97. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being developed to enable households, electric vehicles, heat pumps and domestic batteries to participate in demand-response, aggregation and electricity-system flexibility services; whether publicly supported technologies will be required to include smart and flexible controls; and the timeline for their introduction. [64263/26]

99. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being developed to enable households, electric vehicles, heat pumps and domestic batteries to participate in demand-response, aggregation and electricity-system flexibility services; whether publicly supported technologies will be required to include smart and flexible controls; and the timeline for their introduction. [64318/26]

102. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being developed to enable households, electric vehicles, heat pumps and domestic batteries to participate in demand-response, aggregation and electricity-system flexibility services; whether publicly supported technologies will be required to include smart and flexible controls; and the timeline for their introduction. [64496/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 99 and 102 together.

The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan recognise the important role of demand flexibility in supporting renewable electricity, reducing system costs and strengthening security of supply. Households, including those with electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps and domestic batteries are expected to play an increasingly important role in demand response and flexibility services, as highlighted in the recently published 2026 Demand Flexibility Forecasting Report.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published Ireland's first National Energy Demand Strategy (NEDS) in July 2024. The strategy includes a programme of actions aimed at increasing participation in demand-side flexibility across domestic, commercial and industrial sectors through smart services, time-based tariffs, demand response schemes, energy storage and aggregation models.

A range of measures is being progressed by Government, the CRU, ESB Networks, EirGrid and SEAI to support household participation in flexibility services. These include the continued rollout of smart meters and smart energy services; expansion of time-of-use and dynamic electricity tariffs; development of flexibility markets and services that can facilitate participation by aggregated small-scale resources; support for smart EV charging and the integration of domestic batteries; and implementation of NEDS actions to increase customer participation in demand response.

The Government is supportive of ensuring that publicly funded low-carbon technologies can operate flexibly where this benefits both consumers and the electricity system. Current grant-supported technologies, including certain EV charging equipment and heat pump systems, already incorporate varying levels of smart functionality. My Department, together with relevant agencies and regulators, is examining further measures under NEDS, EU legislation and evolving technical standards to support interoperability, smart operation and participation in flexibility services.

While there is currently no general requirement for all publicly supported domestic technologies to participate in flexibility markets, NEDS actions are examining the standards, market arrangements and consumer protections needed to facilitate greater participation. Actions under NEDS are being delivered on a phased basis through to 2030, with reporting by the CRU.

My Department will continue to work with stakeholders, largely facilitated by the Smart Energy Services Working Group, to develop a consumer-focused flexibility framework that enables households and communities to benefit from the energy transition while contributing to a secure, affordable and decarbonised electricity system.