Written Answers Nos. 37-53
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.
39. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the exchequer funding to Eirgrid or ESB that has been used to facilitate new data centre connections in each of the years 2015 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [72931/25]
View answer40. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has engaged with Eirgrid and ESB regarding the amount of funding they have allocated to facilitating new data centre connections through exchequer funding; if this data is recorded; to provide a detailed breakdown of funding provided for this purpose in each of the years since 2020 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [72932/25]
View answer41. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has engaged with Eirgrid and ESB regarding the amount of funding they have allocated to facilitating new data centre connections through network charges; if this data is recorded and if so, to provide a detailed breakdown of funding provided for this purpose in each of the years since 2020 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [72933/25]
View answer42. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of funding provided to ESB for energy grid maintenance and upgrade in each of the years 2010 to date, in tabular form. [72986/25]
View answer43. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of funding provided to Eirgrid for energy grid maintenance and upgrade in each of the years 2010 to date, in tabular form. [72987/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 39 to 43, inclusive, together.
To support the PR6 grid investment programme, a €1.5 billion equity investment has been provided to ESB in December 2025. This is an equity investment.
The PR6 investment programme is financed by ESBN and EirGrid, with revenues recovered through network tariffs over the appropriate time horizon. Neither company received Exchequer funding for grid investment outside of this equity investment.
Further details on the approved PR6 investment programme are available from the CRU.
45. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of housing units and estates currently awaiting connection to the grid; the average wait times for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73059/25]
View answer46. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of housing units/estates that are currently awaiting connection to the grid; the average wait times for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73059/25]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not I as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The management of, and matters related to, domestic connections to the electricity grid are operational matters for ESB Networks, under rules determined by the CRU. ESB Networks are independent of myself as Minister in the exercise of their functions as network operators.
The energisation of new connections is a clearly defined process for developers, involving deliverables (e.g. ducting, certification) on the developer side as well design works on ESB Networks’ side. ESB Networks are advising developers to give as much notice of their requirements as possible, and to have a connection agreement in place prior to starting a new development. Over the last four years, ESB Networks has connected over 147,000 homes and businesses to the distribution network.
I as Minister do not hold the information sought in this question and in this instance the Deputy may wish to engage directly with ESB Networks. ESB Networks and the CRU have respective contact email addresses for Deputies should they wish to raise matters of concern (oireachtas@esb.ie, oireachtas@cru.ie).
47. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he plans to enhance the power of the regulator in the energy sector to increase transparency around the retail price of energy and to prevent price gouging taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72696/25]
View answer48. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if price gouging is being carried out by energy suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72697/25]
View answer69. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the engagements he has had with the CRU regarding the speed of passthrough between wholesale and retail energy prices; the reasons prices have fallen more slowly here than in other states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72909/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 48 and 69 together.
The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within an EU regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial and liberalised. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014. Price setting by electricity suppliers is, therefore, a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
Retail prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices, system operation costs and supplier hedging. Regarding hedging, suppliers in Ireland were shown to have taken a prudent approach to hedging which had the benefit of protecting final customers from the worst effects of the wholesale price crisis. Conversely, hedging limits the ability of suppliers to reduce prices immediately in line with wholesale price shifts.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has observed that Irish retail prices have not adjusted at a comparable pace to the decline in wholesale prices, with the energy component of retail prices remaining up to three times that of wholesale prices. While the CRU has found no evidence of market failure or windfall profits in the retail sector in its market monitoring role, the IEA findings underline the importance of progressing the Programme for Government commitment to “commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices,”.
I have written to CRU to request that they commence this independent review, building on the work of previous CRU investigations by reviewing the competitiveness of Irish retail energy markets, examining supplier costs, including hedging and pricing practices, and providing comparative price analysis with other EU Member States. It will also assess whether measures are warranted to enhance market responsiveness to wholesale price changes, and make recommendations to ensure that the benefits of lower wholesale prices are felt by consumers. This report will inform the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce.
In addition, my Department is transposing the new Electricity Market Design Directive 2024. This Directive requires regulators to ensure that suppliers implement appropriate hedging strategies to reduce the risk of supply failure.
49. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made on the commitment in the Programme for Government to "Explore if legislation could be enacted to divert surplus renewable energy, which would otherwise be wasted, to homes in fuel poverty"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72699/25]
View answer109. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken by his Department to decrease the waste of surplus renewable energy, which was as much as 1,169 GWh in the ten months of this year to October 31; if consideration will be given to redirecting this surplus energy to heat water in the homes of families living in social and affordable housing, at no cost to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73062/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 109 together.
Imperfections and dispatch down is a major challenge facing electricity systems, like ours, that are increasingly powered by renewables. This complex issue can only be addressed by taking a systematic and multi-faceted approach requiring investment in grid, storage and demand flexibility.
Government is already taking steps to invest in this critical energy infrastructure. For example, PR6 will enable the delivery of over 500 capital network projects, supporting the integration of increasing volumes of renewables and helping to reduce the amount of wasted energy. In July, the Government committed to investing €3.5 billion of NDP funding in EirGrid and ESB Networks in order to ensure that the PR6 infrastructure programme can be delivered. Legislation providing the legal mechanism necessary for the investment of €1.5 billion of this funding into ESBN has now passed all stages and was signed into law by the President last month. Further legislation in relation to the investment in Eirgrid will be progressed next year.
Last year, my Department published the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland which supported the procurement of 500 MW of demand flexibility products by ESBN, and 500 MW of long duration electricity storage by EirGrid to meet specific network needs. Work is already underway to ensure the timely delivery of both.
In June, EirGrid established the Renewable Dispatch Down Working Group. This group is actively working with renewable industry representatives to identify additional actions that could improve levels of dispatch down.
Demand flexibility can also help to support our transition to a renewables-led energy system. The National Energy Demand Strategy aims to make 20% to 30% of electricity demand flexible by 2030. A key aspect of this strategy is preparing households and businesses to maximise their use of renewables.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was established by my Department to identify and assess measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. The first report of the taskforce was published last month with an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be prepared next year. The taskforce will progress the Programme for Government commitment raised by the Deputy and the action plan will incorporate measures to further address dispatch down.
50. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to make our critical energy infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events. [72704/25]
View answerIn February 2025 I asked ESB Networks (ESB-N) to prepare a Winter Resilience Plan to enhance the grid in the most vulnerable locations, following Storm Éowyn. This Plan was updated in October. Core work undertaken includes:
• remedial works to the network;
• working with Coillte and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify segments of the network at highest future risk;
• replenishing emergency stocks, spare parts and materials;
• increasing staffing levels and available contractor resources; and
• establishing formal mutual aid arrangements for extreme weather events.
ESB-N is also increasing the number of access officers who engage with landowners on forestry work. My Department is preparing legislation to enhance ESB-N’s powers to manage vegetation. The Government approved the Heads of this Bill in July and work on advancing the legislation continues as a matter of priority.
I should also highlight that significant investment in the electricity grid which supports overall resilience is ongoing. On Tuesday 16 December, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published Price Review 6 (PR6) which sanctions investment in the grid to 2030. The CRU have proposed approval of an investment of up to €18.9 billion, with a €13.8 billion baseline investment guaranteed.
The Deputy might also wish to note that the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive and the Electricity and Gas Networks Sectoral Adaptation Plan (SAP) aim to enhance the resilience of the energy sector into the future. The Directive and the SAP will ensure that the energy sector can effectively manage risks and maintain service continuity in the face of future disruptions.
51. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the impact the suitability of our waters will have on the development of offshore wind, and on reaching our climate targets; and if he will outline the recommendations of a report he recently received on the matter (details supplied). [72751/25]
View answerIn advance of the recent auction to procure 900 MW of ORE at the Tonn Nua site in the South Coast DMAP, my Department collected through procurement or from surveys, geophysical, geotechnical and metocean data to examine site conditions in support of the auction process.
The publication of these datasets contributed to the success of that auction by informing and de-risking the process for potential bidders, by evaluating the suitability of the site for ORE development and identifying potential challenges to that development.
Similar surveying work will take place at the Lí Bán site in 2026 and a surveying programme to 2030 is being developed by officials in my Department to conduct these works at other sites earmarked for ORE development.
The report which is referred to, the Offshore Wind Technical Resource Assessment, was published by my Department in May of this year and can be accessed on gov.ie. The Assessment provides practical, technical information to assist future ORE policy development. It provides an evidence base to inform the theoretical capacity potential for fixed and floating offshore wind in Ireland.
The Technical Assessment puts forward several recommendations regarding Ireland’s approach to offshore wind development, including on our policy approach to fixed and floating turbines, supply chain management and cross-border co-operation, which includes interconnection projects.
The Technical Assessment identified a potential to develop a further 3-18 gigawatts (GW) of fixed offshore wind energy, in addition to the 3.8 GW anticipated from the phase one projects and the approximately 4.5 GW expected to be developed in the South Coast DMAP areas. The sum total of these figures, at 26 GW, far outstrips our 2040 targets as well as foreseeable energy demand. Furthermore, the figure also does not include any floating wind, the potential for which is estimated by that same Technical Assessment at over 90 GW.
52. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total amount collected through the Waste Recovery Levy since its introduction [72754/25]
View answerAs outlined in the response to Parliamentary Question No. 44 on the 2 December, the position remains unchanged with €30.3million in waste recovery levy having been collected and paid into the Circular Economy Fund since the levy's introduction in 2023.
The waste recovery levy is currently charged at a rate of €10 per tonne for recovery activities at landfills, waste to energy plants, co-incineration plants and the export of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) for onward recovery. Circular Economy Fund Accounts are prepared on an annual basis. These accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and laid before the Oireachtas. Copies of the Accounts are available at:www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/circular-economy-fund-accounts/
The Circular Economy Fund continues to play an important role in supporting projects that drive behavioural change, build capacity in the circular economy and foster innovation in waste reduction and resource efficiency as provided for under section 8(9) of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. The strategic direction of the Fund going forward will be informed by several key policy developments, notably the forthcoming Second Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy and the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which will be updated in 2026.
53. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has conducted any analysis on the expected impact of improved waste sorting technology on Ireland's recycling rates and compliance with EU Circular Economy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72755/25]
View answerThe waste management market in Ireland, including both the waste collection and waste treatment industries, is almost exclusively operated by private companies who operate under waste collection and waste facility authorisations issued by the local authority sector and/or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As such, any additional investment in waste sorting technology is primarily a matter for the waste industry which I understand is already developing a number of investment proposals, some in collaboration with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Any potential future investment involving public funds would be preceded by rigorous costing and business analysis, including an analysis of the potential impacts on our recycling rates.
The role of the Department, as set out in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE), is to provide an overall policy and regulatory approach to support the development of adequate and appropriate treatment capacity at indigenous facilities to ensure that the full circularity and resource potential of materials is captured in Ireland.
The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices launched a new National Waste Management Plan (NWMP) in 2024 which sets out the required actions at local and regional levels to deliver on the WAPCE and support Ireland's circular economy transition including several specific actions to address domestic waste treatment infrastructure challenges.
In keeping with the polluter pays principle, EPRs also have a key role in meeting national collection and recycling targets and in supporting investment to ensure that as much material as possible can be recycled and recovered domestically.
The WAPCE will be updated in 2026 to ensure that it aligns with and drives the implementation of the new Circular Economy Strategy which will be published shortly. The updated WAPCE will also reflect the commitments given in the Programme for Government and will inform and give direction to waste planning and management in Ireland, the delivery of appropriate infrastructure, the achievement of EU circular economy targets and how we can enhance our capacity to transform waste into secondary materials and create a culture of circular behaviour.
A Public Consultation on the second Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy closed in early November and my officials are now reviewing the submissions made with a view to publishing the Strategy early next year.
