Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 3

Written Answers. - Gas Supply Extension.

Roger T. Garland

Ceist:

121 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Energy if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, despite requests from the residents of Llewellyn Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, Dublin Gas state that they are unable to supply this utility to those who require it; if he will investigate cases of new developments within the city of Dublin, where residents have requested gas but the service cannot be given to them; and whether there is any possibility that under the new smog regulations this situation might change.

Minister for Energy (Mr. Molloy)

Bord Gáis Éireann is a statutory body charged with developing and maintaining a system for the supply of natural gas on a commercial basis and any proposal for the extension of the natural gas grid must be assessed in a commercial light by the board.

Accordingly, it is the board's policy at present to target new housing developments and areas which are already served by gas mains and which have potential for significant extra gas sales.

The capital cost of extending the gas grid to built-up areas such as Llewellyn Court which are not already served by gas mains is extremely high. Bord Gáis are currently undertaking a pilot project on the economic feasibility of bringing supplies to non-gas housing estates. It is not my intention, however, to require Bord Gáis Éireann to supply any new areas where they do not consider it economic to do so.

As part of the Government's environment action programme, arrangements are being made to ensure that costs arising from the need to use smokeless or low smoke fuels are minimised for low income groups and details of these arrangements will be announced in due course.

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

122 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Energy if he proposes to extend natural gas to the town of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Energy (Mr. Molloy)

As I stated in reply to previous questions in the matter, Bord Gáis Éireann is a statutory body charged with developing and maintaining a system for the supply of natural gas on a commercial basis. Any proposal for the extension of the gas grid must, therefore, be assessed in this light by the board.

The board have, accordingly, concentrated to date on marketing gas in areas which are in close proximity to the existing transmission pipelines, which have existing gas grids, and which have a market which would justify the high capital expenditure required to supply gas. Consideration may be given to the extension of supplies to other areas such as Carrick-on-Suir in the longer term, but it would be unrealistic to assume the likelihood of supply in the short to medium term.