Galway residents bring High Court challenge to waste facility permit

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A group of 10 residents, including Fine Gael senator Aisling Dolan, brought a fresh High Court challenge to a permit for a waste transfer facility at Poolboy, Ballinasloe, in east Co Galway. The proceedings were reported on 13 June 2022.

The residents opposed Galway County Council’s decision to grant the permit to Bruscar Bhearna Teoranta, trading as Barna Recycling, for the facility and disposal of waste. They lived within 1km of the proposed site and supported the Ballinasloe Says No campaign. The group raised concerns about environmental impacts, including effects on areas of environmental significance.

In 2019, the council granted a permit for a proposed water transfer station at the site. Following an earlier High Court challenge, the court quashed that decision with the council’s consent and returned it to the authority for reconsideration. The council refused permission in 2020, but granted a permit following a fresh application in March 2022.

The residents sought to quash the latest decision. Counsel said their grounds included an alleged failure to screen for an appropriate assessment or determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment was required. Counsel also cited the site’s proximity to the River Suck Callows Special Protection Area and argued that the council had not properly considered issues under EU habitats directives, including emissions.

The matter came before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo on an ex-parte basis on 13 June 2022. He adjourned it to a date in July.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.