Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if any part of the €3.5 billion investment outlined under the revised national development plan in EirGrid and the ESB will be used for data centre connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64276/25]

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 Ireland’s electricity infrastructure across 2026-2030 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 will be allocated to ESB Networks to support investment in the onshore electricity grid and €2 billion will be allocated to EirGrid to support the financing of its offshore electricity grid investment plan. Government has published a Bill providing for the investment in ESB (the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025), which is progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

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.