Meath politicians welcome Network investment

Politicians from Meath praised ESB Networks for current upgrading work and ongoing investment in the Royal County. The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey TD joined other TDs from the county at an ESB Networks briefing in Dublin, outlining current and future plans for the area.

Networks are investing in excess of €100million in County Meath between 2003 and 2008, as part of the national infrastructure spend of more than €3billion by ESB. Deputies Damian English, Mary Wallace and John Brady were briefed by Jerry O Sullivan, ESB Networks Head of Services and Aidan McCarron, Customer Service Manager for the area. Electricity demand in Meath has grown by nearly 50 per cent in the last five years, coupled with a population growth of more than 20 per cent in the county over the same period. Annual growth in electricity demand for the county stands at around 6 per cent.

The investment in Meath includes everyday maintenance of the network and new connections in the county as well as other major infrastructural projects. The TDs were told of the growing demand for connections in the county; last year ESB Networks connected more than four thousand new customers in the county. That figure is nearly twice the national average outside of Dublin, which saw the greatest number of new connections.

Plans by ESB networks include new high voltage stations at New Gorman and Balltrasna and a new 38kV network. Refurbishment of the medium voltage network across Meath is almost complete; more than 4000 kms of line have already been refurbished, with the remainder due for completion this year. The Minister and TDs for the area discussed a number of issues including the areas of communications with ESB, and waiting times for new connections.