Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2012
9Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if the erection of over ground cables such, as EirGrid is subject to environment impact statements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5908/12]
View answerCouncil Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effect of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended in 1997 and 2003, specifies projects which, by virtue of their nature, size or location are likely to have significant effects on the environment and should be subject to an environmental impact assessment, EIA. Article 4(1) of the directive requires projects listed in Annex I of the directive to be subject to an EIA while Article 4(2) provides that for projects listed in Annex II of the directive member states may determine, either through case by case examination or by setting thresholds or criteria, or both, whether such projects are to be subject to an EIA. The provisions of the EIA directive are transposed into Irish legislation by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Under the regulations, an EIA is mandatory for the construction of overhead electrical power lines with a voltage of 220 kV or more and a length of more than 15 km. However, where a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála considers that a development proposal which is below the specified threshold is likely to have significant environmental effects, it is obliged to request an environmental impact statement from the developer.
The issue of the erection of overhead power lines is causing huge angst across the country. There is a planned overhead power line in Ratheniska in County Laois, for example, causing concerns. If a power line is over 15 km, it is mandatory for an environmental impact statement to be provided by the developer. What are the Minister of State's views on undergrounding electrical power lines? The report commissioned last July by her Government colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, on undergrounding power cables concluded that the cost of undergrounding is almost equal to that of erecting overhead power lines.
In Europe, only 450 km of overhead lines are currently being constructed while up to 700 km of electrical lines are being put underground. European electricity suppliers are going the way of undergrounding.
Putting in place overhead cables also causes delays in the delivery of infrastructure projects. We saw that recently in Offaly where there was a dispute over an overhead power line going through a grove of trees which took a long time to resolve. Until now the argument against undergrounding was that it was too costly and could not be done. The report commissioned by the Minister of State's colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, claims undergrounding can be done at the same cost as overhead cables, be quicker and a lot less hassle.
This is a separate issue so I recommend Deputy Stanley tables a question to the appropriate Minister, in this case, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
It is a matter for that Minister. He published the expert report on undergrounding which will go to the appropriate committee and there will be wide consultation on its findings. I must point out to the Deputy, however, that the report states undergrounding is three times more expensive than putting up overhead cables. It also specifies several other options.
Our Department's remit covers only the planning element of this. I am sure the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will furnish Deputy Stanley with a copy of the report and that the Deputy will have an opportunity to engage in the consultation process too.
