Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2026
214. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on the new policy on private wires; if he will provide further details on the framework for gaining the consent of local communities and landowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54562/26]
View answerMy Department has been engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to draft the necessary legislation required to bring forward the legislative framework to provide for privately owned electricity infrastructure. Introducing this regime is a priority for this Government. The Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy have undertaken pre-legislative scrutiny on the General Scheme of the Private Wires Bill with a report published at the end of April. The recommendations are under review as part of drafting the legislation. It is my intention that the Bill will have completed its passage through the Oireachtas as early as possible this year.
Privately owned electricity infrastructure will have to be developed with the consent of local communities and landowners. The intention of the legislation will be to utilise the existing provisions in the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 that relate to wayleave powers to govern the interaction between developers and the utilisation of land.
