Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 117 together.

The Government's energy policy framework 2007–20 underlines the importance of ensuring the continued availability of reliable, secure and competitively priced energy supply. This is vital for the competitiveness of Irish industry and Ireland's long-term economic and social development.

In delivering on this imperative, the energy policy framework committed to the publication of a grid development strategy and to the delivery of the North-South and Meath-Cavan transmission lines and the east-west interconnector. EirGrid's grid development strategy, grid25, was launched on 8 October 2008. This sets out a road map for the development of the electricity transmission network for the next 17 years and aims to double the capacity of the national grid during this period.

The North-South and Meath-Cavan transmission lines and the east-west interconnector are interrelated projects which are of strategic national importance to Ireland. They will link Ireland to the wider UK market and facilitate competition as part of the all-island electricity market. They will also lead to major improvements in the reliability and quality of supply, both locally and nationally, to the benefit of business and consumers and will facilitate higher levels of renewable electricity penetration in line with Government targets.

While I have no direct role in regard to routes and the planning of transmission lines, I am mindful of the concerns expressed about specific developments and the development of the grid generally. To this end, earlier this year my Department commissioned an independent study on the comparative merits of high voltage overhead electricity transmission lines versus underground cables. I published the study in July 2008 and conveyed it to the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The study concludes that underground transmission cables can be expected to have forced outage rates which are at least ten times greater than those expected of overhead lines. The consultants describe this as a severe limitation for underground cables and, consequently, underground cables do not compare favourably to overhead lines in terms of adequacy of the electricity transmission system and reliability of electricity supply. The consultants describe this finding as the dominating criterion when comparing overhead and underground technologies. They note that the associated negative impacts cannot compensate for any of the advantages of underground cables. The study also concludes that the cost implications of underground cable proposals are difficult to quantify but would be significant. Based on case studies conducted by the consultants, they state that the cost of underground cables would be approximately five times greater than the capital cost of overhead lines and three times the life cycle cost.

I am aware of the ASKON report commissioned by North East Pylon Pressure and I am advised that EirGrid is examining the aspects of this report that have been made available. EirGrid has also had a number of constructive meetings with North East Pylon Pressure. Arising from these meetings, EirGrid has stated that they would welcome an opportunity to meet the authors of the ASKON report to more fully inform its understanding of the basis for the report's conclusions. This engagement with North East Pylon Pressure is part of ongoing pre-planning application consultations by EirGrid on the North-South transmission line. In its planning application to An Bord Pleanála, EirGrid will be required to submit full details of its proposed route and technology selection, as well as a full environmental impact assessment. In addressing technology selection, EirGrid will provide An Bord Pleanála with a full report analysing the issues involved with undergrounding the 400 kV project.

EirGrid expects to submit a planning application for the North-South transmission line to the strategic infrastructure board in 2009. The target completion date for the line is 2012.

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