Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the detailed costs of the North-South interconnector approved overhead line; the reason the published costs in the recent EirGrid ten-year development plan report have increased from €286 million to €500 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7631/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The most recent EirGrid estimates state that the cost of the construction of the section of the project in Ireland will be €180m. According to SONI’s most recent cost estimates - the ten year development plan apparently referenced in the question - the construction of the Northern element of the project will be £109.3m (€125m).

A significant cost element for the project in Northern Ireland is the new 400/275 kV substation required at Turleenan, Co. Tyrone. The substation is required to connect the new 400 kV circuit into the existing 275 kV network. As the connection in Ireland is into the existing 400 kV Woodland substation, less construction work is required and therefore lower costs are incurred.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the procurement process for the North-South interconnector will cease (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7632/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The construction of the North South Interconnector, and all related procurement activities, is an operational matter for EirGrid and ESB Networks and one in which I have no function.

Due to the very long lead times that can arise for a project like the North South Interconnector, EirGrid and its subsidiary counterpart in Northern Ireland, SONI, were given permission from the respective utility regulators to commence the procurement process in September 2017.

There are currently a number of on-going procurements in relation to the project being undertaken and managed by ESB Networks, such as tower design. However no critical procurement contracts such as construction will be concluded until the legal proceedings in Ireland and planning issues in Northern Ireland are resolved. The earliest possible date for construction is early 2020.