andMr. Quinn asked the Minister for Energy the cost to this State of a connector to link up the Irish Republic electricity grid with that of the Continent through the United Kingdom grid at Wales.

I am informed by the ESB that the estimated cost of the link, including all terminal equipment as projected in a study carried out in 1978, was in the range of £80 million to £90 million, depending on the route chosen. A further study would be required to give a more up-to-date estimate.

Could the Minister relate this figure to the existing link up that connects this jurisdiction with the one in Northern Ireland? Is that included in the £80 million to £90 million or would that figure be in addition to the work that has already been done on the plans that already exist for that connection?

The £80 million to £90 million relate to a new connection between here and Britain.

Would the Minister indicate what priority, if any, the Government would give to the making of such a connection directly between here and Britain, in view of the problems relating to the existing connections?

A very high priority.