Industrial planning project

Project scope

EirGrid PLC, with the consent and approval of the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), intends to apply for permission for works to uprate the existing Rinawade – Dunfirth Tee – Kinnegad 110kV overhead line (OHL). Within County Offaly, the proposed development will take place within the following townlands: CLONMORE . The Rinawade - Dunfirth Tee - Kinnegad 110 kV OHL circuit runs through County Meath, County Kildare and County Offaly. It is 54 km in length and travels from Kinnegad 110 kV substation in Killaskillen (County Meath) and traverses southeast where a short loop into Dunfirth 110 kV substation in Dunfirth (County Kildare) exists. The line then continues southeast where it terminates at Rinawade 110kV substation in Rinawade Lower (County Kildare). The OHL has a total of 249no. supporting structures. Within the functional area of Offaly County Council there is 0.42 km of the existing OHL circuit, with 2 no. structures. Within the functional area of Kildare County Council there is 30.66 km, with 140 no. structures, and within the functional area of Meath County Council, there is 23.16 km with 107 no. structures. Separate planning applications will be lodged with Kildare County Council and Meath County Council. The proposed development within Co. Offaly will comprise: • the replacement (“restringing”) of the existing OHL circuit conductor wires with a new higher capacity conductor and fibre wrap between structure numbers 38 – 39; • the painting of tower no. 38; • the replacement of insulating and ancillary hardware at all structures where conductor wires will be replaced; • all associated temporary site development works to gain access to the existing structures including vegetation clearance and management, disassembly and reassembly of gate posts / piers and removal and reinstatement of existing fencing; and • other temporary associated and ancillary site development works required for the purpose of the uprate of the existing circuit, including silt traps, silt fences, vegetation clearance and management, stone tracks, ground protection mats, infrastructure crossing support systems (i.e., guard poles) and temporary watercourse crossings. Where required, an aerial catenary stringing system will be used to facilitate stringing operations over major obstacles, e.g., national roads, rivers, etc. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application