Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the expected date for receipt of the Ecofys report; the plans he has to publish the report in its entirety; when and the way he will accommodate address of the detail of the report in the Houses of the Oireachtas; if he will support the attendance of a delegation (details supplied) at an early meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to address the content and conclusions contained in the Ecofys report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25061/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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On 8th April, 2008 I announced the appointment of international consultants Ecofys, by my Department, to undertake the independent study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines versus underground cables. The consultants were appointed following a tender process launched on 29 February on the Government's eTenders website. The study was commissioned in response to publicly expressed concerns in respect of current transmission line projects being developed by EirGrid, the national independent transmission systems operator. The purpose of the study is to provide a balanced and unbiased evaluation of all existing technologies, both overhead and underground, for high voltage electricity transmission.

The study was conducted on a national basis and is not project specific. It aims to provide the best available professional advice on the relative merits of constructing and operating overhead transmission lines compared to underground cables, having regard to technical characteristics, reliability, operation and maintenance factors, environmental impact, possible health issues and cost, thereby informing policy decisions on all current and future transmission line projects. In order to take account of stakeholders' views, written submissions were invited and furnished to the consultants.

The report will be published shortly and presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and National Resources. Ecofys have confirmed their availability to present their report to the Joint Oireachtas Committee when required. The question of attendance by any group, at meetings of the Joint Oireachtas Committee is a matter for the Committee itself. I am fully supportive of the Joint Committee's commitment to full and objective debate of all the complex issues and to hear the views of all sides.