Madam, - As a parent resident in Kildalkey, Co Meath, I have recently learnt of Eirgrid's plans to erect 58 kilometres of ultra-high voltage 400Kv power lines across Co Meath to Kingscourt in Cavan.
There has been, and will continue to be, much debate about the harmful medical effects of such power lines. Studies show higher risks of cancer and childhood leukaemia, among other illnesses, within close living distances of these power lines.
Although these studies are rejected by Eirgrid, a State-owned company, we in Co Meath are not prepared to learn from their, or the Government's, mistakes. It is Eirgrid company policy to allow their workers only 15 minutes' exposure in any one hour and a maximum of only four periods of exposure in any one day.
Our children's work area is in their school, school playground and back gardens. The proposed lines are much too close to these areas. No child should be exposed to this potential harm. For example, we don't let our children play by the sides of busy roads, not because cars are likely to veer off the road, but because there is a potential for it to happen.
The worry that I and my neighbours have is not restricted to our local areas in Co Meath. The Government and Eirgrid have plans to erect an electrical substation on 15 acres at Kingscourt, Co Cavan. We are advised that this amount of land for an ordinary substation is "huge". It appears to us that this substation might end up serving the country with similar power lines running from north to south, east to west and whatever other direction you can think of.
This Government and future governments need to be told that the people of Ireland will not allow them to endanger our health or our children's and grandchildren's health. Not to mention ruining the look of this beautiful country.
The people of Denmark have reached agreement with their government to seek to run such cables underground, thus removing any danger to their health. Our message and our solution is simple - put them underground. - Yours, etc,
LARRY BYRNE, Kildalkey, Co Meath.