Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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183. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a strategic environmental assessment is required for a process that would involve the administration of connections to the electricity grid where a new connection process is being proposed; if the current gate 3 process which was finalised in December 2008 is in line with the current planning legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33942/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As has been outlined to the Deputy on a number of occasions, while the Minister for Communication Climate Action and the Environment has no function in this matter, I can confirm that the Gate 3 process is an administrative grid connection process managed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is independent in the execution of its functions. As such, this is an operational matter for the CER. It is my understanding that no Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was required on the Gate 3 connection process. However, an SEA was carried out on EirGrid’s Grid 25 strategic plan for development of the national grid. I understand that a copy of this SEA is available on the EirGrid website at www.eirgrid.ie.