NEPPC granted judicial review of Eirgrid's pylon project

A group representing about 190 landowners affected by the planned North South electricity interconnector has been given permission by the High Court to challenge An Bord Pleanála’s permission to develop some 300 pylons across Meath, Cavan and Monaghan.

The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC) and Maura Sheehy, a farmer from Donaghpatrick, Co Meath, are taking the case against the board; the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the State with Eirgrid PLC as a notice party.
It is the third case initiated in the High Court over the interconnector after David Malone of Eurolaw Environmental Consultants, St Joseph Terrace, Portarlington, was also granted leave to bring separate proceedings. A decision on whether to allow another case has been adjourned to next Monday.
Meanwhile, the Fianna Fáil party has succeeded in having a Dáil motion passed to have an international industry expert review the North South Interconnector plans to take account of recent developments in technology and experience and to consider the costings of the proposed project (underground versus pylons).
The Minister for Communications and Environment, meanwhile, lost a Dáil vote to amend the FF proposal (79 votes to 60) to have highlighted the 'benefits' that the interconnector will bring to electricity consumers across the island of Ireland, while also acknowledging the concerns of communities affected in Cavan, Meath and Monaghan.
Pressure further mounted on the Government on Tuesday this week when Cavan-Monaghan Deputy Brendan Smith called on the Government to outline a time frame by which they would initiate the independent report as proposed by his party, and ratified by a majority of Dáil Éireann. He noted before the private members' debate last week that the concluding report must analyse the 'real cost' of the project.
'We also ask that no further work be carried out on this project until these studies are undertaken. We welcome the commitment in the programme for Government on the advancement of energy projects targeting better engagement and community consultation on energy policy decisions that affect communities. We see very well that this is not happening with regard to Eirgrid,' Deputy Smith stated.
He described too as 'appalling' that An Bord Pleanála did not record the contributions of public representatives at the oral hearings and suggested that the manner in which the national planning authority operates in future may need to be examined.
Last December, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the interconnector in the Republic but, with the planning process in the North still live, and a planning inquiry due to commence today (February 22), those opposed are still hopeful of influencing the process.
The proposed 138km, high-capacity electricity interconnector will run almost entirely through agricultural land in counties Cavan, Meath, Monaghan, Armagh and Tyrone.
Deputy Smith was joined by fellow party member and constituency colleague Niamh Smyth, who urged that the estimated 2,500 people impacted by the proposed overhead line have their concerns heard.
She lambasted 'poor consultation', which she said had led to a situation where such a debate was required.
'It is time to put right the wrongs of the past and take away the sour taste of this project that has been left in the mouths of the people of Cavan-Monaghan. I ask the Minister not to railroad this through.'
Accepting the need for the infrastructure, Deputy Smyth said that she “vehemently” disagreed with the scale of the proposal and the choice of overhead transmission lines instead of underground cables.'