The Communications Minister says opposition groups in Tipperary have had their say on the Gridlink project and will have no input to the independent panel announced by the Government.
Eirgrid say the €500 million venture will secure the future of electricity supplies across the country – however local opposition to the overhead power lines has been strong in Tipperary.
The Gridlink project will run a high voltage power line from Cork to Kildare with two of the three routes being considered passing through Tipperary.
At present Eirgrid want to run the 400KV cables over ground on pylons which could be up to 45 metres high.
These plans have drawn considerable opposition from communities right along the proposed routes with 35 thousand submissions received by the semi-state company during the consultation process.
Eirgrid has now pledged to consider undergrounding the line and co-operate with the Government appointed independent panel which will be chaired by former Supreme Court Judge Catherine McGuinness.
It could delay the planning process for the controversial project by around 18 months.
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath feels it won't be a fully independent review and is sceptical of the timing
Carrick on Suir Labour Senator Denis Landy says the terms of reference for the independent panel will be key while Milo Power of the Suir Valley Action Group says groups such as theirs should be allowed to have further input to the new panel.
However Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte says campaign groups will have no input on the terms of reference for the independent review on Ireland's power network.
