Posted online: Nov 4th, 2009

By Lauren Harte, reporter
Planning permission has been granted for the development of a controversial €40m electricity project at Gweedore.
A joint planning application had been made by Eirgrid and the ESB in December 2008 to An Bord Pleanála, who approved the plans last week.
The project, which involves the development of a 110 kV overhead power line has been in the pipeline for six years and involved extensive consultation with stakeholders across the county in that time.
The proposed new lines will follow a Y-shaped path from Letterkenny to Binbane, with the distribution line beginning at a new switching station near Glenties and running up to Gaoth Dobhair where a second switching station is proposed.

The new line will provide reinforcement to the electricity infrastructure, not only in West and South West Donegal, but also in the east of the county.

Construction on the power line is due to begin next year and will lead to job creation and reliable power supplies in the county, according to Eirgrid.
In 2000, the ESB was initially given planning permission to erect the same pylons by Donegal Co. Council, however An Bord Pleanála later rejected the plans following an Oral Hearing in Dungloe. A second hearing on the proposal took place earlier this year.
Ciara Feeley from Eirgrid said the announcement was good news for the county and represents €40m of a larger package of €750m investment in the region.
“This is a marvellous opportunity to enhance the reliability of power in Donegal. There has been a lot of public consultation into this line in the last two years and we have now come up with the best possible scheme for the area.”
However, a number of groups, including The Alternative to Pylons (ATP) Group and Coiste Timpeallachta Ghaoth Dobhar, who were opposed to the plans have expressed disappointment at An Bord Pleanála’s decision to allow it to go-ahead and are planning to take their case to the European Court of Justice.