Vol. 536 No. 1
30 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her proposals for future gas interconnectors along the coast and the policy in relation to negotiating with affected local communities prior to the decisions being taken for such projects. [13276/01]
Subject to statutory clearance, the Government has given Bord Gáis Éireann approval to proceed with a second Scotland-to-Ireland natural gas interconnector. There are currently no other applications with my Department for the construction of gas interconnectors.
Under the Gas Act 1976, as amended, public consultation is required both from an environmental impact perspective and from the perspective of compulsory acquisition of lands. All major natural gas pipelines, including the second interconnector, are subject to a full environmental impact statement, which must be made available for public inspection for a period of one month. The second schedule to the gas Act also provides for the convening of oral hearings in connection with pipeline applications. In addition, orders for the compulsory acquisition of land must be advertised, again for one month. As part of the advertising of both the EIS and land acquisitions, members of the public are informed that submissions may be sent to the Minister for Public Enterprise, as regulator of the natural gas sector. Points raised in submissions are considered in detail prior to the making of approval decisions.
