Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will address the concerns of people regarding the erection of 400kV power lines in certain parts of the country; his views on installing these power lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35601/07]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the viability of putting the proposed 400kV north-south electricity interconnector underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35470/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his preferred options for the transmission of power supplies in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35957/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 114 and 413 together.

The European Union is committed to ensuring secure and competitively priced electricity into the future. Better interconnection between electricity systems and major investment in transmission and distribution networks markets is a key priority for Europe. The Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government underlines Ireland's commitment to a more sustainable energy future through a range of measures including electricity interconnection and investment in the electricity networks.

The Single Electricity Market for Ireland came into effect on 1st November this year. As part of this market development, EirGrid is jointly developing the second North South electricity interconnector with its Northern Ireland counterpart. The increased capacity provided by this interconnector will facilitate security of supply, fuel savings, lower emissions and ongoing integration of wind generated energy onto the grid.

EirGrid is also strengthening the transmission network in Counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. The Woodland (County Meath) to Kingscourt (County Cavan) 400kV Power Line will reinforce the electricity system in the North East, facilitating competition in generation and ensuring secure power supplies for all customers. The new lines are critically needed because existing transmission in the region will reach full capacity in the near future. The ability of the North East region to attract new enterprise and maintain economic activity requires reliable electricity supply to business and consumers.

The Meath-Cavan Transmission Investment Power is in line with the Government's national and regional economic objectives, the National Spatial Strategy and overall energy policy goals. Strategic energy infrastructure investment is a national priority under the National Development Plan 2007–2013. The European Union Trans-European Network for Energy has funded 50% of the stage 1 planning phase for both the Meath–Cavan Power Line and the Cavan–Tyrone Interconnector.

The planning and development of these 400kV lines is an operational matter for EirGrid and I have no statutory function in this matter. The approval of the Transmission System Development Plan, is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, (CER). Individual power transmission lines will also require approval from An Bord Pleanála under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act.

I have, however, received advice from EirGrid on the undergrounding of 400kV power lines. In international and European experience, high voltage electricity lines are only placed underground in heavily built up areas. In areas of dispersed settlement overhead lines are the most technically feasible solution to providing a secure and reliable supply of high voltage electricity. Overhead lines are also the most economic way of transporting power, with underground lines costing between six and 10 times as much as standard overhead lines. Cost is a key consideration given that electricity networks investments are financed by all electricity customers. In addition, finding and repairing a fault on an overhead line can usually be done within hours, whereas the same process for an underground line can take weeks if not months to effect. A prolonged time delay in repairing a fault in a high voltage power line would cause a lengthy and significant loss of supply to a large number of electricity customers including businesses.

The information available to EirGrid is that, there is no 400kV Alternating Current (AC) line of the length required in these two projects placed underground in any part of the world. Some 97% of the onshore high voltage transmission network in Europe is of high voltage alternating current carried by overhead lines.

In routing overhead lines EirGrid's operational approach is to maintain as much distance as possible from communities and houses. A minimum clearance of 50 metres is the EirGrid routing target.

As Deputies are aware, EirGrid is carrying out extensive public consultation and information dissemination at local community level on the proposed routes for the transmission lines in question. Local communities and concerned parties will also have the opportunity to raise concerns in the context of the planning process, once the consultation phase is concluded.