Six towns set for new gas pipeline

Six towns can be newly-linked up to the country's natural gas network within two years if there is a demand, Bord Gais announced today.

Gort and Loughrea in Co Galway, Ballinrobe in Co Mayo, Cahir and Cashel in Co Tipperary and Monasterevin in Co Kildare have all been earmarked for connection to the national pipeline.

Bord Gais has also ruled out running natural gas into another 10 towns for now however, in the midlands and south east, as part of its ongoing review of a country-wide roll-out.

Abbeyleix, Mountmellick and Mountrath in Co Laois, Thurles in Co Tipperary and Youghal in Co Cork all failed to meet the criteria laid out for connection.

Dungarvan in Co Waterford along with Wexford town, New Ross, Enniscorthy and Gorey in Co Wexford were also ruled out during this phase of the roll-out.

"These towns will be kept under review as part of an ongoing review process," said Mark Holohan, connections sales manager with Bord Gais.

Bord Gais will now meet with businesses and developers working in the towns that have been given the green light to ensure there is enough demand.

"We would have gone to those towns and we would have got interest from the large industrial and commercial customers in that area," said Elaine Hattie, Bord Gais communications manager.

"Now, once they commit to signing up to the gas network then we'll develop a construction plan around that."

She said the towns could be fully plugged into the existing natural gas network by as early as 2009 at a cost of around €23m.

The towns that didn't meet the criteria either did not have enough demand or show enough financial return to Bord Gais over a 25-year period to warrant investment, according to Ms Hattie.

The latest proposed connections come from the second phase of a viability study into gas demand in large urban areas around the Republic.

A third phase which is assessing interest and profitability of running pipelines into another 34 towns is already under way.

Last year, the first phase looked at 11 towns along the Mayo-Galway pipeline and resulted in an ongoing €40m feeder mains link to Castlebar and Westport.

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan said the extension of the network could provide reduced energy costs to businesses and residents as well as a greener alternative to existing fuels.

"It also makes these towns more attractive for new industry locating in or around their environs," he said.

"Residents and commercial interests in these towns will be happy in the knowledge that they will have greater choice and cleaner fuel supplies."