Written answer
Flood Risk Management
Government outlined measures to protect households from storms and flooding, including adaptation plans, a taskforce, ESB winter resilience measures, €18.9bn grid investment and proposed legislation.
145. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the protections he has put in place for households to withstand increasingly extreme weather as we head into the winter months since he entered Government, including protections against storms and flooding; to provide a detailed breakdown of the actions delivered to date, in tabular form. [65757/26]
Comment on this
In November 2025, under the National Adaptation Framework, Government approved Sectoral Adaptation Plans across 13 key sectors, including electricity and gas networks. These set out measures to strengthen essential infrastructure against climate impacts. The Flood Risk Management Sectoral Adaptation Plan, led by the Office of Public Works, similarly addresses increasing flood risk associated with climate change.
A new Adaptation Taskforce was established in January 2026 to provide senior-level oversight and coordination of climate adaptation efforts across Government.
Since entering Government, I have prioritised strengthening the resilience of Ireland’s energy infrastructure and preparedness for increasingly severe weather affecting households and communities.
Following Storm Éowyn, in February 2025, I asked ESB Networks to prepare a Winter Resilience Plan, focused on areas most vulnerable to severe weather. Measures included addressing network damage and weaknesses, managing risks from trees and vegetation, replenishing emergency stocks and strengthening staffing and contractor resources. An updated Plan was published in October 2025.
In December 2025, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities published Price Review 6, providing for investment of up to €18.9 billion in the electricity grid to 2030, significantly strengthening its capacity and resilience.
My Department is also progressing the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at strengthening network resilience, particularly by addressing risks arising from the interaction between electricity infrastructure, vegetation, trees and forestry. Revised Heads of Bill will be brought to Government as soon as practicable.
Finally, EirGrid’s forthcoming Winter Outlook 2026/27 will inform operational preparedness and contingency planning for the coming winter.
Taken together, these measures across Government combine immediate storm preparedness, flood and climate adaptation, substantial infrastructure investment and legislative reform to better protect households and communities from increasingly severe weather.