NEW CHAIRMAN OF EIRGRID TO FACE TOUGH QUESTIONS OVER PYLON PLANS FOR CO. WEXFORD
The incoming chairman of Eirgrid will today face fresh calls to abandon plans to build pylons in rural areas across the South East.
Parts of County Wexford stretching from Bunclody to Campile could have a pylon corridor constructed under the current plans.
John O’Connor is likely to face close scrutiny from TDs when he comes before an Oireachtas committee.
There’s a growing groundswell of opinion against plans to build a series of new power lines above ground – particularly in some rural scenic areas – over concerns that they could ruin the view in some tourist areas.
There are also concerns that the new pylons, of up to 43 metres in height, could devalue the homes and farmland nearby.
Last weekend over 100 Labour members held a tense meeting with Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte at their party conference, hoping he would intervene to stop the pylons being erected.
This morning John O’Connor will make his first appearance at the Oireachtas Communications Committee in his capacity as the new chairman of Eirgrid – and the pylon issue is likely to dominate.
A majority of the committee are now in favour of putting the new power lines underground – and there’ll be some questions about whether the former chairman of An Bord Pleanala now wants to harm Ireland’s landscape.
