Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004
107 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will be disposed to changing the planning regulations to ensure that the ESB and other electrical utilities are required to erect site notices that would be clearly visible from the public roads closest to where the development of transmission lines is proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32794/04]
View answerArticle 19 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 provides that a site notice in connection with a planning application must be fixed in a conspicuous position on or near the main entrance to the land or structure concerned from a public road, or where there is more than one entrance from public roads, on or near all such entrances, or on any other part of the land or structure adjoining a public road, so as to be easily visible and legible by persons using the public road.
However, an electricity undertaking is exempt from the requirement to erect a site notice in respect of an application for the construction or erection of overhead transmission or distribution lines for conducting electricity. The reason for this exemption is that it is considered too difficult for an electricity undertaking to comply with the site notice requirements, having regard to the number of roads that would be involved. It is not proposed to amend the legislation in this regard. An electricity undertaking is not exempt from the requirement to publish in a newspaper its intention to apply for permission for the construction or erection of overhead transmission or distribution lines.
