North-South Interconnector access routes and overhead design debated in Seanad

Seanad Éireann has debated landowner access route approvals and overhead line decisions for the planned North-South Interconnector electricity transmission project.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised concerns regarding the project's impact across County Meath, County Cavan, and County Monaghan, as well as Armagh and Tyrone. She highlighted that while planning permission for pylons was granted almost ten years ago, access arrangements to enter private lands remained a live planning matter.

Senator O'Reilly stated that a condition of the original planning permission requires the relevant local authorities to approve access arrangements. She noted that ESB and EirGrid have submitted finalised routes to local planning authorities, but argued that affected landowners had not been directly provided with this route information and were resorting to Freedom of Information requests to establish works proposed on their holdings.

Responding for the Government, Minister of State Neale Richmond confirmed the project remains one of the State's critical transmission priorities, with an estimated saving of €100 million per annum for electricity consumers across the island.

Addressing route selection and technology choices, Minister of State Richmond noted that under the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, the Government does not direct EirGrid on specific sites, routes, or technologies. He reiterated that EirGrid determined the project must proceed as an overhead line, adding that independent assessments dating back to 2008 concluded an overhead line was the appropriate delivery method.