Residents in Meath, Monaghan and Cavan are said to be outraged after Eirgrid submitted a planning application to build a new 400kV AC overhead line.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Moynihan, has expressed his disappointment that EirGrid's notice of direct planning application, published in national media outlets yesterday, is proceeding without proposals to underground any part of the North-South interconnector in the path of effected communities.

Deputy Moynihan is calling on Minister Alex White to immediately clarify the Government's position on the North-South Interconnector and to direct EirGrid to bring forward options to underground the project.

-- Advertisement --

He said: "EirGrid's Chief Executive acknowledged publicly at a recent All Party Committee on Transport and Communications that it was technically feasible to underground the North-South interconnector.

"Fianna Fáil has made our position very clear with EirGrid. We do not believe there has been meaningful discussions with local communities, that there was very serious concern and anger among communities in the border counties arising from the Government's decision to press ahead with the construction of overhead power lines for the North-South interconnector, despite carrying out a review of the other 2 Grid Link projects.

"The people of the North East and the border area will not allow themselves be treated as second-class citizens and will continue to demand an examination of the current proposals."

(CD/JP)