Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will commission a full independent assessment of the potential for undergrounding the North-South Interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19744/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The North-South Interconnector has been designed as an overhead, alternating-current link integrating the Irish and Northern Irish electricity grids. In this form, it is a critical infrastructure project for the island of Ireland. It will be the backbone of a fit for purpose electricity system that will ensure energy security, allow more renewables to be used on the island, reduce the need to burning gas and coal, reduce electricity costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The overhead, alternating-current project will strengthen and integrate the two electricity systems, where an underground direct-current link would not.

This project, and in particular the decision to build it as an underground alternating-current link, has been the subject of an unprecedented level of independent scrutiny. An independent International Expert Commission reported to the Government on this project in 2012 and again in 2018. The Commission fully supported the decision to build an overhead alternating-current link. In March of this year, an independent expert reported to the Government that the findings of the Commission in 2018 remained valid, again supporting the design of the North-South Interconnector as an overhead, alternating-current link. In these circumstances, there is no value in commissioning further studies, and I believe it is timely for EirGrid and ESB Networks to proceed with the project after many years of consideration.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in view of the total opposition of communities in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath to the present proposals regarding the proposed North-South Interconnector, with particular reference to the concerns about transmission cables being put overground, if he will ensure that if the project proceeds, the transmission cables are put underground, as proposed for other major energy projects in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19845/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The North-South Interconnector has been designed as an overhead, alternating-current link between the Irish and Northern Irish electricity grids. In this form it is a critical infrastructure project for the island of Ireland. It will be the backbone of a fit for purpose electricity system that will ensure energy security, allow more renewables to be used on the island, reduce the need to burning gas and coal, reduce electricity costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The overhead, alternating-current project will strengthen and integrate the two electricity systems, where an underground direct-current link would not.

This project, and in particular the decision to build it as an underground alternating-current link, has been the subject of an unprecedented level of independent scrutiny. An independent international expert commission reported to the Government on this project in 2012 and again in 2018. The Commission fully supported the decision to build an overhead alternating-current link. In March of this year, an independent expert reported to the Government that the findings of the Commission in 2018 remained valid, again supporting the design of the North-South Interconnector as an overhead, alternating-current link. In these circumstances I am satisfied that the project should proceed as an underground alternating-current link.