EirGrid extends public consultation on Mayo-Roscommon 110 kV project
EIRGRID is extending public consultation to December 11 on the North Connacht 110 kV project, a new electricity development that runs from Ballina in Mayo to Ballaghaderreen in Roscommon.
The extension will provide further opportunity for people living in Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon to provide feedback on this important piece of electricity infrastructure.
The consultation, which began on September 15, was scheduled to finish on November 16.
Said David Martin, EirGrid spokesperson: “The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic presents challenges in how we communicate with people. We have sought to address these challenges by adding new online channels for people to provide feedback.
“However, we recognise that a number of people in the community are more comfortable with traditional engagement methods. We will continue to provide these and have extended the consultation period to allow time for us to have more conversations with communities and ensure they can avail of our freepost service to provide feedback.
“We thank those members of the public who have attended webinars and submitted feedback and we encourage those that have not yet engaged with us to do so and take advantage of the consultation extension.”
People can still submit feedback online or, where they are unable to access the internet, contact a member of the liaison team by telephone.
The North Connacht 110 kV project will underpin investment in the region and facilitate the growth of renewable energy. It will be either an underground cable or overhead line that links the electricity substations at Moy near Ballina and Tonroe near Ballaghaderreen.
The EirGrid project team is currently evaluating possible routes for the circuit within a study area that runs from Foxford in the west to Tubercurry in the east, and Ballina in the north to Ballaghaderreen in the south.
The team is looking for feedback on the seven potential routes identified in the study area, four of which are for overhead lines and three for underground cables.
In the next few weeks EirGrid is writing to 41,000 homes in the study area, providing them with additional information on the project and guidance on how they can provide feedback to the project team. The views submitted by the public on the proposals, along with results from further studies, will help EirGrid to identify the best option to take forward to the planning process.
Mr. Martin added: “The project is reaching a critical point where we will soon determine the best possible route. Feedback on our proposals, along with results from further studies, will help us to identify the best option to take forward to the planning process.”
Telephone clinics will continue to be available for the duration of the consultation period and additional webinars have been scheduled on the following dates:
- Tuesday, December 1, at 1 p.m.
- Thursday, December 3, at 6 p.m.
- Monday, December 7, at 8 p.m.
For more information on the project, please visit http://www.eirgridgroup.com/NorthConnachtProject or call the liaison team on (087) 2477732.