Local planners to meet over interconnector

Meeting taking place between planning officials from Cavan, Meath and Monaghan.

Senior planners at three local authorities will meet later today (Wednesday, February 12) to discuss conditions and assess their collective role, if any, in facilitating the development of the North South Interconnector project.

It comes as ESB Networks continues to weigh up a request from Eirgrid regarding an application to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) seeking a Special Order to allow for the compulsory acquisition of land along the proposed interconnector route.

The planning for the North South Interconnector project has been undertaken by EirGrid in the Republic of Ireland, with construction works set to be carried out by ESB Networks.

Engagement with affected landowners across counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan commenced in October 2023. After an initial series of written correspondence, EirGrid’s team of agricultural liaison officers met farmers and landowners on a one-to-one basis to discuss possible compensation packages.

Confirmation that a meeting will take place between planning officials from Cavan, Meath and Monaghan, was confirmed at the February monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, which took place at The Lavey Inn last Monday, February 10.

At that meeting, and in response to a perrenial question that councillors be kept up to date concerning any engagement between Eirgrid or its agents and the local authority, Director of Services Brendan Jennings said:

“senior planners will meet to discuss implementation” of the statutory powers required to access lands to construct the North South Interconnector.

This will include the implications of what is commonly known as a 'wayleave notice'.

Currently there are no proposed meetings organised between the three local authorities and EirGrid reps, to discuss the North South Interconnector.

'Crazy situation'

“It's a crazy situation,” remarked Fianna Fáil's Clifford Kelly, who went on to state: “They're still going to try and put up overhead lines with all that happened with [Storm Éowyn].”

In 2022 Eirgrid began carrying out pre-construction, ecological and ground investigation borehole surveys along the route. The semi-state body had hoped to have progressed further with the erection of the southern section of its planned 138km long, 400kv electricity line from Yurleenan in Tyrone to Batterstown in Meath.

A spokesperson declined to comment on how many of the estimated 400 landowners have so far availed of the compensation package offered by Eirgrid last year, which amounted to €50,000 for each pylon on their land. Landowners could also receive €48,000 for 300 metres of overhead line that crosses their lands.

“The final number is subject to the process currently being undertaken,” said a company spokesperson.

Clllr Kelly has in the past slammed the process of compensation offered.

He suggested that, in the 15 years that the interconnector project has been on the drawing board, the money could have instead been used to underground the line.

“Bribery isn't going to work,” he said during Monday's council meeting.