Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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203. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the specific questions raised therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62886/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The introduction of a private wire’s regime is a priority for the Government as set out in the Programme for Government. Following on from the approval of the Policy Statement on Private Wires by Government on 15 July this year, my Department is working on drafting the general scheme for the private wires legislation. It is hoped to have the general scheme approved by Government by the end of the year, after which the drafting of the Bill will commence. The legislation will be drafted to reflect the guiding principles of the policy statement and clarify the necessary regulation for the building of Private Wires in the policy’s 4 specified use cases.

It is envisaged that the Bill will be enacted in 2026 following Oireachtas approval. The necessary secondary legislation and regulations will then follow.

At this time a pilot phase is not anticipated and more information on the specificities of the regulation will follow in the coming months. Engagement with key stakeholders is ongoing.