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Laura Hutton/RollingNews.ie

Controversial plan for hundreds of pylons in rural Ireland has been given the go-ahead

The plan had been widely criticised by people living in the area.

AN BORD PLEANÁLA has approved permission for 299 pylons to be built across Cavan, Meath and Monaghan.

The pylons will be built as part of Eirgrid’s North-South Interconnector project, which was given the green light by the planning authority today.

The huge infrastructure project, which will be 138 kilometres long, will link the electricity transmission networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland

In its decision, An Bord Pleanála said it had received around 900 submissions from individuals, community groups and elected representatives about the project. It had also considered a number of reports into the project before making a final decision.

The decision says that the development will enhance the security of electricity supply between Northern Ireland and the Republic, and will allow for the more efficient operation of a single electricity market on an all-island basis.

Of the 299 pylons, 165 will be in Meath and 134 will be in Cavan and Monaghan.

The approval has been criticised by some of the communities in the area who had objected to the project, particularly to having the power lines run overground rather than underground.

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy said the project will have to be changed because of the concerns of people who live in the area.

“The truth is that the project that was granted permission today will not go ahead in its current form. Communities simply won’t allow it,” he said.

His concerns were echoed by the Irish Farmers’ Association which said that the decision broadly ignores the concerns and wishes of the people who live in the areas where the pylons will be constructed.

“From the beginning, EirGrid did not support the proposal to underground this project and it seems as if they have achieved their desired outcome today,” said Thomas Cooney of the IFA. “However, communities are now left in a position where by and large their concerns have been rejected by An Bord Pleanála.

Read: After years of campaigning, pylons in Lucan and Adamstown are being move

Read: Remember the controversial Cork-Kildare power line plan? It’s being scrapped

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71 Comments
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    Mute Diarmaid Twomey
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:17 AM

    It’s hilarious really. I heard a supporter of lucinda say that lucinda is entitled to speaking time etc etc as she is democratically elected by the people. While this is of course accurate, it is also then accurate that lucinda has no business fighting the democratic will of the people in the 2 referenda where they made their decision on protection of women be known. Fairly ironic really!

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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:36 AM

    I still can’t get past the fact that they called themselves the RA.

    41
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    Mute The Bourgeois Pope
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:09 AM

    Shoul this advertisement for Lucinda not be coloured yellow and classed as a ‘Suggested Post’?

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    Mute AggressiveSecularist
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:28 AM

    Bunch of wasters.

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    Mute Rob Hunt
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:19 AM

    ‘Reform Alliance’ members can bloody well see if they can get themselves elected as independents if they want such rights. If they can’t do that they should have toed the party line.

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Sep 18th 2013, 1:04 PM

    And do you want the same treatment to apply to Roisin Shorthall and the ousted Labour members?

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    Mute Right Wing Steve ©
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:35 AM

    The is becoming as banal as the Pat Kenny going to Newstalk bladder, enough already.

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:41 AM

    Pat Kenny went to newstalk??

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    Mute Right Wing Steve ©
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:44 AM

    Oh have you not heard? It was my understanding that everyone had heard…..

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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    Sep 18th 2013, 8:13 AM

    Nice try stevie, already been done a few months back though. :)

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    Mute Right Wing Steve ©
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    Sep 18th 2013, 8:17 AM

    A-well-a, don’t you know about the………

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:37 AM

    Are these now the official ‘RA?

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    Mute Right Wing Steve ©
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:39 AM

    Continuity Fine Gael

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:50 AM

    It’s getting a bit ridiculous now. If it keeps going like this no TD will fear losing the whip and the Dail will be one big technical group serving egos rather than people…

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    Mute Steve Herron
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    Sep 18th 2013, 7:52 AM

    All the rights of being in a separate political party without being brave enough to leave the current party. Creighton has some ego on her.

    To a cynic it might seem like FG and Labor are trying to dilute the opposition and flood committees with more of their people.

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    Mute Anthony Quinn
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    Sep 18th 2013, 8:17 AM

    Pain in my rocks looking at their
    Smug mushes and hearing about
    Their nua snout in the trough party

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    Mute Richie Rodgers
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    Sep 18th 2013, 10:19 AM

    Anthony
    We’re you trying to write modern poetry?

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    Mute Neil Dinnen
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    Sep 18th 2013, 10:52 AM

    One word: Greedy.

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    Mute Michael G O'Reilly
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    Sep 18th 2013, 10:10 AM

    Who gives a Rat’s Posterior !

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    Mute Mick McDonagh
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    Sep 18th 2013, 10:10 AM

    What a bunch of self-servings cads.

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    Mute Joey JoeJoe Shabadoo
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    Sep 18th 2013, 10:21 AM

    Of course they want to be on dem com-mit-tees.

    Thats where the gravy is.

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Sep 18th 2013, 1:05 PM

    Only the chairs of committees receive payments, or used to at least. There was talk

    Ordinary Senators and TDs who are committee members don’t receive any additional payments.

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    Mute Fergus Fring
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    Sep 18th 2013, 1:43 PM

    Sinead, do you have ‘Lucinda Quotas’ on your article output in the Journal? Enough coverage of these turncoats please.

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    Mute MB
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    Sep 18th 2013, 1:58 PM

    The lot of them, each and every politician in this country sickens me.

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