Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the impact the proposed North-South interconnector will have on the local environment in the areas through which it passes. [34764/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I understand that the proposed development referred to is currently before An Bord Pleanála under the pre-application stages of the new strategic consent process provided for under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I am precluded, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual planning application or appeal with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

All applications made under the strategic consent process must be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 set out detailed requirements in relation to the information to be included in any EIS. These include a requirement for a detailed description of the likely impacts of a proposed development on the environment. In reaching a determination on an application for strategic infrastructure, the Board is required to carry out an assessment of the EIS.

Under the strategic consent process all Environmental Impact Statements submitted at application stage are made publicly available by the Board for inspection or purchase.