EirGrid have confirmed that the proposed overhead power line from Cork to Kildare will not go ahead.

It comes after an independent expert panel said it believes EirGrid was 'highly unlikely' to progress plans for major new overhead or underground power lines in the years ahead.

The Grid Link programme has been the subject of intense public scrutiny in recent years over environmental and health fears.

However, the expert group says it believes EirGrid is now showing a 'clear preference' for a so-called 'regional' plan.

This would see existing infrastructure developed to boost transmission.

The regional option proposes to use the existing 400kv grid infrastructure from Moneypoint to the greater Dublin area - instead of constructing any new overhead or underground solutions for Grid Link.

In a statement, the expert panel says: "Given EirGrid's clear preference for the regional option, which does not involve any development of any new overhead lines or any significant sections of underground cable, it would appear that the Grid Link Overhead Line and Underground Cable options are unlikely to be implemented in the short to medium term".

"In the longer term, should such options be revived in the future, it is likely that there would be need for considerable scrutiny at that stage".

"Any comments by the present panel would be likely to be out-of-date, or surpassed by new technical developments at that time".

In response, EirGrid chief executive Fintan Slye says: "The emergence of the new 'regional option' means there is now no requirement to proceed with the previously proposed Grid Link 400 kV overhead line". 

"I am very pleased today to confirm that we will now be moving ahead to deliver what I believe is a better option for all concerned", he added.