James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider supporting pilot projects that demonstrate more efficient use of the existing electricity grid by large energy users where such projects align with national decarbonisation objectives; if he will consider the development of a virtual ‘single site’ energy sharing model for multi-site industrial users in Ireland in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2748/26]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Planning, building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system are functions which are assigned to the respective Distribution and Transmission System Operators, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. They are accountable to the independent regulator, the CRU.

Each of these organisations have a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members. As such the Deputy may wish to engage with EirGrid, ESBN and CRU directly via oireachtas@eirgrid.ie , oireachtas@esb.ie and oireachtas@cru.ie,

Notwithstanding this, my Department is in regular engagement with the system operators, the CRU and industry working to address challenges around facilitating large energy user (LEU) connections and are keen to hear innovative solutions from industry on efficient use of the existing and future electricity grid.

In line with the Programme for Government commitments, a range of policy and energy infrastructure planning workstreams are being prioritised, including unprecedented investment in critical infrastructure and our electricity grid, as well as enhancing data centres’ use of renewable energy sources, energy efficient technology and solutions such as waste heat capture for district heating systems and other local uses.

An updated Large Energy Users Connection Policy was published by the CRU in December 2025. This has provided increased transparency in respect of new data centre connections to the electricity network and establishes a pathway for connection, addressing security of electricity supply and network constraint considerations, while promoting Ireland’s renewable energy ambitions.

Furthermore, Government has published a comprehensive Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP) with robust measures that will, inter alia, accelerate energy generation, connectivity, and planning processes which will guide the development of data centres and other strategically significant very energy intensive industries, in alignment with Ireland’s decarbonisation objectives and growing the knowledge-based economy. In particular, this will allow for greater co-location of energy-intensive sectors with the supply of renewable energy generation within green energy parks.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he plans to modernise electricity charging structures for energy intensive industries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2749/26]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for electricity connection policy and the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks and EirGrid. The CRU is an independent regulator and accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas.

In line with its statutory obligations, the CRU reviews network operators’ investment plans and sets network charges annually to make sure they’re necessary, cost-effective, and will improve electricity services for customers. As such the Deputy may wish to engage with CRU directly via oireachtas@cru.ie.

Government is aware of the challenges of finding a balanced approach to facilitating additional demand by energy intensive industries while also ensuring the competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply of our energy system.

The Programme for Government commits to addressing these challenges through a range of policy and energy infrastructure planning workstreams which are being prioritised, including unprecedented investment in critical infrastructure and our electricity grid, with priority for renewables.

Furthermore, Government has published a comprehensive Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP) with robust measures that will, inter alia, accelerate energy generation, connectivity, and planning processes which will guide the development of strategically significant, very energy intensive industries, in alignment with Ireland’s decarbonisation objectives and the growing of the knowledge-based economy. In particular, this will allow for greater co-location of energy-intensive sectors with the supply of renewable energy generation within green energy parks. It will unlock investment and innovation in Ireland’s renewable energy sector, including offshore wind, create positive spillovers, and maximise the wider benefits in jobs and skills across Ireland’s regions.

Among the 17 actions, it mandates CRU under Action 4, in-line with the National Energy Demand Strategy, to assess reforms and implement actions on network tariffs, day-ahead and inter-day wholesale market trading, grid code, storage and flexibility procurement (plus capacity markets if required), and set out a pathway to future implementation.

Energy intensive industries can already contract directly with energy suppliers for a variety of tariff options, including ones that are more closely linked to the half hourly wholesale price. Most energy intensive industries use CPPAs (Corporate Power Purchase Agreements) to capture the value of renewables in terms of lower costs. This is not a matter in which I, as Minister, play a role and my Department does not have any visibility on those individual contractual arrangements.