The Last Word with Matt Cooper ESB To Develop Grid Investment Plan
Feb 5, 2025
Daragh O'Brien, the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, and Transport, discusses critical plans for upgrading the ESB electricity grid to enhance resilience, especially post-storm. He delves into the financial implications of these upgrades, weighing costs on consumers versus the state. O'Brien also addresses the troubling shortfall in housing completions for 2024, critiquing current government targets and exploring solutions for first-time buyers in a challenging market.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Power Outage Story
- A listener's 78-year-old father lost power after a storm.
- The ESB couldn't give a clear restoration timeframe, causing distress.
Ongoing Power Outages
- 18,000 households in the Midlands, West, and Northwest still lack power after a storm.
- Dara O'Brien acknowledges the hardship this causes families.
Extent of Storm Damage
- Dara O'Brien says the storm caused unprecedented damage to the electricity grid.
- He emphasizes the intricate work of replacing thousands of poles and cables.