TDs welcome Banagher Chilling ruling

There has been a warm welcome from local TDs to news that An Bord Pleanála has granted planning approval to the Banagher Chilling project.

The planning board this week gave the green light to Banagher Chilling Ltd for an extension to an abattoir and the construction of a food processing factory of 4,925 square metres, on a 19.6 hectare site near Banagher. It is estimated to involve a €25m investment.

SEE DETAILS HERE

Deputy Barry Cowen said he was glad and delighted that permission had finally been granted.

"This development will be most welcome for the community and region in the first instance with the job creation associated with its construction but also of course as a competitive outlet for farming sector. New competition ensures markets can be filled creating new opportunities thus allowing farm families get fair prices for quality produce," he said.

He said he would now engage with the promoters of Banagher Chilling project, review the grant of permission and the conditions attached with a view to progressing and proceeding to its construction.

Deputy Cowen said that Government must also now move on the bill he put before the Dail last year which places onus on An Bord Pleanála to make decisions on appeals within a statutory time period of 12 weeks.

He said it was necessary especially in the context of increased costs associated with developments and at a time of housing crisis too, that proposed developments be decided on within a set time frame.

He pointed out that projects which meet criteria relating to county and regional development plans, adhere to national guidelines relating to density, design, infrastructure capacity), spatial strategies and have relevant planning permission from respective local authorities can still be adjudicated upon by the An Bord Pleanála appeal process for up to two years.

The judicial review system can then delay such project for up to another two to three years, he said.

"Such delays and procrastination has curtailed this country’s response to the housing crisis and hampered and ensured the loss of some commercial developments. It’s essential that Government prescribe amendments to Planning and Development Act to unblock this serious serious impediment."

Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan also warmly welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission.

Deputy Nolan had repeatedly engaged with the planning board over a two-year-period in attempts to have a decision on the proposed site escalated, after having being initially informed in January of 2021 that an inspector's report would be completed ‘within the next two weeks'.

“At long last a decision has now been made that is capable of opening up the beef market in Ireland and offering increased competition and better prices for farmers,” Deputy Nolan said.

“It is a pity it took so long to get to this point, but finally, after what appeared to be an inability to arrive at any kind of decision, and interminable environmental due diligence, we are now in a position to move forward and ensure that Offaly and indeed the wider region can be seen as open to large scale inward investment,” concluded Deputy Nolan.