Farmers question ESB’s land access powers

Farmers will be “moving to high alert”, the ICMSA claim, following reports that ESB Networks is to seek additional powers on access to, and use of, land as part of the company’s response to the mass outages caused by trees falling on power lines during Storm Éowyn.

The President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan says it appears “odd and more than a little contradictory” that the agency would be given “even more licence and authority” over a system which he believes is “not-fit-for-purpose”.

“There was an obvious system-breakdown in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn but suggesting that all this can be repaired by reducing people’s property rights further is fanciful,” he continued.

“It is most disappointing that the government has not consulted ICMSA on this matter, especially given the fact the association already suggested greater collaboration between farmers and the ESB to resolve issues.”

Meanwhile, following a recent survey, almost 90% of responding ICMSA members believe that they should be better utilised during storm events to ensure issues are dealt with in a timely fashion.

“While ‘forestry corridors’ through plantations can be and should be addressed through existing legislation and schemes, there’s going to be a lot of interest and eyebrows-raised at the reports that the ESB is seeking wider powers to cut trees and hedgerows near powerlines,” Mr Drennan continued.

“The ESB already has those powers. The problem is not the lack of powers, it’s the lack of action that we see where farmers and other landowners contact their local ESB office and report trees growing too close to poles or lines.

“This is exactly the point that ICMSA made in the immediate aftermath of the most recent storm. It’s simply not possible or credible to expect the ESB to have crews ready to zip out to every overhanging tree from Donegal to Dunmanway and from Clondalkin to Connemara.

“It’s not a question of more powers; it’s a question of whether it’s even possible? We think that it is not.”