Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 1

Written Answers. - Community Aid.

John Bruton

Question:

63 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the aid received in Ireland under each of the community Initiatives, RECHAR, REGEN and TELEMATIQUE, both in terms of the results achieved and the amounts of money received; and if Ireland has not received aid under these initiatives, the reason therefor.

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Cowen)

Significant aid has been provided by the EC to Ireland under (1) REGEN and (2) TELEMATIQUE. Ireland has not received any aid under (3) RECHAR as the coal industry in Ireland is not of sufficient magnitude to qualify for assistance under this initiative.

The REGEN initiative, announced by the European Commission in December 1990, made aid available to a small number of specified gas and electricity projects which had been identified as being of interest to the Community. The Ireland-UK natural gas interconnector pipeline was one of the projects identified. Total eligible expenditure under this project is 338.27 MECU. Grant aid of 35 per cent of the approved cost of the project, some 118.35 MECU, has been allocated by the Commission. To date 102.45 MECU has been received. The project is nearing completion. The pipeline is currently gassed up between the UK high pressure grid in Scotland and the reception station at Loughshinny in County Dublin. Some work remains to be done at the reception station and at the turbo compressor station in Scotland. The pipeline, when completed, will provide additional supply security and load management capability during the remaining life of the Kinsale Head Field. Gas will be imported through the pipeline to supplement output from Kinsale Head during its declining years, building up to full replacement when the field is depleted. It will have capacity to cater for increased demand in the future. Of course, in the event of further significant discoveries being made in our offshore, the pipeline could be used to export any gas surplus to our requirements.

The objective of the Telematique two year Programme which was formally announced by the EC in February, 1992 is to promote the use of new and existing advanced telecommunications services with a view to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the business sector. Some 8.8 million ECU of the 11 million ECU available to Ireland under the Programme has been drawn down to date. The remaining 2.2 million ECU will be drawn down at the close of the programme when a final report is furnished to the European Commission. It is too early yet to give definitive statements of the results under the programme.