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North-South Interconnector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Ceisteanna (72, 74, 81, 99)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

72. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the latest negotiations on the North-South interconnector between his Department and a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13199/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

74. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a meeting will be arranged with his Department and council officials (details supplied) to discuss the North-South interconnector project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13198/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

81. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will meet with representatives of community groups (details supplied) that are seeking a revision of the North-South interconnector to ensure that the project is undergrounded in order to appraise himself of the concerns of those communities that will be affected by the current proposals. [13089/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to engage with communities along the route of the proposed north-south interconnector in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is strong and widespread opposition in these communities to the present proposal to put the transmission cables over-ground in the event of the project proceeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1516/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 74, 81 and 99 together.

The North-South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the all-island single electricity market and increasing security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will also help Ireland to move towards 70% renewable electricity by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland’s economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers. 

Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent with the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure which states: ‘The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies’. Therefore I do not enter into any negotiations with EirGrid on the project and I have had no direct contact with local authorities or with local groups opposed to the project.

The option of undergrounding the North-South Interconnector has been comprehensively assessed on several occasions.  Most recently and fully in line with the resolution of Dáil Éireann of 16 February 2017, my Department commissioned an independent report incorporating international industry expertise to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector. The report from the International Expert Commission was published in October 2018 and it found that an overhead line remains the most appropriate option for this piece of critical electricity infrastructure. I do not intend ordering a repeat of such a review.

EirGrid and ESB Networks, as our electricity system operators, always seek to work in close collaboration with landowners and stakeholders in the delivery of electricity infrastructure. Both companies are engaging with those living closest to the route of the interconnector. In that regard EirGrid has already set in place a variety of engagements locally, including the appointment of community liaison officers and a mobile information unit active in the area. I expect such engagements to intensify in the coming weeks and months, subject to Covid-19 national public health guidelines.

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