Mr. Fintan Slye:

I thank the Senator. I shall try to deal with the issues he raised. His first question was on the consultation process and, if I understood him correctly, the assessment of the underground option for each of the projects. Let me take the North-South project first. We carried out a detailed technical analysis of the undergrounding option and commissioned a report by the international firm, PB Power. The report was updated this year and we have published the results. The Government commissioned an independent expert panel to examine the costs and case for undergrounding. It was the Government that came up with the factor of three for the undergrounding option. As part of the assessment of the project, undergrounding has been extensively evaluated by us and the independent committee that examined the option.

Let me use the Grid Link project as the next example. The project was mentioned because it is in Senator Cullinane's area. It was also mentioned by Deputy Coffey. At the start of the process we examined the matter and assessed different options, including undergrounding using the HVDC technology. We ruled it out and confirmed that in the Stage 1 report on the project.

Notwithstanding, the report that followed a consultation process and the comments and feedback received here earlier, it is apparent to us, and as various Deputies mentioned earlier, that there is a need for further information on the undergrounding option for the different projects. That is one of the themes that came through on the Grid Link project, notwithstanding that consultation on the project has not closed. We need to examine how we can best address the matter.