Call for power line undergrounding cost/benefit study

A call for a full cost/benefit analysis of undergrounding options for the EirGrid 400kV power line to be run from Cork and Wexford to Kilcullen has been made by Kildare South FG TD Martin Heydon, writes Brian Byrne.

Deputy Heydon made the request to Energy minister Pat Rabitte TD in the Dail last night. He noted that five overground options have been shown by EirGrid to date, but undergrounding has been dismissed as 'too expensive'.

"If it is far more expensive, and technically much more difficult to do, why not do a full open analysis on it to prove that case to the public?" Deputy Heydon said, adding the question if full account of the financial impact that there may be on Ireland's tourism industry, does that factor in the financial cost of the devaluation of individual properties?