Vol. 554 No. 5
102 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the implications for the development of the Corrib gas field of the decision of Enterprise Energy Ireland Ltd. to postpone construction of the pipeline in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17045/02]
In July of this year Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited announced the postponement of the offshore pipelaying component of the project pending a determination of the Bellanaboy terminal planning appeal by An Bord Pleanála.
As a result of the postponement of the pipelaying and subject to satisfactory planning permission for the gas reception terminal at Bellanaboy, County Mayo, being granted, first gas will not be brought ashore before early 2005, about one and half years later than originally planned. The implications of bringing gas ashore are many but the main ones can be summarised as follows. Work on the onshore pipeline including estuary and river crossings has been deferred. Work on the Mayo-Galway export pipeline has been suspended pending the determination by ABP and the delay could have ramifications for the extensions of pipeline supplies to other towns in the north west region. No work will be undertaken in 2003 prior to the receipt of planning determination by ABP. The delay in the planning process has incurred additional costs to the developers. The benefits to the local economy are deferred and the financial return to the developer and partners will be substantially less than forecast. The benefit of a significant source of indigenous energy supply will be deferred.
