Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O'Brien has called on the Government to take heed of the concerns for health and the environment that are being put forward by those who are against the Eirgrid pylon plan.

Mr O'Brien said: "I want to commend the grassroots community groups who have campaigned against the Eirgrid pylon plan and have had their concerns steamrolled over.

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"Their concerns have been written off as plain old nimbyism when in fact their apprehensions are based on valid questions about our health, our environment and the economic development of the areas concerned.

"There are numerous reports, including one published recently by the government appointed International expert commission clearly proving that under-grounding of power-lines is both possible and feasible.

"Sinn Féin have called for an independent cost-benefit analysis to be conducted in order to ascertain what the real difference in cost is alongside examinations of the health concerns."

(CD)