Dáil debates

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Adjournment Debate

Meath-Tyrone Interconnection Project.

6:00 pm

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of myself and Deputies Crawford and McEntee who could not be here to join in the debate. I am glad to see that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is present. I appreciate that. It is important that we have a good discussion on this.

Before a Minister or Fianna Fáil colleagues try to accuse Fine Gael of being against progress or delaying important infrastructure, I want to make clear that we are not. Let us be clear, Fine Gael wants the national grid improved. We recognise and support the need for the national electricity grid to be upgraded and expanded to international best standards as speedily as possible, but we disagree with the Government's approach. We are determined to ensure that we have explored all avenues and all alternatives on how this can be done. It might be quicker to roll it out underground, if it is proven to be viable, reliable and affordable. Many other projects that went overhead are still not completed ten years later. We have a responsibility to establish if this is possible.

Fine Gael has kept an open mind on this but I am sorry to say the Minister has not, nor have his Fianna Fáil colleagues. When this debate first started, I was singing the praises of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, as an open-minded person who would consider and look at all options, but I am afraid he has not given this his full attention with an open mind.

Simply because EirGrid is a State body does not mean it is correct. Most of those involved in EirGrid, ESB International and the ESB, have a history of involvement in overhead transmission and pylons. That is their job and their expertise. I accept they have researched the other end of it lately because they were forced to, but one must not forget that their jobs and careers were based in other transmission forms. We must have an open mind and a proper discussion on this.

As local Deputies we are annoyed that this submission to An Bord Pleanála is to be made this week, before Christmas. It is the wrong time to do it and it causes doubt and fear among the people. Christmas is a time for peace and happiness at home. The prospect of overhead pylons and power transmission lines over people's homes, through their field, etc., scares people. Rightly or wrongly, they are afraid. It is unfair to start this ball rolling again on Christmas week.

I fully accept that EirGrid has stated that it has looked for more time to make up for the time lost over Christmas. There are Fianna Fáil Deputies claiming they got this done. I do not believe that because the newspapers had the advertisements weeks ago. That should be clarified as well because we cannot have Deputies messing with this serious topic.

It is the wrong time to proceed with this and it is unfair. I am disappointed that it has happened. If the Minister has any influence over EirGrid, I would ask him to ask the company to hold back until after Christmas.

It is also wrong to lodge this application before we have a full and proper debate on the subject of transmission power lines. The Minister was forced into the Ecofys report and other reports and discussions over the past year and a half since this started, but EirGrid commissioned two reports which have yet to be discussed in this House or in the relevant committee, namely, the PB Power report and the TEPCO report.

We all have managed to see the PB Power report and I question much of its contents. In my view, it contains mistruths. The report should be brought to committee and should be discussed because it is relevant to how we go forward from here. Separate to this application, it is relevant to the overall policy on overhead-underground lines.

I refer to the TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company, report which EirGrid has made out to be the be-all and end-all during meetings. It maintains this is a very important report and that it proves the case made. However, it is still not published and, as of yesterday, we could not get it. These reports should be available to the House and should be debated and discussed. I trust they will be read by the Minister with an open mind. I call on the Minister to give a guarantee that regardless of when planning is applied for, the reports will be discussed here during January and that they will receive proper scrutiny and investigation. As local public representatives and on behalf of the North East Pylon Pressure, NEPP, group, we have questions we wish to put.

NEPP is an excellent group that carries out excellent research. We have questions we wish to put on behalf of the all the residents of the north east. They need to know that we are doing our job properly as politicians and acting responsibly. This is a very important matter and there will be serious consequences if we get it wrong.

Potentially, we could be making a great mistake. Other Governments are beginning to act responsibly in respect of this matter, including the Danish Government, which has set out its thinking on how to proceed, how to properly research the matter and what it intends to do. I accept the Minister did not start this process. His predecessor as Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, started it before the general election in 2007. However, the Minister is continuing it. He is in a very important position to influence the way in which the national grid is rolled out from here onwards. This is a big decision and the Minister has a good deal of influence. EirGrid maintains that it responds to Government policy. Basically, it does what it is told to do in respect of this matter.

This House sets the policy and the agenda. The Minister is in charge and I again call on him to give this matter some consideration. I realise he is a busy man, but I suggest he should take some time out and read the reports, including the ASKON report and, if he has time, to meet Professor Noack.

I do not believe EirGrid has given proper consideration to the proposals. I question the way in which EirGrid has done its job in many areas, including public relations and its consultation with people. In addition, the submission of an application on the week approaching Christmas was wrong. This is no way for a State body to operate, especially one with such an important job, that is, to ensure the national grid is expanded and improved quickly. I am disappointed with EirGrid. There are many questions it has not answered.

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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The Deputy should conclude.

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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If this application proceeds, there will be many red faces because it has not been fully thought through or worked out. The reports should be before the House for proper discussion and debate. Fine Gael has acted responsibly and has not been demanding action one way or another. Simply put, we call for fair play, proper scrutiny and investigation and research.

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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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.

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister accept the report should be scrutinised by the committee?

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Yes.