Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2013
227. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the claim that EirGrid has not fully engaged with the public in relation to public consultations on its plan for the construction of electricity pylons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51717/13]
View answerDevelopment of the high voltage electricity grid as planned in the EirGrid Grid25 strategy is critical to Ireland's economic and social development. Ensuring secure reliable and safe supplies of electricity is critical to Ireland’s ability to attract inward investment and retain and create jobs.All projects in the Grid25 programme are undertaken in accordance with EirGrid’s Project Development and Consultation Roadmap. The Roadmap is a five stage approach to projects; all stages include opportunities for public consultation and feedback including the final stage which is subject to the full planning process of An Bord Pleanála. Currently the Grid Link project is at Stage 1 of the roadmap. Stage 1 is the information gathering stage and the Project Stage 1 Report was published by EirGrid on 3 September 2013. The report identifies a number of route corridor options for the new line, and will inform the public consultation process. EirGrid are encouraging interested parties to make submissions. On 25 November 2013, EirGrid announced its decision to extend the third phase of public consultation on the Grid Link Project until Tuesday, 7 January 2014, so that interested parties will have plenty of time to contribute to the consultation process and express their views in relation to the project.
The Grid West project is at Stage 1 of the roadmap (the information gathering stage) and the Project Stage 1 Report was published by EirGrid on 7 October 2013. The report identifies a number of route corridor options for the new line, and will inform a public consultation between now and spring 2014.
The North South Interconnector project is entering Stage 3 of the roadmap and has already been the subject of extensive consultation. The objective of this stage is to confirm the preferred project solution. The preferred project solution report, which shows the route of the overhead line in detail, has been published.
The planning process affords further opportunity for citizens to raise views regarding these developments.
