Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
65. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the financial supports, compensation schemes, tax relief measures or emergency assistance available to business owners who have experienced a loss of revenue as a result of repeated power outages or electricity supply disruptions; and if he will outline the supports currently available to affected businesses. [37973/26]
View answerIssues regarding continuity of supply, and any compensation payments for interruptions are, first and foremost, a matter for ESB Networks and EirGrid. ESB Networks as Distribution System Operator and EirGrid as Transmission System Operator are responsible for connections with their respective customers. ESB Networks and EirGrid are independent of the Minister for Energy, Climate and Communications in the exercise of their functions and operate 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 have responsibility for, inter alia, the regulation of the electricity market and the economic regulation of the electricity system operators.
Information on a range of direct and tax-based supports available to businesses can be found on the National Enterprise Hub at www.neh.gov.ie.
The Deputy may also be aware that work is ongoing in the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment through the Cost of Business Advisory Forum, established as a result of the commitment in the Programme for Government 2025, to consider issues that may lead to higher costs for businesses in Ireland and steps that could be taken to mitigate these challenges. This is complementary to the work that has taken place with the publication of The Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity in September 2025. The Action Plan reflects a whole-of-government approach to address the domestic drivers of competitiveness, focusing on areas firmly within our domestic control.
Government is also making crucial investments in renewable energy, in our electricity grid and, importantly, in energy efficiency. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East underlines – once again – why we must accelerate the deployment of renewables across all sectors, continue to invest in our grid, and continue to invest in retrofitting of homes and businesses across the country.
