North-South Interconnector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Ceisteanna (29, 35)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

29. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a review into the north-south interconnector. [43527/21]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

35. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Government review on the north-south interconnector; the number of times the review group has met; when its report will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44098/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 35 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 our 70% renewable electricity target 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.

The option of undergrounding the North-South interconnector has been comprehensively assessed on several occasions. Most recently, the key finding from the International Expert Commission's report of October 2018 was that an overhead line remains the most appropriate option for this critical electricity infrastructure.

Notwithstanding this, I decided to commission a further short review to assess if the overall finding from the 2018 report remains valid. Terms of reference for this study were published on my Department's website on 21 April. On 7 May, my Department initiated a procurement process to appoint an independent expert to undertake the review. International consultants have now been appointed subject to final contract compliance requirements being fulfilled. My officials are in regular contact with the selected consultants. I therefore expect that the review will commence shortly and will be completed later this year.