Electricity Supply Amendment Bill Must Be Progressed Without Delay – Brendan Smith

Local Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan–Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has called for the Electricity Supply Amendment Bill to be completed without any further delay, stressing that enhanced electricity resilience is essential to protect customers, particularly in rural and vulnerable areas.

Deputy Smith said that placing forestry corridors on a statutory footing is critical, noting that people cannot be left without electricity in light of the increasingly severe and frequent weather events experienced in recent years.

“The Electricity Supply Amendment Bill must be progressed as a matter of urgency to enhance customer reliance and protect communities who are repeatedly affected by power outages," Deputy Brendan Smith said.

He added that certainty is urgently needed for those living in areas deemed particularly vulnerable during storms and extreme weather events.

Deputy Brendan Smith confirmed that he raised the matter again directly with the Minister by way of further Parliamentary Questions, highlighting the importance of ensuring vulnerable communities are adequately protected and prepared for serious weather events, particularly where fallen trees impact the electricity network.

“Being from rural Ireland myself, I have seen first-hand how thousands of homeowners across Cavan and Monaghan have been left without power due to fallen trees during storms,” he said.

“It is essential that all stakeholders engage constructively to ensure we are properly prepared for such events in the future.”

Deputy Brendan Smith also welcomed the Minister’s comments regarding ongoing work on the development of an enduring electricity corridor design, which is being informed by an international review of best practice in forestry corridor management, forestry design standards, and structured stakeholder engagement.

He further welcomed the establishment by ESB Networks of an annual corridor clearance programme, describing it as a “vital tool in our arsenal” to reduce forestry-related outages and enhance customer reliance.

“The work currently underway with stakeholders on forestry corridor management will be crucial in preparing for future storms and serious weather events,” Brendan Smith added.

Concluding, Deputy Brendan Smith said it is essential that the government progresses this necessary legislation without further delays.

ENDS