Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the concerns of local people about what is a project on a major scale with infrastructure visible on the landscape. Having attended public meetings in my area on smaller projects, including wind farms, I am aware that there is often opposition to projects of such a scale. I accept what the Senator says and understand and sympathise with the views he has expressed on behalf of the constituents he represents. They believe their views have not been taken on board by An Bord Pleanála in its assessment of the planning application.

Senator Diarmuid Wilson referred to alternative facts. From what Senator Robbie Gallagher said, I accept that there are differing views on the cost of undergrounding from that set out by EirGrid. I would like to think there is only one set of facts on the cost of undergrounding compared to that of an overhead line system. I hope it was discussed and verified at the hearings held by An Bord Pleanála and that there are sufficient independent companies that can verify the cost of undergrounding lines versus that of having them above the ground.