Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
37. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the €3.5 billion allocation for EirGrid and ESB in the NDP review; and if any parameters were put in place regarding the types of projects the funding should be targeted toward. [72929/25]
View answer38. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the €3.5 billion allocation for EirGrid and ESB in the NDP review; the amount of this allocation that will be used to fund new data centre connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72930/25]
View answer44. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment following the NDP review and the announcement of €3.5 billion of an equity investment in ESB and EirGrid, the level of equity this investment will equate to in both ESB and EirGrid, respectively; to provide a breakdown of the equity the Government has in both EirGrid and ESB as the TSO and DSO, respectively; how this ownership stake will be impacted by the new investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72988/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 38 and 44 together.
On 22 July 2025 Government approved a €3.5 billion investment in Ireland’s electricity infrastructure across 2026-2030 as part of the National Development Plan. €1.5 billion was 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. 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 €1.5 billion allocated to ESB was transferred from the Central Fund to ESB on 16 December 2025 as part of a capital stock subscription. The mechanism for providing the €2 billion allocated to EirGrid will be agreed in 2026.
The funding provided to ESB is ringfenced to be solely used for works that are a part of the “ESB Networks Price Review 6 Business Plan” as to the extent that is provided for in the CRU’s final determination on PR6. While the funding mechanism and conditions for the €2 billion for EirGrid have not yet been finalised, it is expected that funding will be ringfenced to support the financing of the offshore electricity transmission network, required to connect the 5GW of offshore wind energy being developed in the next five years.
As of 30 September 2025, the Government holds 97.34% of the issued capital stock of ESB. As a result of the Government’s €1.5 billion equity investment, the Government’s ownership will rise to approximately 97.67% of the issued capital stock, an increase of 0.33% (presuming the Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) does not participate and purchase additional stock which it has twelve months to do). If the ESOP does choose to invest sufficient funding to maintain its current percentage shareholding, then the Government’s current ownership share of 97.34% will remain unchanged.
The Government currently holds a 100% ownership share of EirGrid and this will remain the case after the €2 billion equity investment in EirGrid.
