EirGrid launches public consultation for critical electricity grid upgrade in Kildare and South-West Dublin

EirGrid has launched a public consultation for the latest phase of a critical electricity grid upgrade to improve the energy system in the Kildare and South-West Dublin regions.

The Kildare Dublin Grid Reinforcement Project 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 area are now being asked to give their feedback on plans for the project.

The consultation, running over an 8-week period until Friday, July 3rd, will focus 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.

This will allow power to be taken from the transmission system and distributed to homes, schools and businesses across Kildare and West Dublin.

The consultation will give communities, residents and businesses in the area an opportunity to give their feedback on the proposed plans.

Submissions can be made online or by post, and public information events will also be held in-person to allow those interested to speak to EirGrid representatives and learn more about the proposals.

This feedback, along with stakeholder engagement and technical studies being carried out by EirGrid, will help determine the approach to project plans moving forward.

The Kildare Dublin Grid Reinforcement Project will include a new 400/220/110kV substation near the South Dublin/East Kildare border at Steelstown and a new 220/110kV substation near Hynestown, as well as associated circuits linking the new stations to existing substations in Maynooth, Inchicore and Carrickmines.

Chief Infrastructure Officer with EirGrid, Siobhán O’Shea, said: “Not only will this project be key to enhancing the grid in Kildare and West Dublin, providing capacity to support increasing electricity demands to enable local economic growth and housing, it will also help the country reach its renewable energy targets.”

“I encourage you to give your feedback on our initial plans and contribute to creating a more secure electricity supply to our homes, communities and businesses.”

Head of Public Engagement with EirGrid, Sinéad Dooley, said: “At EirGrid, we recognise that collaborating with communities and gathering local knowledge is key to this infrastructure being developed, reinforcing the electricity grid for generations to come.

“I would encourage members of the public and local stakeholders to have their say and attend one of our information events to learn more about this project and the benefits it will bring to the region.”

Dooley continued: “We also look forward to sharing details of the associated Community Benefit Fund later in the process, recognising the role of communities in hosting important grid infrastructure upgrades.”

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