Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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436. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grants or supports available for 3-phase electric in a commercial setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60987/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In the first instance, the installation or supply of a 3-phase connection is provided by ESB networks, which fall under the regulation authority of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), as such, this is a matter more appropriate to my colleague Darragh O’Brien, T.D., Minister for Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE).

I am not aware of any grants available which include installing an electrical feed or connection as an eligible expense through either my own Department or through the SEAI, which falls under the remit of DCEE. However, it may be possible that funding could be accessed indirectly if the installation is part of an energy efficiency or renewable energy project. SEAI are the granting authority for schemes such as EV charging infrastructure grants, community energy grants and the business energy upgrades scheme.

These installations, which can cost from €2.4k up to €16k depending on the Load or Maximum Import Capacity required, are viewed as a necessary business expense and as such, it would be difficult to justify the provision of such a grant under State Aid restrictions.

If such a grant was to be considered it would need to be provided by SEAI and the viability of such a support would be dependent on what State Aid framework was proposed and the conditions of the scheme, as designed by the granting authority.

The supports available through the offices and agencies under my budget remit, including the Energy Efficiency Grant available through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), provide for the investment in technologies; equipment and projects in environmental sustainability and circular economy measures as identified in or supported by a Green for Business; Green Start or a SEAI Energy Audit which are not already supported by the SEAI.