Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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574. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Grid Link project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17497/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) is overseeing the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The EirGrid reports are required to be comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for the projects. They must also be complete, comparable (overhead line comparable against underground cable) and objective and include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. In due course, after consideration of the reports, the IEP are to provide an opinion to me on both of them. Thereafter, EirGrid will publicly consult on each project. I have received the IEP's opinion on the Grid West project last week, on Wednesday the 29th April and I expect the opinion on the Grid Link project in quarter three, 2015.

EirGrid will publish the Grid West report for public consultation shortly. Similarly, EirGrid will publish the Grid Link report for public consultation once it has been considered and approved for publication by the IEP.

Once these steps have been completed, it will then be a matter for EirGrid, in consultation with the Commission for Energy Regulation, to make a decision on which option to pursue on each of the Grid Link and Grid West projects.