Minister in pylon row with Kildare council

Junior Environment Minister Paudie Coffey has slammed Kildare County Council in a row over pylons, claiming he had to block proposals from the local authority “in the national interest”.

A group of anti-pylon campaigners had criticised the Waterford TD for signing a veto on Kildare County Council’s new County Development Plan, accusing the junior minister of removing a section of the proposals that dealt with minimum separation distance for high tension overhead wires.

Grid Link Action Group said the minister had exercised his power of veto “which has now forced the council to remove its proposal to protect the health of Kildare residents“, claiming the move “dismissed the democratic wishes of local representatives and residents and their right to protection along all Grid25 routes”.