Vol. 422 No. 4
125 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Energy if it is proposed to extend gas supply north of Bailieboro, County Cavan in view of the European Community's proposal under the REGEN programme for a gas interconnector between Ireland and Scotland as part of the European grid.
The European Community's REGEN programme is a Commission initiative to assist certain energy infrastructural projects of interest to the Community, particularly gas interconnection. Under this programme, approximately 35 per cent of the capital cost of the Ireland/UK gas interconnector will be funded by the Commission. This programme is unrelated to the extension of the national grid which is currently under way in County Cavan. That project will be completed shortly. I understand from Bord Gáis Éireann that there are no proposals for further extensions in the area at this time.
