Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the North South Interconnect Project did not have the same methodologies applied as grid west when considering viable underground route options, despite the fact that the independent expert panel had requested additional information in relation to underground options, and in particular the findings of the Tobin Report, which indicated that a trench of 1.1 metre wide and 1.35 metre in depth was required in comparison with the Parsons Brinckerhoff Power Report, which showed the necessity for a 20 to 22 metre working swathe, which meant that the local and regional roads were not wide enough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12662/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I am advised that in June 2014 EirGrid provided the Independent Expert Panel with a description of the comparative analysis carried out by EirGrid of the underground cable and the overhead line options considered for the North South project. This description included information specifically requested by the Panel in respect of EirGrid's consideration of the suitability of public roads as a routing option for the underground cable options. In July 2014 the Panel provided its opinion to the Minister 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. The Panel found that the methodologies employed were compatible and that no material differences arose.