Eirgrid urged to liaise with landowners over power line

The IFA has warned Eirgrid’s plans for a €500m power line connecting Cork, Kildare and Wexford will cause significant disturbance for many landowners and stressed the company must engage fully with people along the route to avoid protests.

IFA national environment and rural affairs chairman Harold Kingston said it was essential Eirgrid learnt from protests it had recently encountered with people living in the path of other planned overhead power lines in Co Offaly and Co Laois.

Mr Kingston said the IFA will meet with Eirgrid shortly to emphasise the importance of extensive consultation. “Particular attention must be paid to the concerns of farmers at route selection stage and all options in the planning phase must be considered,” he said.