Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in relation to the Flagford, Carrick-on-Shannon to Srannagh, Sligo line being planned by ESB, he will review the decision and go underground with cabling at this stage in view of the changes that have occurred elsewhere. [15638/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Flagford-Srananagh project is a vital transmission reinforcement, which has full planning consent from the planning authorities and which is under development and is being developed by EirGrid. This project involves the development of 220kV network and 110kV network in the northwest, from Flagford, County Roscommon to Srananagh in County Sligo. Work on this project is continuing.

I have no direct role in the operational planning and construction of the transmission system infrastructure. The Government's policy objective is to ensure that energy is consistently available with minimal risk of supply disruption to meet the needs of businesses and domestic consumers. It is EirGrid's role, as the national transmission system operator, to develop and upgrade the transmission system in order to meet ongoing and future electricity needs.

In response to public concerns my Department commissioned an independent study on overhead electricity transmission lines versus underground cables in 2008. This independent study undertaken by international consultants Ecofys, concluded that underground cables do not compare favourably to overhead lines in terms of adequacy of the electricity transmission system. The study also noted that internationally, overhead lines are the standard choice for high voltage transmission connections.

I am aware of the Danish decision in relation to undergrounding of electricity infrastructure. This decision, however, relates primarily to lower voltage networks. In the immediate term the Danish Authorities intend to retain existing high voltage networks and to construct further high voltage networks using overhead technology.

Transmission projects such as the Flagford-Srananagh project are vital in order to maintain and improve high quality supplies to all consumers in the region, in order to assist economic recovery and balanced regional development, and in order to connect increasing amounts of renewable energy to the grid.