Anti-pylon group says North planning approval for Interconnector will be 'another false dawn for the establishment'
"Approval should not be equated with consent or progress" That's the view of anti-pylon campaigners opposed to the construction of 400kV electricity pylons through Meath, Cavan and Monagahan.
Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon has today confirmed that she has granted planning permission for the Northern Ireland section of the North South Electricity Interconnector (NSI).
“Following the quashing of the previous decision, I have carefully reconsidered the proposal and the up-to-date environmental information and have concluded that planning permission should be granted for the development which remains of strategic importance for our island economy,” she said.
“I have also taken into account the report by the Planning Appeals Commission that included a full consideration of the planning issues and endorsed the significant strategic importance of the development for Northern Ireland and its compliance with planning policy.
"This has been immediately followed by a fanfare of exclamations from EirGrid, SONI and our Green Minister, all highlighting how this line will single-handedly save the planet and how it will ‘continue to underpin EirGrid’s vision for a clean energy system for Ireland," said Padraig O'Reilly of NEPPC.
"When the dust settles the reality will need to dawn on those who have mismanaged this project for over 15 years that the approval is of little value when public opposition remains unchanged. All that the approval does is to confirm to the public that their rights and their constructive recommendations for an acceptable alternative are deemed irrelevant.
FULL STORY ON NI PLANNING APPROVAL
"This approval changes nothing on the ground. Approval for the ROI section was given in 2016. There has been no progress on the project in the intervening four years. A few salient points need to be restated:
According to NEPPC many intractable issues and challenges remain as deep as ever:
- The approval in ROI does not include land access for the 584 access routes required.
- The project is classified and approved as a ‘PCI’ project between two EU countries. It will require review and reclassification in November of this year. NSI status reality will need to address Brexit reality.
- There are a number of significant procedural challenges that remain to be addressed both in ROI and NI, including areas related to public consultation and human rights.
"The NI approval is yet another opportunity wasted by the Establishment, who believe that the little people in the countryside don’t matter. The approach that EirGrid seems to be happy to contemplate is to threaten to force entry on to land. We will await their next move."
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Eamon Ryan TD said he welcomed the decision today to grant planning permission for the North South interconnector in Northern Ireland.
"This is the final milestone in the development of the North South Interconnector, which is a critical piece of energy infrastructure that will bring economic benefits to all people on the island of Ireland.
"This final approval paves the way for the development of this major cross-border electricity interconnection project. The project comprises a second high-capacity electricity transmission line between Ireland and Northern Ireland. A 140km long 400kV overhead line will link counties Meath and Tyrone and, when completed, will increase the efficiency of the all-island Single Electricity Market, reduce costs to electricity consumers and improve the security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland.
"I will expect EirGrid to fully and openly engage with communities along the route of this project with a view to ensuring its appropriate delivery and that its benefits are understood by and shared with those living closest to the route.