Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
284. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether grid congestion, delays in renewable energy connections and gaps in offshore wind infrastructure delivery have been assessed in terms of their impact on electricity costs for households and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9563/26]
View answer293. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total public and consumer costs arising from electricity system constraints in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9705/26]
View answer294. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the cost to consumers of delayed renewable deployment has been compared with the cost of accelerating grid, storage and renewable infrastructure investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9707/26]
View answer299. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the cost of delayed renewable deployment and electricity grid reinforcement has been assessed in terms of impacts on wholesale electricity prices and consumer bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9720/26]
View answer303. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the estimated financial cost of electricity grid congestion and delayed renewable connections to the State, consumers and businesses in each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9749/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284, 293, 294, 299 and 303 together.
EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, has responsibility for the management of dispatch down and any associated compensatory payments. EirGrid is independent of me, as Minister, in such matters and operates under the supervision of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas. The CRU has responsibility for, inter alia, the regulation of the electricity market and the economic regulation of the Electricity System Operators, including EirGrid. The legislative framework for dispatch down comes from European law, specifically Article 13(7) of the Electricity Regulation 943/2019.
Issues regarding the operation and development of, and connection to, the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Networks (ESBN). EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESBN, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network, both of which make up the electricity grid.
The pathway to connection to the electricity grid is dependent on the nature and scale of the project seeking connection. The management of, and matters related to, connections to the electricity grid are matters for ESBN and EirGrid respectively, under rules determined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). I am advised that connection applications are dealt with on sequential first come first served basis.
The Deputy may wish to engage directly with EirGrid and ESB Networks in this matter. EirGrid and ESB Networks have dedicated email addresses for queries from Oireachtas Members, oireachtas@eirgrid.ie and oireachtas@esb.ie.
As regards accelerating renewable generation, storage and infrastructure please note that cross Government work is ongoing to accelerate critical infrastructure. My Department is either leading on or part of numerous taskforces focused on delivering critical infrastructure for our citizens including the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce and the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce.
