Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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578. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the requests of local communities in the north east that in the event of the proposed North-South interconnector proceeding that cables will be put underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3921/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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One of the key concerns arising from public consultation processes on EirGrid’s Grid25 Strategy has been the extent to which undergrounding options have been explored, so as to allow ready comparison with overhead line solutions for individual projects.

In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link and Grid West projects. The studies are required to take account of environmental (including visual amenity) impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The IEP will comment on the completeness, objectivity and comparability of the studies and reports.

The Panel was also asked to consider what work it might usefully undertake to establish whether or not there has been parity of treatment between the North South (N/S) project and the Grid West and Grid Link projects in terms of the work undertaken on the N/S project to date, including route-specific studies of overhead and underground options. Having considered and discussed all of the material provided by EirGrid, in July 2014, the Panel provided its unanimous opinion that, in all material respects, what has already been done on the N/S project is compatible with the methodologies now being employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects.

The N/S project is part of an on-going process which is expected to be subjected to rigorous assessment as part of the planning processes in both jurisdictions (Ireland and Northern Ireland). It is expected that the planning application for the project will be submitted in April 2015.