Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I am all in favour of an extension of the gas network to Wexford. My colleagues in the west will do everything to support him in this regard. However, north of a line between Dublin and Galway and west of Mullingar, there is no gas provision. Even if the Corrib gas pipeline comes to fruition, there will not be much provision for the people of Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. The Minister of State kindly contacted me previously to outline the research being conducted on this issue and the appointment of consultants. Where is that at? I hope the full energies of the Department have been brought to bear on BGE to ensure it will expedite this issue as quickly as possible, to determine the subvention that will be required to extend the gas network to the north west and to build it as quickly as possible.