Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the North-South interconnector project. [21899/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the terms of reference will be finalised in respect of the study to be undertaken with regard to the proposed North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21888/17]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will implement the motion regarding the North-South interconnector which was passed on 16 February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21829/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there will be further consultations with local community groups prior to the finalisation of the terms of reference for the study in relation to the proposed North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21889/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 65, 71 and 80 together.

On 19 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 decision is currently the subject of Judicial Review proceedings. The planning process for the section of the project in Northern Ireland is ongoing with an oral hearing concluding on 27 February 2017.

In light of the motions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, I requested officials in my Department to prepare a proposal for an updated independent study that will bring further clarity to the relative cost and technical merits of overhead and underground solutions for the North South Interconnector.

In preparing the terms of reference for this study, and also to fulfil the commitment made at a meeting I held with public representatives and local community groups in Leinster House on 8 February, my officials held meetings with representatives of the North East Pylon Pressure Campaign on 28 March and the Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee on 3 April. This engagement was important in facilitating local representative groups input into the terms of reference drafting process. .

I have approved the terms of reference for the study and published them on my Department's website yesterday. 

Construction of the project is not planned to commence before 2018 and I intend that this study be completed and published before the end of this year.