Labour has hit out at Eirgrid over its plans to double the capacity of the national grid.

Senator John Kelly said the firm's plans to massively expand are "unnecessary and unacceptable".

Senator Kelly said: "The grid already has extensive redundant capacity and while it is prudent that this is constantly reviewed, strengthened and upgraded, the excessive expansion proposed by Eirgrid at the cost of €4 billion to the taxpayer will turn the countryside into a pincushion for thousands of pylons and turbines.

"Promised employment from these windfarms will not be generated in the regions or even in Ireland, as they are designed, constructed and operated abroad.

-- Advertisement --

"On the contrary this flawed strategy will amount to a serious blight on the landscape and will impact adversely on our flourishing agri-food sector, tourism and bloodstock industries. The accumulative impact of so many pylons, powerlines and turbines will destroy the visual amenity, our valuable tourist resource and leisure activities as well as quality of life for generations.

"Nowhere will suffer more if such a disastrous development gets the go ahead than Roscommon and Leitrim, and the countryside along the Shannon, in communities such as Flagford and Carrick-on-Shannon.

"Along with my colleagues in the Labour Party, I am continuing to make this case in no uncertain fashion with the line ministers Alex White and Alan Kelly to ensure that families and communities are heard, that their legitimate concerns are not ignored and to ensure that commons sense prevails."

(CD/JP)