It does when the project costs €500 million and to do it underground would multiply that figure somewhere between 4 – 10 times that.

I don’t think you can put a project like this underground. Just think about it. It’s not about cost- its about physical limitations. You would have to deal with every river, lake, rock, road, building or anything to go around or under. Pylons are the right and only way.

Cue lots of NIMBY groups sprouting up along the route.

Link cork to kildare via wexford? Wexford?. Oh sweet jesus.

When they say above ground is cheaper then sticking it underground does the cost include the going maintenance of the pylons? Our Min of Tourism is going on about increasing the appeal of Ireland as a tourist destination sticking god knows how many pylons up across the country would seem to be out of step with that plan?

Diego, I should have said “it’s not just about cost”. And yes you are right the cost goes up 3-4 times and that’s in a urban area. Just think about trying to lay something underground across a varied landscape such as Ireland.

It would be a shame to see a mass line of pylons. The extra money spent to put it all underground could be a better investment for tourism aswell as the health and environment of the people living in these areas.

frank is absolutely correct. the best decision is bury them, it is costlier but a bigger infrastructure project thus more jobs and you have to consider impact on a country that depends heavily on tourism. one of those don’t be pennywise and pound foolish issues. in addition one has to worry about the potential health issues, stand under one of those things, you can hear and feel it. lot of circumstantial evidence about cancer issues for those living near these things.

Were is minster ?

Is Eirgrid and Irish company ?

Eirgrid Consultation? Now there’s an oxymoron. From my own direct experience of them for over a year now I can categorically state that Eirgrid do not engage in meaningful consultation with comunities but rather go through the motions with their well-oiled propaganda machine. I don’t trust Eirgrid management, as for months on end they have denied plans for such a new line from Cork to Dublin and now like a bolt from the blue they announce it as part of our strategic infrastructure and it must be an over-head line as their management dictate, hiding behind inflated costs that they put about. Eirgrid, as I have said before operate more like a wing of the KGB than the ESB. At a recent Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eirgrid took a severe beating as they were exposed time and time again for misleading the public and political representatives as they are trying to do on the North-South Interconnector. Now they are at it again and want to run a new hi-voltage power line from Cork to Dublin VIA WEXFORD!! Eirgrid’s corporate culture is all wrong. Based in Ballsbridge, they make a Ballsbridge of everything they put their hand to and have nothing only contempt for the country and country people. With their current management and attitude they certainly don’t have my confidence.

Why not keep gas and water pipes above ground too to save money?

I don’t trust those pylons…putting high voltage cables overground simply on a cost criteria is a poor decision..there’s one of those pylons outside where I work and there are days your hair would bristle standing near them….

Spell check would have been good. Many word processors include them. Perhaps you already have one?

They bury cables under the sea and they bury gas pipe lines in Alaska Di to bury them in Ireland would be very easy. It is simple cost saving to allow big bonuses to the board of directors. Pure lazy – we need jobs and here is a big opportunity to create some. the pylons are horrendous looking in our green country which depends on tourists. What government department official will benefit with a brown envelope for this? More tribunals.

Would it not be better to invest this into renewable energy sources for the country? Fuel is continuing to rise, and we need to start building for the future now.

When us someone going to tell the ESB that WE own THEM?