130 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if the gas pipeline will be extended to Westport, County Mayo, to help reduce costs for industries in the town and its hinterlands. [6018/02]

Under the Gas Acts, 1976 to 2000, Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) has statutory responsibility to develop and maintain an efficient and cost effective gas transmission and distribution system. Extensions to the system are a matter for BGE to decide on the basis of commercial criteria. The company has informed me that it is assessing the economic viability of providing gas to a number of towns, including Westport, from the planned Mayo-Galway pipeline.