Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the review of EirGrid's Grid25 project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24724/14]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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10. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the review of EirGrid's Grid25 project; when this review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24769/14]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister to update us on the review of the Grid25 project and the various reports that are pending.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 10 together.

I have appointed an independent panel of experts chaired by Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The independent expert panel has held five meetings between 10 February 2014 and 10 June 2014. At its meeting on 2 May 2014 the panel finalised and approved 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, including assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The terms of reference were published on 7 May 2014 and are available on my Department's website. The studies and reports will be undertaken or commissioned by EirGrid in accordance with the terms of reference set by the panel, which will also oversee EirGrid’s study and reporting process. In due course the panel will provide an opinion to me on the completeness, objectivity and comparability of the studies and reports undertaken or commissioned by EirGrid and will oversee the publication by EirGrid of the two studies and reports prior to EirGrid proceeding to public consultation on the two projects.

I also asked the panel to consider what, if anything, it can do with regard to the North-South transmission line project and it has considered that issue. Although the North-South project was not covered by the Government’s decision, having discussed my request and in the light of the finalised terms of reference for the studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for each of the Grid West and Grid Link projects, the panel decided that it would provide an opinion to me 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 transmission line project. I understand that the panel wrote to EirGrid shortly after its May meeting to convey its requirements in regard to Grid West, Grid Link and the North-South project and that EirGrid is attending to those requirements.

I am advised that EirGrid, in response to the panel's inquiry regarding the compatibility of the methodologies, has provided a detailed submission to the panel. This submission was discussed by the panel at its meeting on Tuesday of this week. I understand EirGrid made a detailed presentation at that meeting and that the panel requested EirGrid to provide it with additional written material. The panel will continue its work at its next meeting, which is provisionally scheduled for 30 June 2014. I have on many occasions emphasised the importance of the North-South transmission line project to citizens in both jurisdictions on this island. The project when implemented will give rise to considerable savings for electricity consumers and will contribute significantly to security of electricity supply for Northern Ireland.

On 18 February I informed the House that the North-South line had been designated at EU level as one of 248 key trans-European energy infrastructure projects listed as projects of common interest. I also said that, while I had yet to receive formal confirmation of this, this status meant that the planning application could be subject to specified procedures to ensure public participation, as set out in EU regulation 347 of 2013.

An Bord Pleanála was designated as the competent authority for projects of common interest in Ireland. The board published the necessary projects of common interest manual on 15 May and on 23 May it informed EirGrid that the North-South transmission line would not come under certain transitional provisions of the relevant regulation and that the regulation will accordingly apply in full to the pre-application and planning application stages of the project. However, I understand that the regulation requires An Bord Pleanála to take into consideration any form of public participation and consultation that has already taken place before the formal start of the permit granting process in respect of this project.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I fully understand the Minister's response and why he referred to the regulations. Given the detailed and technical nature of the discussions between EirGrid, the European Commission and An Bord Pleanála, it is no surprise that communities are fearful of the extent of bureaucracy around this project. When will the independent panel of experts come to a determination on the matters arising? That is the crucial question to which communities around the country want an answer.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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When I ask Ms Justice McGuinness to take on this task, I did not envisage that she and her panel of experts would have delved into matters so deeply. I did not intend to impose on them the burden of work they have taken on themselves. I very much appreciate that they are examining the issues entrusted to them so rigorously. The meeting they held this week, which lasted four hours, was their fifth meeting and they plan to meet again on 30 June. I understand that by 30 June they may be at a stage when it will be a matter for commencing the studies on the comparisons between underground and overhead transmission.

It will then be a matter for the studies to commence on the comparable underground versus overground transmission. The panel's job from there will be to supervise the integrity of the process, having briefed itself on all aspects of the issue and having taken expert advice from whomsoever it was felt necessary to take such advice. Arrangements have already been initiated to put those studies in place in respect of Grid West and Grid Link. The expert panel will then be able to assure the Minister of the day that all is above board and in accordance with best practice.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Did the Minister say that the body of work will be completed by 30 June?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Yes, 30 June.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is vitally important, if this project is to have any public support, that everything is examined. I accept the Minister's point about the volume of work involved but it is crucially important that this is scrutinised to the nth degree. Can I take it that on 30 June the studies will go ahead on the underground versus overground options? Is the Minister saying that the panel will have completed its preliminary work and will set in train the studies at that point? Will a report be issued on 30 June?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I should say, for complete clarity, that I have not spoken to Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness since the first meeting with her and the panel members where I explained the Government and Cabinet decision and the task that I was asking them to take on. I am not in a position to speak for her. It is a matter for her and her panel to decide whether to issue a report. I am not saying to Deputy Moynihan that the studies will start on 30 June but rather that the final scheduled meeting of the panel will most likely take place then. I know that preparations have been underway for the initiation of the studies but whether they start on 30 June or 7 July I cannot say. They will start as soon as everything is brought together. I expect that an announcement will be made but I am not in a position to speak for the panel, nor am I authorised to do so. That said, I expect that an announcement will be made. The panel may not initiate the two studies simultaneously but may start with one or the other. The panel will supervise the integrity of the process.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I understand the concept of a report being submitted to a Minister for his or her information. Will Ms Justice McGuinness's report inform the planning process?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The studies done arising from this, having been validated by the independent panel, will be put out for public consultation so that citizens can compare one with the other. Then the normal public consultation process leading to ultimate decision by An Bord Pleanála will kick in.