The Government is to consider shortly a proposal to extend the national gas grid to population centres close to the current grid. Bord Gais has confirmed that it has been conducting "feeler surveys" to include Galway, Athlone, Mullingar, Shannon and Tralee.
In a statement, the company said it had examined the feasibility of a new loop, at the request of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Lowry.