Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount allocated to EirGrid in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and the purpose of such allocations. [60490/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me, as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation.

The CRU is responsible for, inter alia, the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks, Distribution, and EirGrid, Transmission. Building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system are functions which are assigned to the respective Distribution and Transmission system operators and for which they are accountable to the CRU.

EirGrid and ESB Networks do not receive funding. System operator spending is agreed with the CRU in five-year cycles, referred to as Price Reviews. The current price review (Price Review 5) is in effect until the end of 2025 and will see a capital investment spend of over €8 billion in the electricity network. Work has commenced on Price Review 6 which will see the CRU sanction the investment in the grid to 2030. The CRU are 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.

The CRU have published on their website their decision in respect of PR5 and yearly regulatory reports in respect of same. Should the Deputy require further information they may wish to engage directly with the CRU who can be contacted at oireachtas@cru.ie.