Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The 400kV North-South interconnection project which is part of EirGrid's Grid25 plan to upgrade the national transmission system between now and 2025 is a critical and strategically urgent transmission reinforcement. It will remove restrictions limiting cross-Border power flows between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which will enhance cross-Border support in the event of a shortage of electricity in either jurisdiction, thus strengthening security of electricity supply throughout the island of Ireland.

The project was announced in 2007. Due to the need for a second planning application, the scheduled feedback and consultation period has been ongoing for double the time planned for projects of similar scale such as Grid West or Grid Link. Given the extended public consultation and feedback stage of the project, the public has been afforded good opportunities for feedback.

The project was designated an energy project of common interest, PCI, by the European Commission in October 2013, having been deemed by the Commission to be of strategic, transboundary importance. This is the first PCI in Ireland to be submitted for planning approval.

The North-South project is part of an ongoing process which will be subjected to rigorous assessment as part of the planning processes in both jurisdictions. EirGrid made a formal planning application for the project to An Bord Pleanála on 9 June 2015. A further consultative process subsequently opened to interested parties under section 182A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. That consultation concluded on 24 August and An Bord Pleanála is reviewing the submissions. A determination is expected to issue in quarter 2 of 2016 following an oral hearing, most likely to be held in the first quarter of next year. In the light of the fact that the planning application for the project has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála for determination, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on issues that may form part of the board's deliberative process.

As was confirmed in the capital investment plan published by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, on 29 September, our investment in national energy infrastructure is critical to having a continuous supply of affordable and safe electricity and gas to domestic and business consumers on a nationwide basis. That investment is costly, but it will be necessary to ensure additional capacity to facilitate the achievement of longer term renewables targets, particularly in relation to wind energy and meeting our 40% renewable electricity target. The level of investment by the ESB, Ervia, Bord na Móna and EirGrid in transmission and distribution networks, renewable and conventional power generation, as well as smart metering programmes to 2021, will be in the region of €5.75 billion.

If planning consent is granted for the North-South interconnector, it is estimated that the cost of constructing the part of the overall project located in Ireland will be €180 million. The estimated cost of constructing the part located in Northern Ireland is €106 million, giving a total estimated capital cost for the project of €286 million.