Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
359. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the EirGrid grid link project as part of the national electricity grid linking Leinster and Munster; if he will detail its proposed passage through an area in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42180/13]
View answerEirGrid's Grid25 Programme is a Government endorsed strategy to develop the transmission network to ensure nationwide safe, secure and affordable electricity supply supporting economic growth, renewable and sustainable energy. It represents the most important investment in Ireland’s transmission system for several generations and will position our energy system for decades to come.
The Government's July 2012 Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure underlined the urgent need for new energy infrastructure and its importance to individual consumers, but acknowledged that it will be necessary to have public confidence that relevant projects and programmes adhere to the highest international standards of safety, health and environmental and visual impact, and technology choice.
The project referred to in the Question consists of a new 400kV overhead power line linking Knockraha, County Cork to Great Island, County Wexford to Dunstown, near Kilcullen, County Kildare, ensuring a reliable and high quality electricity supply for homes, farms and businesses in the south and east region for the future.
The contents of the Project Stage 1 Report published by EirGrid on 3 September, identifying a number of route corridor options for the new line, will inform a twelve week public consultation. Over 2270 people have attended twelve open days held across the project area to date, to view maps of the route corridor options, and to provide feedback on any constraints near or on the corridors.
EirGrid has also opened 5 project information centres and to date has held 120 public information events, including information stands in shopping centres, marts, and local events.
Details of the potential routing, including any potential for routing through Wicklow, are readily available on the maps referring to the Grid Link project featured on the EirGrid website.
It is important to note that no decision has been made yet on the final route for the line. There are several route corridor options and public consultation is the best way for people to influence the next phase of the project, which is the identification of the least constrained corridor within which the power line can be routed.
