Environmental group's challenge to part of biggest capital spend in State's history opens before Supreme Court

An environmental group's challenge to a major State capital investment plan has opened before the Supreme Court. Friends of the Irish Environment brought the appeal against the €165 billion Project Ireland 2040 scheme, which was originally adopted at a Cabinet meeting in Sligo in February 2018. The organisation contends that the plan, comprising the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan, was invalid due to alleged failures in environmental assessment and climate change considerations. The High Court rejected FIE's claim in 2020, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. However, the Supreme Court determined the case raised a point of public importance warranting consideration. A seven-judge panel heard the appeal on Monday. FIE seeks to quash the plan's adoption, arguing it failed to meet requirements under the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive. The State disputes that either plan is subject to such assessment obligations. The hearing was ongoing.