Plans for the Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade are set to be shaped by members of the public.

EirGrid has launched a public consultation to identify a preferred underground route option for the project. This follows on from a decision in April that an underground cable was the best performing option, with four potential routes now being considered.

The Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade is a high-capacity connection between Dunstown substation near Two Mile House in Kildare and Woodland substation near Batterstown in Meath.

The project will help to more effectively transfer power to the east of the country and distribute it throughout the electricity network in Meath, Kildare and surrounding counties. It will also strengthen the network and help meet the growing demand for electricity in the East.

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EirGrid conducted lengthy studies in order to identify the four route options. All four travel primarily along the public road network between the two substations and EirGrid is seeking to avoid agricultural lands, motorways, town centres and industrial estates where possible.

The lengths of the four options range from 47km to 51km. While most of the cable route in each option can be laid in the road network, each will require some of the route to be constructed off-road. These off-road corridors range from 5km to 12km and are currently being investigated and analysed by the EirGrid project team.

Michael Mahon, EirGrid chief infrastructure officer, said: "Public feedback will play an important role in developing the project. We want to minimise the impact on communities and seek to avoid going through private and agricultural land and sensitive locations where possible."

The 12-week consultation starts today, Tuesday 31 August, and the public is invited to have their say on the preferred route option.

People can find out more about the project by attending one of the public webinars that will be held in the coming weeks. Alternatively, people can arrange to speak to a team member.

More information on the consultation and project details is available here.