Six towns approved for gas network

BORD Gáis has decided only six of 16 towns it had been considering for connection to the natural gas network are suitable.

The six are; Gort and Loughrea in Galway, Ballinrobe in Mayo, Cahir and Cashel in Tipperary and Monasterevin in Kildare. The cost of bringing gas to them will be €23 million.

However Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Thurles, Youghal, Dungarvan, Wexford town, New Ross, Enniscorthy and Gorey were found not to be economically viable for connection.

The towns were considered based on demand, cost of connection and the expected revenue which would be generated.

A further 34 towns will be evaluated under the next phase of the roll-out with assessment starting in early 2008 and a report to be produced by mid-late 2008.

Last year, Phase 1 of the study saw 11 towns along the route of the Mayo-Galway pipeline showing viability. Construction has commenced on the €40m project, with feeder mains to Castlebar and Westport under way.

“Bord Gáis will now continue to visit businesses and developers in the six new towns identified as viable to confirm the level of interest in utilising natural gas,” said Mark Holohan, connections sales manager, Bord Gáis.

“Once the commitment to connecting to gas meets the level of demand required, Bord Gáis will develop construction plans to bring gas to the viable towns,” he added.