Vol. 533 No. 1
55 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress which has been made regarding his proposals to ensure that the west will benefit from the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8121/01]
While the responsibility for the configuration of distribution gas pipelines is a matter for commercial decision by Bord Gáis, BGE, and for the Minister for Public Enterprise, I have been pursuing and will continue to pursue with them the question of having as many major towns as can be reached within BGE's commercial mandate connected to the natural gas network and to press for maximum availability of gas to areas which have currently been excluded.
BGE is already committed to connecting the natural gas network to as many towns as can be reached within its commercial mandate. In addition to providing a gas supply to certain towns in the catchment area of the proposed pipeline and spur line, I understand BGE is examining the prospect of supplying gas to other centres of population in the north west as part of a national study to determine centres that can be supplied with gas on an economic basis. When this assessment has been completed, a fuller picture as to the costs and viability of such extensions will emerge. The Government recently gave approval in principle for the construction of spur pipelines to the north west of Ireland. It recognised that State funding will be required as BGE has a statutory obligation to extend gas networks to new areas of supply on a commercial basis only.
My priority is to see the extension of the gas network and a new supply off the west coast used to accelerate economic development in the Border, midland and western region.
