Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Electricity Generation

10:00 am

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount an application by a company (details supplied) has cost to date; if he is satisfied with the way the company put forward their application; when they will be eligible to reapply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29871/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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EirGrid applied for planning consent for the 400kV Meath-Tyrone Interconnection project in December 2009, under the Planning and Development Act 2000 as inserted by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006.

An Bord Pleanála convened an oral hearing on the matter on Monday 10th May 2010. On Thursday 24th June, it was drawn to EirGrid and the Inspector's notice that there was an error in the newspaper public notice and site notice relating to pylon height ranges for a section of the project. It is the case that full details of the correct heights of the towers concerned were fully described in the Environmental Impact Statement and in the accompanying planning drawings which were submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

Following consultation with its legal advisers EirGrid was advised that under the applicable legislation, there is no mechanism to correct the error within the context of the application. EirGrid therefore notified An Bord Pleanála on Tuesday 29th June, of the withdrawal of its application for the Meath-Tyrone 400 kV Interconnection Development.

The Meath - Tyrone interconnection project is of significant strategic importance from an all-island electricity market perspective, and from the perspectives, both North and South, of security of supply, competitiveness, economic growth and renewable electricity integration. I have already made clear my disappointment that EirGrid has had to withdraw its planning consent application for this important development. EirGrid is undertaking a full review of the circumstances which led to the error in the public notice and I have asked to be fully informed of the findings of this review.

While I have no operational role in respect of transmission development or planning, I fully expect EirGrid to work assiduously and quickly to prepare a new planning consent application, with a view to avoiding any further delays in progressing this important project. EirGrid has indicated that it will submit a new application as quickly as possible over the coming months.

It is estimated that the total costs incurred by EirGrid on this project since 2006 are approximately €8 million. These costs include work on key project milestones such as project definition, environmental studies, surveys, consultation, route section, technical design, reports, analysis, production of an Environmental Impact Statement and the submission of an application for planning consent. EirGrid advises that most of this work remains valid and applicable to any new planning consent application and that the new application will largely reflect the original application.

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