Senator Pearse Doherty
Donegal Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has claimed that the erection of a 110KV power line and pylons across West Donegal will be a decision that the county will come to regret. Speaking in advance of the Alternative to Pylons concert which includes artists such as Francis Black and Brian Kennedy, Senator Doherty called on the ESB to rethink their proposals.
Senator Doherty said: “The proposed erection of an army of Pylons across West Donegal’s most scenic landscape is a decision that we as a county will come to regret. There are alternatives to overhead power lines and pylons which can deliver the energy needed while at the same time preserving our landscape, under-grounding is one such alternative.”
“I am seriously frustrated that after nine years of campaigning to have other alternatives to overhead power lines accepted that the ESB are unwilling to listen to the local communities.
“In the past number of weeks I have been tasked by the Oireachtas committee on Arts Sport and Tourism to prepare a report on their behalf which will examine the potential of tourism and job creation. Since then it has become clearer to me that areas such as West Donegal have major potential to attract tourists if marketed properly. West Donegal’s with its rugged landscape, its mountain ranges, lakes and off shore islands are all easy sells, however the imminent proposals to erect pylons throughout this area will rob us of all those positives.
“It is not too late for the ESB to rethink their proposals. This plan should be scraped and replaced with one in which local communities can support and one that does not leave a lasting scar on our landscape.”
