Meeting with planners and Eirgrid yet to take place
A meeting between Eirgrid officials and planners at three local councils - Cavan, Monaghan and Meath - has yet to be arranged.
The joint meeting is to discuss statutory powers required to access lands to construct the North South Interconnector, high-voltage power line through the region.
Last year the State-owned utility provider began carrying out pre-construction, ecological and ground investigation borehole surveys.
By serving what is known as a ‘Section 53 wayleave notice’, even without landowner's consent, EirGrid, through the ESB, hopes to press ahead to erect the southern section of its planned 138km long, 400kv electricity line from Yurleenan in Tyrone to Batterstown in Meath.
One of the last times that EirGrid met with planning reps from this region was in 2018.
At the November monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, Fianna Fáil's Clifford Kelly once again asked for the executive to “provide an update” on the proposed North South Interconnector.
He alleged that Eirgrid is “trying to bribe” people with compensation packages, details of which recently came to light.
According to letters sent to landowner's, they're being offered €50,000 for each pylon they allow on their land.
Eirgrid, the operator of the national grid, has written to around 400 landowners. As well as €50,000 for each pylon, landowners could also receive €48,000 for 300m of overhead line that crosses their lands, which Eirgrid believe is “fair”.
Cllr Kelly stated that Eirgrid has been “15 years at this and have spent more taxpayers' money that could have been used to underground” the interconnector.
“There is no way they will win this case. Farmers are standing together,” he continued, adding that, in future, landowners will be unable to build within 200 metres of overhead lines therefore rendering the ground “sterile”.
“Bribery isn't going to work.”
Director of Services Brendan Jennings told the meeting that there had been no further updates since the last meeting other than to tell elected members that no arrangement had been made regarding a proposed meeting with planning departments. He informed also that the council had received a copy of the letter detailing the compensation package on offer.