Next Monday’s meeting of Mayo County Council will see a number of different motions come before the councillors in relation to different strands of energy issues in the county including the Eirgrid project. Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne has one motion calling “that Mayo County Council invite Dr David Connolly, who is a renewable energy expert and native of Ballyhaunis, to give a presentation to the members of Mayo County Council so we might learn from the experience of the windy western counties of Denmark, and their efforts to achieve a situation where 100% of their energy requirement is supplied by renewable energy and where renewable energy is the largest employer. Dr. David Connolly is now assistant professor in Aalborg University, Denmark.”
Fine Gael councillor Seamus Weir has a motion stating, “I propose that Mayo County Council call on the Government to intervene and instruct Eirgrid West to put the 400kV line underground in the areas in question which contravene the present County Development Plan under Rural Housing section 42.1 paragraph PRH 9. Note rural urban pressure means preventing people from outside to live in that community suggesting overcrowding.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Jimmy Maloney has another motion which says he wishes “To call on our Taoiseach and Minister for the Environment to provide the public and community groups with funding to allow them the option of engaging the services of an independent consultant or consultants to represent them at local and national level in relation to the proposed pathway identified by Eirgrid; specifically when this process reaches planning stage with An Bord Pleanála. This means that they can request answers to their concerns from the appropriate independent professionals. I further feel that the costs arising from this consultation should be paid for by Eirgrid. I am calling on our Taoiseach and Minister Ring and the two Government Deputies to see that this is carried out without delay and funding made available to local groups/”
While Sinn Féin Cllr Gerry Murray has a motion “calling on Mayo County Council to carry out a review of its renewable energy strategy”.
