EIRGRID IN CONFLICT WITH MEATH LANDOWNERS OVER NORTH-SOUTH INTERCONNECTOR PROJECT Eirgrid is to seek legal rights to enter landowners’ fields and send out Compulsory Purchase Orders to begin developing the North-South Interconnector electrical line.
the issue of whether or not the cables should be above or underground as the current plan using above ground cables is more damaging for landowners in areas affected by this.
Eirgrid recently contacted over 250 landowners directly despite them requesting that all communications regarding the situation be sent to the North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC).
The north-south interconnector project is 104 km long passing through 400 land holdings. A further 1,050 holdings are within 500 metres of the proposed line.
“It is further evidence of their belligerence and their failure to properly engage with the local community,” Meath Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke said. “Indeed, it displays, yet again, an unwillingness to engage on the substantive issues. The move is sure to cause further consternation locally.”
Eirgrid needs 70% of landowners involved on their side to begin the project which can be done through either consent or a compulsory purchase order (CPO) where they will forcefully acquire the land without the owner’s consent. Many landowners have opposed the plan and have taken unsuccessful judicial reviews against the project.
“For once and for all they need to engage with local communities to find a way forward to deliver this project in a way that is acceptable. A solution is possible and it is surely underground. It is clear that the community and its representatives in NEPPC are willing to play their part. Government and Eirgrid must step up and do the same.” The conflict revolves around
The NEPPC is opposed to an above ground interconnector line and proposed an underground cable along public roads. Representatives say Eirgrid has been “grossly negligent” due to their refusal to consider undergrounding the line an option. Landowners part of the cam-
By Eoin Ryan
paign are concerned about the damage heavy machinery used in the project could do to laneways and their fields. The idea of whether the northsouth interconnection should be above or underground has been assessed three times by both Eirgrid and international experts. A government-commissioned International Expert
would have to travel across and how important this line is for the communities involved. Eirgrid CEO Fintan Slye said undergrounding the project would cost an additional half a billion euro to complete. “Undergrounding is three times more expensive,” Fintan Slye said. “As a State body, this is a cost that is not acceptable
ent are far below secure and sustainable due to a rise in demand. The amount of power is currently being restricted to limit the possibility of issues occurring and any problems on the only available interconnector could lead to widespread power failures. Eirgrid believes this project will remove the risk of a possible widespread power failure, make the electrical grid more efficient, remove restrictions on cross-border flows of electricity, and provide more renewable energy. “The Commission is not recommending any solution as such,” the 2011 commissioned report stated. “However, it recommends against fully undergrounding using an AC [alternating current] cable solution.”
Commission’s report was made in 2013 and 2018 which found that an overhead electrical line was the most appropriate option. This was also found to be the best option in another independent review done in 2023. Eirgrid have stated the electric grid can not go underground due to the distance that power
and cannot be passed on to the consumer. The public should not have to pay for the cost of undergrounding when there is no enhancement of service.” Currently, there is only one interconnector line going between Eirgrid in Ireland and SONI in Northern Ireland. The electrical current levels pres-
They hope construction can begin on the interconnector next year despite negotiations still ongoing on deciding where the first pylons will be built. Padraig O’Reilly of the North East Pylon Pressure campaign said the company has not meaningfully engaged with local communities regarding the
project. “Eirgrid continues to ignore and treat local communities as non-entities in this project. But it has never engaged with local communities. In fact, the latest engagement from Eirgrid has been a series of letters threatening a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process if they do not sign up.” A spokesperson for Eirgrid said teams of agricultural liaison officers have met with landowners “on a one-to-one basis to discuss associated compensation payments being offered, and to directly answer all related queries.” Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan said the government supports “whatever proposals are put forward by Eirgrid,” in order to make sure the project takes place. “It has been under consideration for 20 years. We have looked at it upside down and inside out and it now needs to be built. Minister Ryan also expressed his support for a CPO process or any other mechanism possible.