Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach may be right. The Government's plans here are leading to total gridlock. The North-South interconnector goes through County Meath and has been pushed for the last six years, but it looks like the Government has opened too many fronts. This is not just a regional issue any more; it is now a national issue and it will get bogged down as a result. There is no doubt that there is a need for an improvement in infrastructure in allowing sustainable energy onto the grid, as well as plugging into the European grid. However, the most important issue for me is health. The European Commission body SANCO opinion states the following.

The conclusion that extremely low frequency are a possible carcinogen, chiefly based on childhood results, is still valid...For neuro-degenerative diseases and brain , the link to ELF fields remained uncertain...New indicate a possible increase in Alzheimer's disease arising from exposure to ELF. Recent animal studies provided an indication for effects on the at flux densities...which warrant further investigations.

Any family with children growing up in these areas will be really concerned about this.

These pylons eradicate the value of people's homes. There have been many studies carried out which show that houses within 2.5 km of these lines suffer price reductions, while anything within 50 meters of these lines will be valueless. We have carried out studies in the north east which have shown that the fallen value of housing and land will cost €303 million. By EirGrid's own figures of €30 million cost per year delay, we are now at a €108 million delay in the north east. If these lines were put underground, there would be no problem in this respect. In respect of the issue of areas needing energy, Meath will get nothing from the North-South interconnector.

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