Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of meetings he has undertaken with communities impacted by the North-South interconnector; the outcome of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27574/24]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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How many meetings has the Minister undertaken with communities impacted by the North-South interconnector and what has been the outcome of those meetings?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, an independent regulator accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CRU is responsible for, inter alia, the economic regulation of the electricity system operators: ESB Networks, for distribution; and EirGrid, for transmission. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU. System operator spending is agreed with the CRU in five-year cycles, referred to as price reviews.

The North-South interconnector is a transmission project being undertaken by EirGrid. The Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent with the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, which states, "The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies." It is for the system operators to determine the means of delivery of infrastructure, and in doing so, they seek to work in close collaboration with landowners and stakeholders.

The North-South interconnector is an essential infrastructure project that will link the electricity transmission networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland, leading to a more secure, affordable and sustainable supply of electricity throughout the island. It will facilitate the connection of 900 MW of renewable generation, enough to power 600,000 homes through green energy.

As Minister, I have operated within the regulatory and policy framework regarding the delivery of electricity infrastructure and have not had meetings with community groups about the project. However, EirGrid has engaged, and will continue to do so, with the local communities affected by the development of the North-South interconnector, as well as continuing to engage with the elected representatives of those communities.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister stated this is an essential infrastructure project. I recall, when I was a member of Cavan County Council, having discussions about this project, which must have been in 2006 or 2007. We are almost 20 years on and the project has not moved at all. The main reason it has not moved is that the landowners are totally opposed, from my consultation with them, to this going over their land, for a number of reasons that have not yet been addressed. Does the Minister know how many landowners have accepted that EirGrid or a company acting on its behalf can go onto their land and start the construction of this project?

I accept how important the project is for energy supply on the island, but I do not know whether the option of undergrounding has been properly explored. Has it been totally rejected as a possible route to getting this project over the line? We are told 50% of the landowners north of the Border have agreed to a compensation offer, which is from a company separate to EirGrid. Do we know what percentage of landowners on this side of the Border have agreed? If all or most of the land has to be acquired by CPO, we are on a collision course.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I do not have the exact figures but this issue has been subject to debate. I have had extensive meetings with the county councils in counties impacted but also with the North-South Ministerial Council, where the Deputy's Sinn Féin colleagues in Northern Ireland have a critical role. They agree with me that we need this project. It needs to be built and it is vital for both the Northern economy and the wider island. It will save Irish consumers about €100 million a year but will also bring significant security benefits and economic development benefits, especially to the Border counties and counties on the other side of the Border. The project crosses the Border and exists on both sides, and my understanding is that a larger percentage of landowners in the North have agreed to, or are in broad agreement with, the arrangements they may have negotiated directly. That is less so the case in the South but that is an issue for EirGrid, the CRU and ESB Networks, which is the company that will be involved in the development of the facility.

While we do not get involved in the direct negotiations or with any of the arrangements for the specific project, my political view is that we need this project to be built. As the Deputy said, it has been under consideration for 20 years. We have looked at it upside down and inside out and it now needs to be built. I will be supportive of whatever proposals are put forward by EirGrid or the CRU, as the independent regulator, for how we will do that, but it is time now to build the project and I will be supportive of whatever role the agencies have in making that happen.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Tully to respond briefly.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I accept the importance of this project but I am concerned about how it is going to proceed if there is such opposition on the ground.

Is there a contingency plan to deal with that? Have EirGrid, the Government or the Oireachtas committee referenced by the Minister that has oversight of this issue any other plans in place to deal with this? All I can see is strong opposition on the ground and possible legal challenges which will hold up the whole project further down the line.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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There is now an indication the CRU will act on section 45 of the 1999 electricity Act to move for a CPO of lands and will outline the process in that regard in the coming weeks. That is a recipe for conflict, in my opinion. If the Minister wants to see this project delivered he needs to go plan B at this stage. The project will not be delivered in the way that EirGrid or the Minister currently see it.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I do not know what the Deputy's plan B is. My understanding from discussions with Sinn Féin colleagues up North is that they, like me, want to see this project being built. There are real security and costs to the public, North and South, for us not progressing. It is a matter for the CRU, as regulator, to decide on the exact mechanisms, such as the potential use of compulsory purchase orders or any other mechanism, it will adopt and the approach we take. That is the legally correct constitutional approach but I, like the Deputy's colleagues up North, believe that we should build the North-South interconnector now. It will benefit the Irish people, North and South.