Landowners offered 'take it or leave it' deals before Eirgrid makes moves to CPO land

The government has been urged to intervene as a standoff between Eirgrid and landowners is imminent if agreements on erecting pylons to carry high-voltage power lines cannot be reached.

Eirgrid has said that it will seek to use statutory powers to access lands to deliver the North South Interconnector project if landowners have not entered into a voluntary agreement with the semi-state body before 1st March.

As Eirgrid bids to move forward with its plans to erect 400 pylons across Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, the company has signalled that it will request ESB Networks to make the required applications for 'wayleave' notices in the absence of agreements. The plan was set out in a letter received by some 400 affected landowners recently. That application will be made by the ESB to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

In the letter, landowners are informed that the CRU does not determine compensation levels and it may decide to hold a public inquiry as part of the 'Special Order' process.

Eirgrid warned in the latest communication that the offer of compensation is "final" and will no longer be on offer after 1st March.

The package on offer amounts to €50,000 per pylon and €160 per metre of overhead lines. In a statement issued last week, EirGrid further revealed that homeowners situated within 200 meters of the proposed electricity line will also be contacted regarding proximity payments.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín has urged the government to instruct Eirgrid to withdraw what he described as “threats”.

“This threatened action by Eirgrid could see a large number of farmers ending up in court or forced into a position of civil disobedience. Certain government ministers promised people in Meath Cavan and Monaghan that they would stop the overhead building of this North South Interconnector, but are now part of a cabinet that presides over these threats by Eirgrid .

"Eirgrid is mandated to deliver government policy. The government is ultimately responsible for this ratcheting up of pressure on thousands of families in this region."

Eirgrid’s Chief Infrastructure Officer, Michael Mahon said: “The priority has always been that land access for the North-South Interconnector would centre around the procurement of a voluntary easement on behalf of ESB Networks. For those landowners that do not provide a voluntary easement, an application will be made by ESB Networks to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) for a compulsory purchase order.

“Once that order is granted, construction by ESB Networks can proceed, and any compensation due thereafter will be dealt with through a standardised arbitration process, similar to what is available for other state utility projects - such as infrastructure around water or roads - in these instances when agreement with landowners cannot be reached.”