Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together.

On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the North-South Interconnector project in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over eleven weeks from March to May last year. The planning process in Northern Ireland is currently underway, with a planning inquiry commencing today (22 February).

The Private Members Motion included a call on the Government to commission an independent report, incorporating international industry expertise to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the interconnector and a number of other related issues. The Dáil Motion is now being examined by my Department in order to understand how best to address the issues raised.

As outlined in my speech during the debate on the motion, all evidence available to me indicates that developing the project underground would cost substantially more and deliver less. I would highlight in particular the International Expert Commission Report in 2012 which found the construction of an underground option to be approximately three times the cost of the overhead option.