Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the 400 kV Celtic interconnector will be placed underground along public roads in its entirety when this connection from France reaches Ireland in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40099/20]
View answerThe Celtic Interconnector is a €1 billion electricity interconnector jointly proposed by EirGrid and their French counterparts, the French transmission system operator, RTÉ (Reseau de Transporte d’Électricite). It is proposed as a 575km long (500km subsea), 700MW cable from the north-west coast of France to the south coast of Ireland. At this scale it would be able to provide electricity for some 450,000 homes.
The Celtic Interconnector will provide a reliable high-capacity electricity link between Ireland and France that will have significant benefits for the people of Ireland. The project will provide access to the European internal energy market, leading to expected increased competition and lower prices in Ireland. It will also enhance security of electricity supply and facilitate increased capacity for renewable energy here via export access to the mainland European markets.
The proposed route of the interconnector, and positioning of associated infrastructure, is an operational matter for the project developer and transmission system operator, EirGrid, and the transmission system asset owner in Ireland, ESB Networks, and will be reflected in the proposal brought forward in the statutory consenting process.
Neither I, nor my Department, have any function in this matter.
