Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government whether any portion of the €3.5 billion grid investment will be directed towards reinforcement or capacity upgrades that would enable new large-scale energy users, including data centres, to connect to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58742/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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On 22 July 2025, Government approved a €3.5 billion equity investment in ESB Networks and Eirgird as part of the National Development Plan. This represents the largest single equity investment in the country’s electricity network in its history.

€1.5 billion equity will be invested in ESB Networks and €2 billion equity will be invested in EirGrid.

The equity investment will support the ability to finance the unprecedented investment in our electricity system proposed for 2026-2030 as part of the Price Review 6 period. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, as the independent regulator, as part of their draft determination has set out proposed investment of up to €18.1 billion in the electricity system, with a €14.1 billion baseline investment guaranteed. A final determination by the CRU is expected by year end.

The investment by ESBN and EirGrid will facilitate the reinforcement and enhancement of our electricity network, ensuring additional housing, businesses and new renewable energy sources can connect to the network.