Vol. 437 No. 1
68 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Energy, and Communications if he has received a request from the board of the ESB, under section 2 of the Electricity (Supply) Amendment Act, 1982, to incur expenditure on the construction of the proposed 220 KV Flagford, Carrick-on-Shannon to Drumsallagh overhead power line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
107 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if, in accordance with section 2 of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1982, which provides that the board of the ESB shall not incur any expenditure for capital purposes without the approval of the Minister, an application has been received from the ESB for incurring expenditure for capital purposes for the erection of a 220 KV double circuit line from Flagford, County Roscommon to Drumsallagh, County Donegal; if so, if he has made a decision on the application; if he has made a decision, if he has authorised or refused the expenditure of money on this project; if an application has been received and if a decision has not been taken at this stage, when the decision will be taken; if an application has been received, the total capital cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 107 together.
The proposed Flagford-Drumsallagh 220kV powerline project is at an initial stage. Expenditure approved to date for this project has been solely related to preparatory work on the project including studies and surveys connected with the ESB's applications for planning permission.
Total cost for this project are estimated to be approximately £26 million. The bulk of capital expenditure under this project is not scheduled to arise until 1995-98. I have not approved capital expenditure by the ESB for construction work on this proposed project. Depending on the outcome of the planning process, the earliest I envisage receiving such a request would be in 1994 in the context of the ESB's 1995 Capital Expenditure Programme.
