Housing Activation Office to deliver the housing we need.