ICSA has submitted its consultation response to EirGrid’s Stage 1 Report for the Grid Link project. In principle, ICSA acknowledges the importance of reinforcing the national grid and of facilitating a more sustainable domestic energy supply through the development of renewable energy generation schemes. However, under consultation with its members, ICSA has noted that there are significant concerns amongst rural communities in relation to the extent and proposed technologies of the Grid Link project. ICSA wises to highlight the overall lack of reference made to farming in EirGrid’s report, particularly in the context of farming being the predominant land use along all of the proposed route corridors.

In its submission, ICSA is strongly advocating that all parties involved in the Grid Link planning and design process take this opportunity to revisit the proposed engineering options, taking into account recent advances in technology which may more readily facilitate a more widely acceptable undergrounding solution. ICSA is additionally calling for a full Cost Benefit Analysis of the various engineering solutions. Furthermore, ICSA is advocating more comprehensive assessment and more balanced communication of potential impacts to rural society and the agricultural landscape.