Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2019
216. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the detailed costs of the North-South interconnector approved overhead line; the reason the published costs in the recent EirGrid ten-year development plan report have increased from €286 million to €500 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7631/19]
View answerThe most recent EirGrid estimates state that the cost of the construction of the section of the project in Ireland will be €180m. According to SONI’s most recent cost estimates - the ten year development plan apparently referenced in the question - the construction of the Northern element of the project will be £109.3m (€125m).
A significant cost element for the project in Northern Ireland is the new 400/275 kV substation required at Turleenan, Co. Tyrone. The substation is required to connect the new 400 kV circuit into the existing 275 kV network. As the connection in Ireland is into the existing 400 kV Woodland substation, less construction work is required and therefore lower costs are incurred.
