Sinn Fein has renewed its call to underground the North-South interconnector.

Meath West TD, Peadar Tóibín, made the call after it was revealed that 97% of landowners will not grant EirGrid access to their land.

He also said An Bord Pleanála has not approved any one of the 584 access routes required through the lands.

He said: "If Eirgrid access the land, my understanding is they would be they breaching An Bord Plánála's permission. Legally it is Eirgrid's duty to get agreement on an access routes and that should be achieved with the farmer and the county council? This is not going to happen.

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"Today in the Dáil, I asked the Minister again and again in the clearest of language how this project will access be achieved. The Minister studiously dodged the question. This no doubt will add to uncertainty and confusion on this issue. Given that this is one of the largest infrastructural projects in the government's plans surely this detail would have been worked out.

"We in Sinn Féin support the North South Interconnector and an All-Ireland energy market. However, it is most important that it be undergrounded as is the wish of the local community."

(CD/LM)