Flood Risk Management

Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Questions (145)

Pa Daly

Question:

145. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the protections he has put in place for households to withstand increasingly extreme weather as we head into the winter months since he entered Government, including protections against storms and flooding; to provide a detailed breakdown of the actions delivered to date, in tabular form. [65757/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment

In November 2025, under the National Adaptation Framework, Government approved Sectoral Adaptation Plans across 13 key sectors, including electricity and gas networks. These set out measures to strengthen essential infrastructure against climate impacts. The Flood Risk Management Sectoral Adaptation Plan, led by the Office of Public Works, similarly addresses increasing flood risk associated with climate change.

A new Adaptation Taskforce was established in January 2026 to provide senior-level oversight and coordination of climate adaptation efforts across Government.

Since entering Government, I have prioritised strengthening the resilience of Ireland’s energy infrastructure and preparedness for increasingly severe weather affecting households and communities.

Following Storm Éowyn, in February 2025, I asked ESB Networks to prepare a Winter Resilience Plan, focused on areas most vulnerable to severe weather. Measures included addressing network damage and weaknesses, managing risks from trees and vegetation, replenishing emergency stocks and strengthening staffing and contractor resources. An updated Plan was published in October 2025.

In December 2025, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities published Price Review 6, providing for investment of up to €18.9 billion in the electricity grid to 2030, significantly strengthening its capacity and resilience.

My Department is also progressing the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at strengthening network resilience, particularly by addressing risks arising from the interaction between electricity infrastructure, vegetation, trees and forestry. Revised Heads of Bill will be brought to Government as soon as practicable.

Finally, EirGrid’s forthcoming Winter Outlook 2026/27 will inform operational preparedness and contingency planning for the coming winter.

Taken together, these measures across Government combine immediate storm preparedness, flood and climate adaptation, substantial infrastructure investment and legislative reform to better protect households and communities from increasingly severe weather.

Date	Action
February 2025	In 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 2025 will delivery of actions out to end 2026.
November 2025	Under the 2024 National Adaptation Framework a suite of Sectoral Adaptation Plans (SAPs) across 13 key sectors, including electricity and gas networks, were approved by Government and published. Under the remit of the OPW, the lead body for flood risk management in Ireland, the Flood Risk Management SAP, sets out adaptation measures for increased flood risk due to climate change.
December 2025	Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published Price Review 6 (PR6) approving the up to €18.9 billion investment in the grid to 2030.
January 2026	A new Adaptation Taskforce was established in January 2026 to provide senior-level oversight and coordination of Ireland’s climate adaptation efforts.
Ongoing	The Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 continues to be progressed by my Department as a key element of the Government's work to strengthen the resilience of Ireland's electricity network in the face of increasingly severe weather events. The overarching objective remains to ensure that electricity infrastructure and forestry can coexist in a manner that delivers a secure and resilient electricity supply for homes, farms, businesses and communities. It is intended to bring the revised Heads of Bill to Government as soon as practicable to seek approval to proceed to drafting and also to continue working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that the final legislative framework is practical, proportionate and capable of supporting the long-term resilience of the electricity network while respecting forestry and landowner interests.
Ongoing	EirGrid’s forthcoming Winter Outlook 2026/27 will further inform operational preparedness and contingency planning to support secure electricity supplies to households’.
Ongoing	ESB's Winter Resilience Plan in final stages of delivery with 3,500km of medium voltage lines surveyed and 3000 sites identified for vegetation management. To date, over 2,300 sites have been assessed and cleared of vulnerable trees.