Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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211. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which funds may be available to facilitate undergrounding of overhead cables in Celbridge, County Kildare, and similar heritage towns throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3219/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel was established to oversee preparation by EirGrid of the comprehensive, route specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The studies and reports are to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. In due course, the Panel will provide an opinion to the Minister on the completeness, objectivity and comparability of the studies and reports and will oversee their publication by EirGrid prior to the company proceeding to public consultation on the two projects. The Panel expects to be in a position to provide an opinion to the Minister on the Grid West project in Quarter 1 2015 and one on the Grid Link project in Quarter 3 2015.

The Commission for Energy Regulation will have a role in considering relevant costs associated with the proposed transmission system investment prior to any final decision being made to proceed with the project. As Minister, I have no role or function in this matter.