Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
213. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025; the measures it contains to enhance Ireland's storm preparedness; when he expects it to be read at second stage in Dail Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72424/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 is being progressed by my Department as part of a wider programme of work to strengthen the resilience of Ireland’s electricity network in the context of climate change and increasingly severe storm events. A central objective of the Bill is to support enhanced storm preparedness through improved management of the interaction between forestry and the electricity network. Local communities cannot be expected to endure major storm impacts through the loss of power caused by trees falling on the network. In this context, the Bill and associated policy measures are underpinned by key strands of work outlined below.
Firstly, work is underway on the development of an enduring electricity corridor design. This is being informed by an international review of best practice in forestry corridor management, forestry design standards, and structured stakeholder engagement.
Secondly, the Bill will provide for electricity corridors to be placed on a statutory footing. This will safeguard electricity corridors in all new forestry development and will support the retrospective creation of corridors in existing forestry, using a risk-based approach delivered through a phased, multi-year programme.
Thirdly, an annual corridor clearance programme has been established by ESB Networks. Detailed surveys of overhead line corridors have already provided a strong evidence base on windblow risk. This information will be used to prioritise an annual, multi-year corridor clearance programme, targeted at those locations presenting the highest risk to customer resilience from forestry-related outages.
The overarching objective is to ensure that overhead electricity networks and forestry can co-exist in a manner that delivers a secure and reliable electricity supply.
The Government approved the Heads of this Bill in July and work on advancing the legislation continues as a matter of priority with a view to publication at the earliest opportunity. Once approved for publication, arrangements will be made for second stage and its passage through the Oireachtas.
