Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

218. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will review the revamping of lines by the ESB currently under way throughout County Tipperary (details supplied). [28824/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

ESB Networks (ESBN) is the division of ESB responsible for building and maintaining the electricity network throughout Ireland. Over the last decade, ESBN has invested more than €6bn in refurbishing and upgrading the network. This investment ensures that Irish citizens have ongoing, secure access to electricity via a world class electricity infrastructure that supports Ireland’s continued economic development. The “revamping of lines” that the Deputy refers to is part of this ongoing and essential refurbishment. ESBN’s approach to this work is an operational matter in which I have no role.

I am aware that ESBN already has in place a system of compensation payments relating to electricity network enhancement. ESBN and the IFA have agreed a code of practice to deal with the issue of compensation payable to farmers for financial loss caused by the construction of new electricity infrastructure. This Code of Practice is intended to lay out guidelines for the various activities associated with the survey, construction and maintenance of overhead lines for voltages of 110kV and above, and sets out schedules of compensation which are payable to landowners in certain circumstances.

In addition, farmers may be entitled to “Annual Mast Interference Payments”. These payments are payable in compensation for areas of ground being unavailable for normal farming due to the presence of masts or double wooden pole sets that support transmission lines. Details of annual payment levels are published on the ESB website: .