Planning decided: works to uprate the existing Rinawade – Dunfirth Tee – Kinnegad 110kV overhead line (OHL)…

works to uprate the existing Rinawade – Dunfirth Tee – Kinnegad 110kV overhead line (OHL). Within County Kildare, the proposed development will take place within the following townlands: Confey, Parsonstown, Barnhall, Easton, Rinawade Upper, Rinawade Lower, Castletown, Oldcarton, Nicholastown, Killickaweeny, Cappagh, Newtown, Ballynakill, Ballyvoneen, Dysart, Dunfierth, Coolree, Kilmurry, Thomastown, Kilshanchoe, Clonagh, Cadamstown, Tanderagee, Calfstown, Ballinderry, Balrinnet, Kilglass, Nurney, Williamstown, Ballindoolin, Carrick, Grange East, Rahin. 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 Kildare County Council, there is 30.66 km of the existing OHL circuit, with 140 no. structures. Within the functional area of Meath County Council there is 23.16 km, with 107 no. structures, and within the functional area of Offaly County Council there is 0.42 km, with 2 no. structures. Separate planning applications will be lodged with Meath County Council and Offaly County Council. The proposed development within Co. Kildare will comprise: the replacement (“restringing”) of the existing OHL circuit conductor wires with a new higher capacity conductor between structure numbers 93 - 153, 224 - 226, and 240 - 247; the strengthening of tower foundations at 9no. locations; the strengthening of towers (i.e., member replacement) at 14no. locations; the painting of towers at 15no. locations; shear block remedial works of towers at 1no. location; the replacement of polesets at 43no. locations, with similar structures. There will be no change in height at 6no. poleset replacements. There will be height increases between 0.1m and 2.0m at 33no. poleset replacements. Poleset numbers 67, 72 and 132 will increase in height no greater than 3.0m, and poleset number 151 will increase in height no greater than 4.0m; the replumbing of polesets at 14no. locations; the replacement of insulating and ancillary hardware at all structures where conductor wires will be replaced; the replacement of stay wire/a