Vol. 557 No. 6
145 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the status the gas pipeline going north from Craughwell in Galway has; if there are delays in bringing gas ashore in north Mayo; and if this section of the national ring north from Craughwell to Ballina and on to Sligo town will be constructed as soon as possible. [23033/02]
Bord Gáis Éireann has obtained statutory consent to construct the Mayo-Galway pipeline which will link the planned Enterprise Energy Ireland terminal at Bellanboy, County Mayo, with the national ringmain in County Galway. Bord Gáis Éireann has advised me that it is awaiting An Bord Pleanála's decision on the terminal before proceeding with construction of the pipeline. An Bord Pleanála will reopen the oral hearing on the matter on 25 November. I understand a decision is not expected until some time in 2003. I also understand that should the developers of the Corrib gas field receive a favourable determination they would hope to bring the gas ashore by early 2005.
The Government has considered a number of options for further extending the gas network into the north west, all of which would require very substantial grant aid, in excess of 85%. The Government decided, in principle, that the network should be extended to Sligo via Ballina from the proposed Mayo-Galway pipeline and to Letterkenny from the planned Belfast-Derry pipeline. The Government agreed that it wished to have detailed costings for the extensions before making a decision to commit Exchequer funding to the projects and that, in the event of funding being made available, the projects should be put out to tender.
My Department is pursuing the question of establishing detailed costings for the extensions in conjunction with the Commission for Energy Regulation. Following this it will be a matter for the Government to decide whether and how much funding is to be allocated. Clearly the proposed spurline extension to Sligo via Ballina is dependent on the Mayo-Galway pipeline being completed.
