EirGrid to hold additional information days

EirGrid will hold three additional public information days on the controversial north south interconnector.
The additional information days will take place in county Monaghan and have been agreed following discussions with the Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee. The first took place yesterday in the Cremartin GAA Centre, while the second takes place today (Wednesday) in the Aughnamullen GAA Social Centre and tomorrow in the Corduff-Raferagh Community Centre.
These information days are being held following the publication of a “Final Re-evaluation Report” on the scheme last month. A period of six weeks began on April 16 to allow for feedback on the content and findings of the report and information days have already taken place in Meath, Cavan and Monaghan.
Deborah Meghen, EirGrid regional manager, said: “we are delighted to be holding further information days in Monaghan and are looking forward to engaging with landowners and other stake holders throughout the county.”
The scheme links Woodland, County Meath with Turleenan in County Tyrone and will provide a second high-capacity electricity transmission line between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The “Final Re-evaluation Report” found that there remains an urgent strategic need for the project and recommends that the new interconnector takes the form of a single circuit 400kV alternating current overhead line.
In reaching its conclusions, EirGrid considered feedback from stake holders at all stages of the project to date, including the consultation period that followed a “Preliminary Re-evaluation Report” in 2011. All stake holder feedback will in turn be considered in the preparation of a “Preferred Project Solution Report” which will be published for further consultation in due course.