Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that EirGrid does not advance further procurement or pre-construction activities for the North-South interconnector until the study recently announced is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23679/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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EirGrid is the independent Transmission System Operator in Ireland and SONI (a subsidiary of the EirGrid Group) is the independent Transmission System Operator in Northern Ireland. The role of the independent Transmission System Operator includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network. As Minister, it is not appropriate for me to direct EirGrid in carrying out this role.

As the Deputy is aware, the section of the project in Ireland which received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála in December 2016 is currently the subject of Judicial Review proceedings. The planning process is ongoing in Northern Ireland.

Last Tuesday, 16 May, I met with the Deputy and a number of other Oireachtas members from Cavan, Monaghan and Meath. This meeting provided me the opportunity to update the members on progress in relation to the proposed study and to get feedback. I welcome the Deputy’s participation in the meeting and am considering the feedback I received.

I intend that the study be completed and published before the end of this year. Construction of the project is not planned to commence before 2018 and therefore I envisage no delay to the project as a result of carrying out this study.