Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
190. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of recent power outages in the Rush and Lusk areas of north County Dublin; the frequency and reason for these outages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35498/21]
View answerThis is an operational matter for the Board and Management of ESB as regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.My Department did, however, contact ESB and I understand the position to be as follows. This is a rural line in an area that has experienced significant, relatively recent, population and urban load growth. ESB Networks has been progressively upgrading power and services on this line, including the fitting of network automation devices that have helped continuity of supply. They are also carrying out a circuit split adjacent to Swords to enhance power availability in the area.
ESB Networks have also recently completed extensive visual line checks to identify where vegetation and trees have been coming into conflict with the line. Where identified, they have had contractors on site to address though there have been issues around access to a number of landholdings. ESB will continue to progress this work in the coming months.
