Article 19 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 provides that a site notice in connection with a planning application must be fixed in a conspicuous position on or near the main entrance to the land or structure concerned from a public road, or where there is more than one entrance from public roads, on or near all such entrances, or on any other part of the land or structure adjoining a public road, so as to be easily visible and legible by persons using the public road. However, an electricity undertaking is exempt from the requirement to erect a site notice in respect of an application for the construction or erection of overhead transmission or distribution lines for conducting electricity. The reason for this exemption is that it is considered that it would be too difficult for an electricity undertaking to comply with the site notice requirements, having regard to the number of roads that would be involved. It is not proposed to amend the legislation in this regard.

It should be noted however that an electricity undertaking is not exempt from the requirement to publish in a newspaper its intention to apply for permission for the construction or erection of overhead transmission or distribution lines.

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email  Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com