Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the review of Grid25; the amount that has been spent on the Grid25 project since its inception to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40197/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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In January 2014, an independent panel of experts, chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, was established to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The Panel met on several occasions since then to consider and approve the terms of reference for comprehensive, route specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for each of the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The studies and reports are required to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The terms of reference for the work to be carried out were published in May and are available on my Department's website. EirGrid will either undertake or commission the necessary work in accordance with those terms of reference set by the Panel. In due course, the Panel will provide an opinion to me on the completeness, objectivity and comparability of the studies and reports and will oversee the publication by EirGrid of the two studies and reports prior to EirGrid proceeding to public consultation on the two projects.

The Panel was also asked to provide an opinion on the compatibility of the methodologies to be employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects with what has already been done on the North South project. In July the Panel announced its unanimous opinion that, in all material respects, what has already been done on the North South project is compatible with the methodologies now being employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects.

Grid25 comprises over 100 projects ranging from large projects such as Grid West, Grid Link and North South, to smaller projects, station works or upgrades of existing lines around Ireland. EirGrid reviews all projects at regular intervals and is currently undertaking such a review. The overall Grid25 Strategy was forecast to cost up to €4 billion at its launch in 2007. In 2010, the identification and use of new technologies, together with the re-optimisation of the Grid25 programme, enabled EirGrid to reduce the estimated cost of the programme from €4 billion to €3.2 billion, which would represent an estimated 20% saving. The outcome of the current review is expected in the New Year.