Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 26 November 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

EirGrid: Chairman Designate

Mr. Brendan Tuohy:

I do not have the economics worked out but the Chairman asked about the west coast. I have already flagged a second challenge somewhat. Many of the new renewables will be offshore and bringing them to land is one thing, while getting them to where is energy demand is another. We would have to traverse different communities, and that is why I put such a strong emphasis on the importance of infrastructure. It is challenging for communities when they see infrastructure passing over them to somewhere else and it is very important to address the issues of the more peripheral and rural areas in the country. They have to benefit as well from this.