Stephen Cadogan: Seeing the power lines among the trees

Where naturally regenerated trees colonise ESB power line corridors, they must not be allowed to grow higher than three metres; the landowner is responsible for cutting or lopping the trees to ensure this. 

There have been calls around the country to update long-standing forest design requirements and legislation, in order to protect the electricity network where it goes through forestry land.

In the north west, several of the power cuts during recent storms were blamed on wires being brought down in forestry plantations. Now, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has said it will engage with the ESB to see if any further measures are required.