Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the possibility that further delays in the Corrib gas project will cause gas shortages in the winter of 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37128/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Currently, over 90% of Ireland's natural gas needs is met by imports from the British wholesale gas market via the two interconnectors. The remainder comes from storage and the Kinsale field which is in decline. The arrival of gas from the Corrib gas field will alleviate Ireland's dependence on imports for its period of production. The field is expected to supply 60% of annual demand, and 40% of peak demand, for around 6 years before it begins to decline. Up to the start of production from Corrib as well as during and after that time the capacity to import gas from the British market through our two interconnectors will remain.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has statutory responsibility for monitoring and ensuring security of natural gas supply. The CER is also required to produce an annual Gas Capacity Statement. This Statement provides a seven year rolling forecast of customer demand, network capacity and gas flows, in light of which the adequacy of Ireland's gas transmission system is analysed.

The most recent Statement was published at the end of July this year. The Statement assesses a range of possible scenarios regarding differing supply and demand levels. One such scenario is that of a delay to gas coming ashore from the Corrib field beyond 2009/10. The potential effects of a delay to the Corrib project have been recognised and have been under consideration by the CER for some time. Indeed, Gas Capacity Statements in recent years have raised the possibility that further investment in the interconnection system which links us to Scotland may be necessitated should Corrib be delayed. On foot of its latest analysis of the situation, the CER will continue to monitor developments regarding the timing of flows from Corrib, but at this stage does not consider that further investment in the onshore Scottish system is required.