Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The Government is giving high priority to the development of the east-west electricity interconnector between Ireland and Britain. The White Paper on energy policy and the programme for Government underline this commitment which will contribute to security of supply and competitiveness. Greater interconnection between member states is a key priority for the European Union if it is to ensure the Internal Market will work effectively. Work on the east-west electricity interconnector project is progressing well.

Following a 2006 Government decision, the Commission for Energy Regulation is arranging the design of a competition to secure the construction of a 500 MW interconnector at the earliest possible date before 2012. The Government has also decided that the interconnector will, as a national strategic asset, remain in public ownership and be owned by EirGrid. The Government also decided that as a national strategic asset the interconnector will remain in public ownership and will be owned by EirGrid.

EirGrid is progressing work on route selection and technical specification of the interconnector and has recently announced that Woodland in County Meath is the most favoured connection point on the Irish side. Work is also advancing with the relevant authorities on finalising the connection point on the west coast of Britain. EirGrid, overseen by the CER, is also finalising the competition structure, documentation and related contractual arrangements.

To oversee and ensure delivery of the interconnector to schedule, a high level co-ordination group has been established under the chairmanship of the CER and comprising representatives of EirGrid and my Department.

The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, which provides for a streamlined planning process for strategic infrastructure developments, includes special provisions designed to expedite the planning process for electricity interconnector projects.

To underpin the interconnector development process, new arrangements have been made in respect of the construction and governance under licence of interconnector operators by the CER in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006.

In particular, the Act provides that the CER may, with ministerial consent, secure the construction of an interconnector. Such consent will be contingent on final Government approval. As regards funding, the CER and EirGrid are working to determine the most cost-effective and efficient solution. Funding proposals will be part of the submission seeking Government approval for the CER to proceed with securing the construction of the interconnector.

See this speech in context