Eirgrid gets green light for pylon project
An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission to Eirgrid for its controversial 400kV North-South interconnector this morning.
The proposed line of pylons is almost 140Km long stretching from Meath to Tyrone, totalling 299 pylons - 134 of which will run through Cavan and Monaghan.
The North East Pylon Pressure Committee (NEPPC), which claims to represent over 200 affected landowners, has vehemently fought the plans all the way insisting that they should be undergrounded.
Reacting this morning, Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith said: 'It is most disappointing to learn from An Bord Pleanála this morning that planning approval has issued in respect of the proposed North/South Interconnector.
If this project is to proceed then transmission lines must be place underground. Again last week in Dáil Éireann I outlined the serious concerns of communities in Monaghan, Cavan and Meath in relation to the Eirgrid proposal for the North South Interconnector. Through a further Parliamentary Question in Dáil Éireann I requested the Communications Minister, in the event of the project proceeding, that the transmission cables would be placed underground. Unfortunately, once again, the Minister has not responded to this request.'
Original plans for the development of the €280 million interconnector collapsed in June 2010, when Eirgrid withdrew application for planning permission at a hearing by An Bord Pleanála because it contained incorrect information about the height of pylons through Cavan and Monaghan.
'Worth €20m’ to economy by 2020
Currently there is only a single such interconnector between the two electrical networks (North and South) and a second interconnector, Eirgrid has said, will increase both the capacity and the reliability of the network.
This is a joint proposal between Eirgrid and System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI) who are responsible for the grids and the ESB and Northern Ireland Electricity are responsible for the construction. They have estimated the economic benefit by 2020 of the development at €20m, rising to €30m by 2030.