Natural Gas Comes to Cahir
Minister O’Dowd announces arrival of natural gas in Cahir, Co. Tipperary
Cahir, Co. Tipperary, 26 May 2011
Fergus O’Dowd, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, today announced that natural gas is now available in Cahir, Co. Tipperary for the first time. Speaking at the premises of the town’s first industrial customer, Anglo Irish Beef Processors, Minister O’Dowd noted that the underlying €2m construction project was delivered ahead of schedule.
“I would like to commend Bord Gáis for bringing in this project ahead of the deadline. Efficient and best practice project management by our State companies, commercial or otherwise, is vital in this changed economic environment, as we are all now learning to reshape how we do business.”
The connection of Cahir marks the final stage of Bord Gais’s “New Towns Phase 2 Project” that has, to date, successfully connected the following towns – Ballinrobe, Gort, Loughrea, Monasterevin and Cashel. Natural gas is now available in over 153 population centres within 19 counties throughout the country. There are over 640,000 gas users in Ireland, all of whom enjoy the security of a reliable supply of energy.
The Minister paid particular attention to the benefits to the local community of the arrival of natural gas into their town. “It provides a choice of energy supply to both local commercial interests and householders. The introduction of competition in this regard encourages energy providers to compete for customers, resulting in knock on effects in terms of pricing” he said. Whilst he noted that the construction works “must have been disruptive at times”, he praised the patience and co-operation of the townspeople and highlighted the dividends in offering the town “a vital connection to the gas network.”
