James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to request the Commission for Energy Regulation if it has or if and when it will approve the extension of the natural gas pipeline to New Ross, County Wexford and to request Gasworks Networks Ireland to state if and when it will extend the pipeline to New Ross, given that it has already extended it to Wexford town, and narrowly by-passed New Ross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16170/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial and operational matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient.  Gas Networks Ireland's published Connections Policy, most recently revised in 2015, set out its policy on the connection of all loads to the transmission and distribution gas networks.  

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), the independent energy regulator, is statutorily responsible for all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. It also approves the GNI Connections Policy.

I, as Minister, have no statutory function in relation to either the routing of pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network.

The shareholding Minister for GNI is the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and consequently it is not appropriate for me to make such a request to that company. Nevertheless, I shall convey to that Minister the Deputy’s request for GNI to set out the position.