Vol. 548 No. 2
138 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that adequate energy supplies to the national grid are secure arising from her policies to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4816/02]
144 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has received indications from the industrial, business or domestic sectors indicating likely shortfalls of electricity supply to a region or regions throughout the country; if she has received communications from or proposes to give instructions to, the appropriate authorities regarding the procedure to be followed to ensure constant and adequate supply in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4822/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 144 together.
Under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, sponsored by me, the Commission for Electricity Regulation, CER, in carrying out its duties, is required to have regard to the need, inter alia, to secure that all reasonable demands for electricity by customers are satisfied and promote the continuity, security and quality of supplies of electricity.
The CER has informed my Department that for this winter period generation capacity will be within standard and that there will be adequate capacity to meet the needs of electricity customers, given the availability of temporary generation. The CER will continue to monitor the situation closely.
I am aware that there are concerns abroad in relation to the likelihood of shortfalls of electricity. In this context, the Government approved an investment plan for ESB involving a capital spend of €2.6 billion on the electricity transmission and distribution systems up to 2004-2005. The physical work on upgrading the transmission system will be carried out by ESB using their own resources and outsourcing in accordance with a development plan to be produced by EirGrid as the transmission system operator. EirGrid's development plan, which will take account of national and regional development objectives, will be subject to public consultation and to the approval of the CER. This investment programme, when complete, is expected to fully modernise Ireland's transmission system and underpin the competitiveness of the economy.
