Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are plans to bring gas pipelines from Northern Ireland into the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22758/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 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. There are currently no plans to extend the natural gas pipeline from Northern Ireland into the border counties. However, I can advise the Deputy that in 2006 the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) directed Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) to implement a new Gas Connections Policy, which allows for the appraisal of connecting new towns in relative proximity to the gas network, either on their own or as part of a regional group of towns.

Having regard to this new policy, BGÉ is carrying out a comprehensive review of towns being considered for connection to the national gas network. The review is being carried out in three Phases, with the final phase of the study, Phase 3, due to commence shortly. This phase is expected to take some 12 months to complete and it will include the following border counties; Cavan/Monaghan, Donegal and Leitrim. The final report is due to be published in late 2008 and it will outline what towns or groups of towns are economically viable for connection, within the revised connection policy criteria.