In addition to these applications, SEPIL has made an application to An Bord Pleanála for Compulsory Acquisition Orders (CAOs) for rights over the land in which the pipeline will be laid, plus temporary access to additional land along the pipeline route during the construction period. CAOs are common practice on pipeline projects in Ireland and SEPIL has informed all of the landowners of this approach.
The application documents will be available for inspection by members of the public in SEPIL’s office in Belmullet and in RPS's office in Belmullet from 7th May. The Gas Act applications, which include an Environmental Impact Statement and the application for CAOs, are also available for inspection in local Garda stations, (this is the case for the S40 and CAO applications) Belmullet Garda station will have the CAO application. The SIA application can be viewed in Mayo County Council offices in Castlebar and Belmullet from the same date. Applications for consent for the modified pipeline route and for CAOs will now be subject to a period of statutory public consultation by the relevant authorities. Details of this have this week been posted in the local press.
The Corrib Gas project will provide up to 60% of Ireland’s gas needs at peak supply period and will add €3billion to Ireland’s GDP over the life of the project. Commenting today Mr Terry Nolan, Mayo based deputy Managing Director of SEPIL said “The detailed applications will now be examined by the relevant statutory and professional bodies and they will make a final decision both on the pipeline route and on the CAOs. All parties have an opportunity to take part in the statutory consultation process and the final determination will be made following this. We hope that this project can now move forward and deliver benefits both to Mayo and to Ireland”.
