Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for attending the Chamber to debate this important issue.

The Grid Link project runs through my constituency, Kildare South. EirGrid has shown five overground options in stage one of the project’s development and a consultation roadmap, but it has not shown any underground option. When questioned on why this was the case, it claimed undergrounding is the more expensive option. If it is more expensive and technically much more difficult, why not have a full open analysis to prove this to the public? The lack of confidence in EirGrid is due to the fact it has not explained how and why the underground option will not work, expecting the public just to accept it.

The review by the international expert commission, established by the Minister in 2011, remarked on the ever-changing underground technology. While the report is already aged, the Grid Link project will not go to planning until 2016. We need a similar independent report for the Grid Link project to set out a full cost-benefit analysis of the underground option. People have genuine concerns about overhead lines and pylons which they believe have not been given due consideration. They have concerns about the impact on the local environment, the potential impact on their health, while farmers are concerned about the impact on their livestock. In County Kildare this concern extends to the crucial equine industry. It is intrinsic to the area, being the county’s second largest employer, hence the name the Thoroughbred County. The tourism industry is also vital to the rural economy of south Kildare.

When EirGrid claims undergrounding costs more, does it take full account of the financial impact of pylons on the tourism industry and the devaluation of individual properties? I want a full cost-benefit analysis of the underground option. We need to have a proper and open debate on the matter instead of the current statement from EirGrid on undergrounding being more expensive.

I also express my frustration with the appointment of a former chairman of An Bord Pleanála as the new chairman of EirGrid. Perception is important when one is looking for public confidence in a process. The perception that there may be a link between EirGrid and An Bord Pleanála is not helpful. We all know An Bord Pleanála will decide on this issue. Not only does this process need to be beyond reproach but it must also be seen to be beyond reproach.

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