Planning permission has been granted for a controversial energy plant in Co Roscommon.

Electricity grid operator EirGrid is to overhaul its consultation process on major infrastructure developments.

Eirgrid has said it will keep an open mind on the future of its Gridwest scheme after reopening the public consultation process to allow consideration of an underground option.

There is a belief, seemingly shared by An Taoiseach, that the 400kV GridWest project proposed by Eirgrid, aka ESB national grid, will bring much-needed electrical power to Co Mayo.

A public consultation process is being launched in Co. Mayo today on a proposed major energy infrastructure project.