The recent review carried out into the controversial north-south electricity interconnector project and its predecessor reports were inadequate and failed to take into account the concerns of affected householders, farmers and communities in relation to a number of aspects of the development, Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan/Monaghan Brendan Smith has told Minister Eamon Ryan.
Deputy Smith tabled a series of Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications in which he asked him if he was aware of the “inadequacy” of the review process the project had been subjected to. Minister Ryan in his response reiterated the stance that “the Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground” and backed the finding of the recent review and others that undergrounding the interconnector infrastructure – as had been called for by groups opposed to the use of overground pylons to realise the project – is not feasible for technical reasons.
EirGrid Chief Executive Mark Foley is due to meet Monaghan and Cavan Co Councils separately in the coming month to discuss what he has described as “the next steps” in the implementation of the project. Deputy Smith told the Northern Standard this week that the view of local communities must be listened to. “In my questions to the Minister, I requested very clearly if he would ensure that the views and concerns of communities in…
