Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 102: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the final costs of infrastructure required to bring natural gas to Galway; and the comparison between the end cost and the original projected cost. [7554/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the State or EU funds used in developing infrastructure for bringing natural gas to Galway; if such State funding was given directly or in the form of deferred dividend payments from Bord Gáis. [7555/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.

The cost of this project is a commercial matter for the company. While any capital expenditure by Bord Gáis Éireann is subject to my approval, given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the actual cost is commercially sensitive information in a liberalised market. BGE financed this project from its own resources and did not receive any State or EU funding. There was no deferral of the annual dividend payment. Consent under section 39A of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to construct the Galway spur pipeline was issued by the CER in August 2002. Under section 8 of the Gas Acts 1976, as amended by section 11 of the Gas (Amendment) Act 2002, Bord Gáis Éireann can only develop a system for the supply of natural gas that is economically viable.