Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
20. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans for the development of an electricity grid in the west of Ireland to facilitate the transfer to electric from west to east at-scale to unlock the renewable wind energy potential in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55404/22]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators.Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Network. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network. The Transmission and Distribution Networks make up the national electricity grid. EirGrid and ESB Networks are independent of the Minister in the exercise of their respective functions.
The issue at hand is an operational matter for both EirGrid and ESB Networks and therefore not one in which I have a function. Both the ESB and the CRU have dedicated email addresses for Deputies, of which they are aware, should they wish to raise matters such as the subject of this PQ. In this instance, I have forwarded the query raised in the question to EirGrid and ESB Networks for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
