Cowen wants explanation for delay in Banagher Chilling decision

Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly Barry Cowen has said that continued delays at An Bord Pleanála level to the long-awaited meat processing plant in Banagher are "entirely unacceptable".

Banagher Chilling Ltd. was given planning approval on July 26, by Offaly County Council, subject to 21 conditions, for what's described as “a single storey extension to the existing abattoir” and the construction of a food processing factory of 4,925 square metres, on a 19.6 hectare site at Boheradurrow and Meenwaun, Banagher.

Offaly County Council granted permission for the massive project back in July 2020 but that decision was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála in August 2020.

A decision has yet to be issued by the planning board on the appeal.

In a statement, Cowen pointed out that last May he had received the support of the Dáil when he introduced a Bill which proposes to amend the Planning and Development Act 2000 to ensure that every appeal or referral is determined within a period of 12 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Board of the appeal or referral.

Emphasising the importance of the Bill, Deputy Cowen said, “The Bill seeks to respond to the need for An Bord Pleanála to be statutorily bound by a defined time period for them to make a decision on planning files rather than the present situation whereby there is no controls or obligations in place for decisions to be made in a timely fashion.

“Many delays in proposed developments are putting such proposals in jeopardy because of the prolonged and ridiculous lengths of time for such important decisions to be made.

“My Bill is aimed at freeing up the logjam which is delaying such key commercial developments. We can no longer preside over an arm of the state foot-dragging and causing such delay as to potential investment which is badly needed – especially in rural areas like my own constituency.

"It is also inconceivable that residential developments are also being curtailed, delayed and even lost owing to there being no statutory time periods for An Bord Pleanála decisions. This should not be tolerated. It is time for an overhaul of judicial review processes which is also far too cumbersome and slow, further delaying and harming our potential to respond adequately to the housing crisis.''