Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1549: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Eirgrid has furnished him with a full review of the circumstances which led to the error in the public notice carried out by the company; if he has been informed of the findings; his view on those findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31968/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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EirGrid applied for planning consent for the Meath Tyrone 400kV Interconnection Development 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 10th May 2010. On Wednesday 23rd June, it was drawn to EirGrid's and the inspector's attention 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 Project.

EirGrid has undertaken a review of the circumstances which led to the error in the public notice and I have been furnished with a copy of this review. I have already made clear my strong disappointment that EirGrid had to withdraw its planning consent application for this important development. Following the completion of the review, I have asked EirGrid to ensure that all appropriate control procedures are reviewed and enhanced to safeguard against errors in any part of the planning consent application, both for this project and any future development projects.

The Meath-Tyrone 400 kV 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 therefore also stressed to EirGrid the importance of submitting a new planning application for this key piece of infrastructure as soon as possible, bearing in mind the complexity of the application work. EirGrid advises that most of the work from the original planning consent application remains valid and applicable to the new planning consent application, which should assist in expediting the process.