New ESB poles for two new major power line projects in Donegal will be imported from the United States, it has emerged.
ESB networks is planning to provide additional, high-voltage from Killybegs, via Glenties and Gweedore and on to Letterkenny, and from Stranorlar to Lifford.
But native timber will not be used for the poles.
An ESB spokesman told the Post that the poles are being imported from North America.
He pointed out that the poles must be of a certain height (23 metres) and that is way they are being imported.
They are then treated with preservative in Co. Wicklow before being despatched.
It appears that such poles cannot be sourced in Ireland.
The matter was raised at the November meeting of the Co. Donegal executive of the IFA in Raphoe by Letterkenny IFA member David Russell.
He claimed that the poles were being imported from Turkey as it is illegal to use creosote on products here.
However, the ESB rejected this claim.