105. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on capital investment allocations for electricity grid upgrades under the national development plan; and the way in which decisions support Ireland’s renewable energy targets and security of supply [69909/25]

Sentiment score: 0.40

Can the Minister provide us with an update on the capital investment allocations for electricity grid upgrades under the national development plan, and the way in which these decisions support Ireland's renewable energy targets and, most importantly, our security of supply?

Sentiment score: 0.84

I welcome all these updates, in particular the largest investment. I also welcome the fact that this is going to be monitored and that the Minister will receive quarterly reports because without a robust energy delivery, we are going to find ourselves in great difficulty going into the future. For example, the Minister, Deputy Burke, launched in May 2025 the Silicon Island project. This is a very ambitious project. This is something that will take us into the realms of new jobs and new prospects for our economy. We need to have the nuts and bolts, however, and I believe this Department has the nuts and bolts for every other Department to work efficiently. If we do not have that Department working not just efficiently but delivering efficiently, then we are not in a position to progress new jobs, such as in semiconductors. We will not be able to deliver new houses like, for example, phases 3 and 4 of the port access northern cross route, PANCR, in Drogheda, which suggests 700,000 homes.

Sentiment score: 0.25

The M1 corridor is uniquely positioned to attract new FDI. We have the lands and talent, as well as the proximity not just to two large cities but also the airports. This is an area in which I welcomed, during engagement throughout the summer with ESB Networks, its announcement of a commitment to invest €90 million. That will take us into the next five years but not the next ten years, however. It is about continued investment. It is great to have a plan for the next ten years, but we must think longer term than that. We must continually invest. Those quarterly reports will be essential to delivery, and it will all be about delivery. A total of 7,000 homes are ready to be built in Drogheda around the port access northern cross route, PANCR, and IDA Ireland is ready to develop the lands and attract FDI. None of that will happen without a secure supply of electricity.

Sentiment score: 0.24