Councils demand clarity on interconnector land access

Planners at Cavan County Council have sought clarification specifically in relation to the use of statutory powers that could yet be used to access lands in the construction of the proposed North South Interconnector.

It follows a meeting between heads of planning at Cavan, Meath and Monaghan County Councils, and officials from ESB Networks last month.

By serving what is known as a ‘Section 53 wayleave notice’, even without landowner's consent, EirGrid, through the ESB, hope to press ahead with plans to erect the southern section of its planned 138km long, 400kv electricity line from Yurleenan in Tyrone to Batterstown in Meath.

The updated position was divulged at the April monthly meeting of Cavan County Council last Monday, April 8, by Director of Services Brendan Jennings on foot of a now long-standing arrangement to have such exchanges brought to the attention of elected members.

One of the last times EirGrid met with planning reps from this region was back in 2018. That meeting took place at the Nuremore Hotel near Carrickmacross, and was attended by EirGrid, ESB Networks, ESB International (ESBI).

However, this latest meeting was only attended by representatives ESB Networks.

Mr Jennings said the three planning authorities have now sought “clarification” on a range of matters, specifically as planning was awarded to Eirgrid as "undertaker" of the project and not ESB Networks.

Eirgrid is named as "undertaker" in the extensive set of conditions set out by An Bord Pleanala. The question regarding their status has been called into question by the North East Pylon Pressure Committee in the past.

Asked by Fianna Fáil's Clifford Kelly if Eirgrid might use the ESB to try and supersede the will of landowners in the area, Mr Jennings stated: “We are looking for clarification on that first and foremost”.

In 2022, Eirgrid began pre-construction, ecological and ground investigation borehole surveys along the planned interconnector path.

More recently the State-owned utility provider wrote to the near 400 landowners affected by the interconnector path, offering €50,000 for each pylon, and €48,000 for 300m of overhead line that crosses their lands.