Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Grid25 comprises more than 100 projects, ranging from large projects such as Grid West, Grid Link and the North-South interconnector to smaller projects such as station works or upgrades of existing transmission lines around Ireland. EirGrid reviews all projects at regular intervals and is currently undertaking such a review. The overall Grid25 strategy was forecast to cost up to €4 billion at the time of its launch in 2007. In 2010, the identification and use of new technologies, together with the re-optimisation of the Grid25 programme, enabled EirGrid to reduce the estimated cost of the programme from €4 billion to €3.2 billion. The outcome of the current review referred to by the Deputy is expected over the coming weeks.

Regarding two of the larger projects, Grid West and Grid Link, an independent panel of experts, chaired by Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness, was established in January 2014 to examine these projects. The panel met on several occasions last year to consider and approve the terms of reference for comprehensive route-specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for each of the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The studies and reports are required to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The terms of reference for the work to be carried out were published in May 2014 and are available on my Department's website.

EirGrid is undertaking or commissioning the necessary work in accordance with those terms of reference set by the panel. In due course, the panel will provide an opinion to me on the completeness, objectivity and comparability of the studies and reports and will oversee the publication by EirGrid of the two studies and reports prior to public consultation on the two projects by EirGrid.

The panel was also asked to provide an opinion on the compatibility of the methodologies to be employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects with what has already been done on the North-South project.

In July, the panel announced its unanimous opinion that, in all material respects, what had already been done on the North-South project was compatible with the methodologies now being employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects.

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