Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy regarding the undergrounding of electricity cables by EirGrid; if he has conducted any independent assessment of the health risk posed by overhead cables; if he has conducted any comparative costs analysis of undergrounding cables as opposed to pylon construction; if he will indicate his exact policy role in these matters in view of the fact that his Department is a shareholder in EirGrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10068/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I have a broad policy role in energy matters.

The planning, development and routing of transmission line infrastructure is a matter for EirGrid, which is the State body responsible for operating the electricity transmission system in Ireland and I, as Minister, have no statutory function regarding the laying of power lines. In recognition however of the strategic national importance of transmission infrastructure and noting the concerns expressed in the context of the North-South project, my predecessor commissioned an independent study on Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity Transmission Lines versus Underground Cables. The study was conducted by international consultants Ecofys, in partnership with an expert in underground cable technology, Professor Dr Heinrich Brakelmann of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, and with Golder Associates, a global group specialising in ground engineering and environmental services. This study is available on my Department's website at the following address: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Electricity+Transmission+Grid/

The study was completed on a national basis and is not project specific.

In addition, I will shortly appoint an independent international expert commission to review and report on a case for, and a cost of, undergrounding (all or part of) the Meath-Tyrone 400KV power lines, as outlined in the Programme for Government.

The health effects of electromagnetic fields are a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government.