Deadline approaching for EirGrid public consultation on critical electricity grid upgrade in Kildare and South-West Dublin

EirGrid is reminding communities and stakeholders in Kildare and South-West Dublin to have their say as the closing date approaches for a public consultation on a critical grid upgrade. 

The Kildare Dublin Grid Reinforcement will see the upgrading of energy infrastructure in this rapidly growing region. 

With the existing electricity system in this area nearing its capacity limit, this new infrastructure is needed to ensure the continued reliable supply of power to schools, farms, businesses and homes in the area. 

Communities and stakeholders in the region have been asked to give their feedback on the proposed plans as part of a nine-week consultation, which will close on Friday, July 10^th. 

The consultation is focusing on gathering feedback on the available technology options for a circuit required to connect a proposed substation in Steelstown to an existing substation in Carrickmines. The available technology options are an Overhead Line, an Underground Cable or an Overhead Line with Partial Undergrounding. 

This will allow power to be taken from the transmission system and distributed to homes, schools and businesses across Kildare and West Dublin. Once the best performing technology has been identified, EirGrid will present circuit routes to the public for a further round of public consultation. 

Submissions on the proposed plans can be made online or by post. 

Head of Public Engagement with EirGrid, Sinead Dooley, said: “We at EirGrid recognise the importance of collaborating with communities at every stage of delivering our infrastructure projects. 

“I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in this consultation so far by making a submission, or attending one of our recent public information events to learn more about the benefits this project will have for the region. 

“Your feedback, along with stakeholder engagement and technical studies, will help determine the approach to project plans moving forward, so I would encourage all stakeholders in the region to get in touch and have their say.” 

“We also look forward to recognising the role of local communities in delivering this critical project when we share the details of the associated Community Benefit Fund later in the process,” Dooley concluded. 

In May 2025, EirGrid consulted with local communities and stakeholders on the preferred zones to locate sites for the construction of two new substations; one near Hynestown and one near Steelstown. 

The feedback collected during that consultation is being taken into consideration as the appropriate sites are being determined. 

EirGrid recently determined that the best performing technology solution for the circuit connecting the two substations to each other, and to the existing substation in Maynooth, is via underground cable. 

For more information and to have your say, visit www.eirgrid.ie/kildaredublin.