Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The developers will have received a fillip from this morning's announcement, and the necessary certainty that they seek. The consultation process in respect of curtailment and scheduling took a great deal longer than anybody could have predicted three and a half years ago.

It is also true that EirGrid has not been able to deliver as quickly as might have been anticipated for a variety of reasons. The way is now clear.

There is an analysis under way of the large number of wind generation sites seeking to connect to the grid. After it is completed, it is EirGrids intention to specify where further studies on smart grid technologies might take place. I do not want to be dragged into telling EirGrid how to do its job or pre-empt the analysis. I understand, however, EirGrid will consider including County Mayo, among other areas, in further studies to commence this summer on this topic.

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