Northern Standard Thursday 28th January p.1

The EirGrid application for a second North/South electricity interconnector using a high voltage 400kV overhead power line with over 400 pylons from Meath through Cavan and Monaghan to Armagh and Tyrone is to go to an oral hearing in early March. Two senior inspectors have been appointed by An Bord Pleanala to hear submissions concerning the chosen route in the Republic. Planning authorities in Northern Ireland have still to announce whether a hearing will take place in NI. The County Monaghan Anti-Pylon committee is one of the groups that will be represented at the hearing, due to commence before Easter. It has asked An Bord Pleanala for an extension of one week to February 11th to submit its reply concerning the agenda and organisation of the oral hearing, in order to comply with the Board’s suggestions about how the hearing should proceed. The Board says the hearing could last twelve weeks

EirGrid CEO Fintan Slye  Photo: Michael Fisher