Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
155. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on proposals under the consultation on private wires to extend compulsory purchase order powers to commercial entities; if he has engaged with farming representative bodies on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring 2023, my Department held a public consultation on private wires. The consultation ran from 18th August until 27th October 2023 and during this time over 120 submissions were received. Work in respect of the consultation submissions is currently ongoing within my Department, with a report on submission responses expected for publication in Q2.
The aim of this consultation was to gather the views of the public, stakeholders and interested parties alike, to consolidate our understanding of the role which private wires may play in the future Irish electricity ecosystem, as well as to identify the challenges and opportunities such a policy change may present. Publication of the consultation represented the first step towards a final policy and completed action EL/23/15 of the Climate Action Plan 2023.
If permitted for, private wires would allow private individuals and/or undertakings to install their own privately owned electricity infrastructure linking generation with demand. This would represent a major shift in electricity policy in the State and as such may impact upon all citizens while also overhauling aspects of the electricity sector which have been in place since soon after the foundation of the State. While the consultation included several questions on the topic of land ownership in the context of Private Wires, this does not constitute a position or proposal on the same.
A summary of responses to the public consultation is intended for publication by the end of Quarter 2. In accordance with Action EL/24/9 of the recently published Climate Action Plan 24, it is intended to publish a private wires policy during Q4 2024.
