Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The North West Mayo Forum was established in 2008 with the dual objectives of providing an opportunity for dialogue between parties with an interest in the Corrib gas project and offering an opportunity for furthering the socio-economic development of the north-west Mayo region. While it was intended that membership of the forum would include a broad representation from local community groups, those groups opposed to the Corrib gas project declined to participate in it.

Over the course of its first year, five meetings of the forum were held. In the past 18 months the forum met only once, and that was just over a year ago. A decision has not been taken to convene a further meeting of the forum at this time.

The construction phase of the project is well advanced, with construction of the gas terminal, the offshore pipeline and the sub-sea facilities almost complete. The principal remaining element of the development is the construction of the onshore section of the pipeline. That work is due to commence this summer.

The consent conditions monitoring committee, being established by my Department to monitor implementation of the conditions of the section 40 gas pipeline consent, will provide an opportunity for representatives of the local community to engage in a meaningful way on the construction of the onshore pipeline.

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