Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 354: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if gas will be supplied to towns (details supplied) in County Mayo; if same has been approved; if An Bord Gáis agreed to the pipeline; when it will happen; and the timeframe for same. [3765/07]

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

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.

Last 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 Gais to extend the natural gas network to eleven towns along the route of its Mayo-Galway gas transmission pipeline, including Ballina and Crossmolina, and it is envisaged that the connection of the eleven towns will take two to three years to complete.