Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise, but I was at another meeting. Perhaps the answers might be emailed to me.

Was the consultation process the same for the North-South interconnector project as for the other grid projects? I would have believed all consultations were the same. If they were different, why was that the case? The Tobin report indicated a trench 1.1 m wide and 1.35 m in depth was required, whereas the McGuinness panel recommended a 20 m to 22 m working swathe. Again, why is there another significant variation? Why was this information not made available at the time? One would have believed this was common European information.

Will EirGrid consider reviewing the distance between pylons and people’s homes? Does it agree or disagree that homes and farms could be devalued? Some people may be put out of business, but others could gain because of the better interconnection we all hope to have.

Mr. Slye has a hard job of work to do. It is hard to satisfy everybody. People will examine the question of community gain in this project. I have received e-mails from people in Cavan and Monaghan stating that there is no community gain deriving from this project. The question of community gain also arises with the erection of wind turbines. One of the Deputies said there would be no converter stations and raised the issue of employment creation.

With regard to planning applications, the reference to this project devaluing homes is a huge issue, not only in terms of a property but in terms of people's health. I do not know if Mr. Slye can answer that wide-ranging question. I have asked six or seven questions and if he cannot answer them now or if he answered them previously, I would appreciate if he would reply to them by e-mail. I can put them in writing to him, if he would like and I would appreciate a brief answer to them followed up by a longer response in an e-mail.