The ESB paid €213.5 million to the exchequer in 2024The exchequer has received almost €440 million in dividends from State companies over the last two years, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has said. The Social Democrats on Friday maintained that the proceeds from such dividends from State companies could provide the basis of a fund to upgrade the national grid and boost energy security. The Tánaiste also said that in 2024 the exchequer also received dividends of €600,000 from the Port of Cork. The Minister said that up to October in 2025 Gas Networks Ireland paid dividends to the exchequer of just over €62 million. Mr Farrelly, a Social Democrats TD for Kildare, said on Friday that funding-generated dividends from State companies to the exchequer should go towards improving energy security.

Source: The Irish Times December 06, 2025 06:05 UTC