Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

While I have no direct role in the operational planning and construction of transmission system infrastructure, the Government's policy objective is to ensure that energy is consistently available with minimal risk to supply disruption, to meet the needs of businesses and domestic consumers. It is EirGrid's role, as the national transmission system operator, to develop and upgrade the transmission system to meet ongoing and future electricity needs.

In October 2008, EirGrid published Grid25 which sets out its strategy for the development of the transmission grid to meet Ireland's electricity needs to 2025. The capacity of Ireland's bulk transmission system has remained largely unchanged for the past 20 years, despite a growth of 150% in electricity demand being carried by the system.

Grid25 represents a cornerstone for our economic development and will provide high quality, high voltage bulk power supply to enable the regions to attract future industry, boost existing industry and create employment in area where it would not otherwise occur. It is also an essential prerequisite for the increased integration of renewable electricity, the development of an indigenous renewable energy sector and the achievement of Ireland's 40% renewable electricity target. EirGrid predicts that parts of the grid will have reached capacity within the next five to ten years. Therefore, upgrading of the infrastructure is vital.

As part of its ongoing grid development programme and in line with the Government's energy White Paper, EirGrid is currently planning the construction and re-enforcement of a number of transmission lines. These include the proposed 138 km, 400 kV Meath Tyrone interconnection development project. The project is being undertaken in co-operation with Northern Ireland Electricity. As a result of doubling the current power transfer capacity between Ireland and Northern Ireland, it will promote better competition, facilitate renewable energy and ensure a future secure supply of electricity throughout the north east.

EirGrid has been consulting extensively on the Meath-Tyrone interconnection development project since November 2007. As part of these preplanning consultations, EirGrid was required by An Bord Pleanála to consider three potential routes for the project and to consult on these routes. Following extensive studies, route corridor options the project were developed and were presented for public consultation. In April 2009, EirGrid nominated one preferred route corridor for each 400 kV power line project for further study and commenced discussions with landowners.

EirGrid advertised its intention to submit its planning consent application to An Bord Pleanála on Wednesday, 16 December. It is currently circulating copies of the planning application for the 400 kV Meath Tyrone project to statutory consultees. The application will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála once this process is completed. The planning process provides for a consultation period of seven weeks. Recognising that the application is being submitted prior to Christmas, EirGrid has decided that the statutory consultation period will commence only in the new year. In addition, the consultation period will be extended by a further three weeks, to ten weeks.

The environmental impact statement will be available to download on-line and be on display in several venues throughout Meath, Cavan and Monaghan as soon as the planning application is made. This information will be publicised widely through local press and radio as soon as the application is lodged. By submitting the application now rather than in the New Year, EirGrid is maximising the time available to people to review and formulate views on the application.

EirGrid commissioned a report by TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company, to examine technical issues associated with integrating underground high voltage cables with the Irish electricity transmission system. This work is additional to the report by PB Power which EirGrid published earlier this year, and which examined structural and cost issues associated with high voltage, long distance transmission infrastructure. I understand that the TEPCO report will be made publically available by EirGrid on its website, www.eirgrid.com, from Friday afternoon.

The Department and EirGrid have kept the relevant Oireachtas committees informed of developments on grid development generally and issues relating to the proposed Meath-Tyrone development. Several reports have already been furnished to Deputies and detailed discussions have taken place with the relevant Oireachtas committees. I confirm that EirGrid will make the TEPCO report available to Members of these committees and any other Deputies who wish to receive a copy. An Bord Pleanála is the statutory planning authority for all strategic infrastructure projects and EirGrid is submitting a full environmental impact statement, in addition to these reports to An Bord Pleanála for consideration as part of its planning consent application.

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