Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the development of the gas network throughout Connaught; the reason towns such as Belmullet and Ballinrobe were omitted from this expansion of the domestic and business gas infrastructure; if these and similarly sized communities not on the published list can now be added to the national gas network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38828/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy as follows:

The position is that, since 2002, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002.

The construction by Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) of a natural gas transmission pipeline, known as the Mayo-Galway Pipeline, has recently been completed. The pipeline is one part of the infrastructure required to transport natural gas from the Corrib gas-field to the national gas network.

Earlier this year the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) directed BGÉ to implement a new Gas Connections Policy, which determines the economic viability of connecting towns to the gas network. The new policy allows for the appraisal of a new town either on its own or as part of a regional group of towns. Having regard to this new policy, BGÉ carried out a comprehensive review of towns being considered for connection to the national gas network. The review is being conducted in two phases, and phase 1, which covers the towns in the proximity of the Mayo-Galway Pipeline, has already been completed.

Following consideration of this phase of the review, the CER made the decision to allow Bord Gáis to extend the natural gas network to eleven towns along the route of its Mayo-Galway gas transmission pipeline. The towns to be connected to the network are Athenry, Craughwell, Headford, and Tuam in Co. Galway and Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Knock and Westport in Co. Mayo, and it is hoped that some of these can be connected as early as the end of 2007.

Bord Gáis is continuing its evaluation of the viability of extending the gas network elsewhere to towns in other parts of the country with a view to completing its review by July, 2007. Following completion of this study, the CER will consider whether other towns with an economically viable case may be connected.

With regard to the Deputy's question about Belmullet and Ballinrobe, I am advised that the review carried out by Bord Gáis indicates that connection of both towns to the network would not currently be economically viable. Full details of the issues taken into consideration by Bord Gáis in its review of these and all other towns examined so far, as well as a map which shows each of the towns to be examined in phase 2, may be examined on its website www.bge.ie.

My Department has also engaged consultants for a Gas to the Northwest Study, in the context of the Government's objective for regional policy in the National Development Plan and having regard to the National Spatial Strategy.

The scope of this study is firstly, to determine the feasibility of bringing gas from the Mayo-Galway pipeline to Donegal Town via Sligo, considering three specified alternative routes; secondly, to examine and assess options for and issues surrounding the development of gas-fired power generation along the pipeline routes; and finally, to present options for the provision of gas pipeline infrastructure and gas-fired power generation, with recommendations as to how best the options may be pursued. The study is scheduled for completion in January 2007.