Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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328. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a communication has been received from the UK Government in respect of the UK national policy statement for nuclear power above 1 GW single reactor capacity post 2025 (details supplied); if so, when the communication was received; the nature of that communication; if a copy will be made available; the way in which this communication was handled by his Department; the response issued in respect of same; if the response will be made available; if no response issued, the reason therefor; if Ireland is being formally consulted by the UK on this matter; if not, if the State is seeking to assert such consultation rights; if not, the reason therefor; his plans to provide for public consultation on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14501/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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While I have not received direct communication from the United Kingdom Government in this matter, I am aware that my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government received correspondence from the United Kingdom authorities on 7 December 2017, informing him of the carrying out of a public consultation on the process and criteria for designating potentially suitable sites in a new National Policy Statement for nuclear power projects with over 1GW of single reactor capacity for the period 2026-2035.   

The correspondence was subsequently forwarded to my Department, and the matter will be discussed at next month's meeting of the United Kingdom-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters. This group, comprising officials from United Kingdom and Irish Government Departments, and scientific agencies responsible for ensuring radiological safety, meet biannually to discuss matters of interest to both parties including the United Kingdom's new nuclear build programme.