Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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It has been a contentious, topical but necessary discussion for all Deputies and Senators from counties Cavan and Monaghan. While I may be from Dublin asking about an interconnector that does not affect my area, I am a Senator for all of Ireland. I have had questions on this matter e-mailed to me by constituents from right around the country.

Two years ago EirGrid stated it would be six times more expensive to put the North-South interconnector underground. However, in a review published several weeks ago it stated it would be only 1.57 times more expensive. That is a significant variation in the costs involved. A child could have the done mathematics better. Why is there such a significant variation in costs?

In the original plans all three lines were supposed to be 400 kV overhead lines on pylons. Now EirGrid claims 200 kV lines are needed for the Grid West project, with partial undergrounding. Why was this change introduced? Why can this not be done in the case of the North-South interconnector?