Vol. 429 No. 3
199 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if, in view of the fact that the national gas grid will soon be linked into the European network, there are any plans to extend the pipeline westward from Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Bord Gáis Éireann, BGE, has a statutory obligation to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas on a commercial basis and any proposals for the extension of the gas grid are assessed by the board in the light of that obligation. Only projects which meet the required economic rate of return are undertaken.
I understand that the board is at all times anxious to identify viable markets for gas, and that potential markets are kept under review. There are, however, no immediate plans for major extensions to the transmission system at present.
