The construction and development of Ireland's essential electricity grid are set to receive a significant boost following the Government's announcement that the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 is to be published.

Once enacted by the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Bill will allow the Government to make an equity investment of €1.5 billion into ESB Networks.

This substantial financial commitment is central to the updated National Development Plan and is designed to support the utility's capacity to finance its unprecedented $13.4 billion investment plan spanning 2026-2030. The primary goal is to expand, modernise, and reinforce the country's onshore electricity network infrastructure.

The construction programme is vast, encompassing over 500 capital projects. The detailed works schedule includes the delivery of 181km of new overhead lines, the laying of 319km of new underground cables, the construction and upgrading of nearly 70 substations nationwide, and the replacement of 50,000 poles.

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Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, emphasised the critical nature of this development work.

"This €1.5 billion investment is crucial to modernising and future-proofing our electricity network infrastructure. We want to ensure that every home and every business has a reliable and secure source of electricity, including the 300,000 new homes we've committed to build by 2030."

This critical infrastructure construction is deemed essential to meet the projected 50% growth in electricity demand by 2035, improve the system's resilience against severe weather, and support both housing delivery and foreign direct investment. Additionally, the Bill provides for an increase in ESB's statutory borrowing limit from €12bn to €17bn.

Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive of ESB, welcomed the move, highlighting its necessity for economic growth.

"Investment by ESB Networks in enhancing electricity system infrastructure is essential – to support economic development, housing growth, and improved resilience, while delivering of an increasingly decarbonised electricity system – for customers, for the economy and for our future."

The €1.5bn for ESB Networks is part of a wider €3.5bn government infrastructure investment approved in the National Development Plan, marking the largest single investment ever made in Ireland's electricity network.