Vol. 501 No. 6
139 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the intention of Bord Gáis to extend the national pipeline to include the urban area of Portlaoise; and if her Department will help and assist by ensuring there is no delay in view of the urgency and importance of this matter to the people of Portlaoise and surrounding areas. [6639/99]
Bord Gáis has advised me that planning and wayleave acquisitions are well advanced on the project to provide a natural gas supply to the town of Portlaoise via the town of Athy. The necessary applications for my consent for the construction of a pipeline and associated acquisition orders for compulsory acquisition of rights over land under the Gas Act, 1976, have been received by my Department and are receiving urgent attention.
Bord Gáis is confident at this stage that a supply will be available to some areas of the town of Portlaoise in November of this year as programmed. Contracts for construction of the necessary pipelines are in preparation and will be tendered in the coming weeks.
I understand that further developments of the gas network will take place over the following two years to additional areas of the town and its environs which meet Bord Gáis economic requirements.
