Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 January 2014
115. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the likely impact of the proposed EirGrid Grid Link pylon project on Ireland's heritage and wildlife; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51465/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraEirGrid’s Grid25 Programme is a Government endorsed strategy to develop the transmission network to ensure nationwide safe, secure and affordable electricity supply supporting economic growth, renewable and sustainable energy. It represents the most important investment in Ireland’s transmission system for several generations and will position our energy system for decades to come.
Neither the Government nor I seek to direct the energy infrastructure developers to particular technologies, sites or routes as was made clear in the Government's July 2012 Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure. That statement emphasises that these are matters for the developers and for the forward planning process through regional and local development plans and at project level through the development management process. Ultimately, it will fall to An Bord Pleanála to determine whether the views expressed have been adequately taken into account in the final project design.
The Government does expect the Companies in making their choices, of project specific technologies and routing as well as mitigation measures, to take account of all relevant national and international standards, to follow best practice and ensure value for money and be informed by detailed consultation at local level.
In addition to undertaking extensive statutory and non-statutory public consultation, the State companies and energy developers must adhere to national and international standards on health, environment, biodiversity, landscape and safety as an intrinsic part of the Planning process. Compliance together with appropriate impact mitigation measures are central to the Environmental Impact Assessments which form the basis of planning applications to An Bord Pleanála. This includes compliance with EU and national Environmental, Habitat and Biodiversity legislation as well as EMF exposure limits set out in the Guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection.
