Kerry’s flagship gas project to face further planning delays

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has expressed his “deep disappointment” over the planning appeal board’s further delay to their decision on the Shannon LNG project, warning it is negatively impacting foreign investment.

An Coimisiún Pleanála announced it was not be making a decision on the Shannon Technology and Energy Park planning application before January 13, as previously promised.

The initial decision not to grant planning permission to the project was overruled by the High Court in September 2024. However, the ruling means the project must go back to the planning appeal board for final review before it can be approved.

An Coimisiún Pleanála said in September last year a decision would be reached by January but now it seems further delays are expected.

“It is deeply frustrating that the Planning Authority is now unable to reach a determination within its own stated timelines…the explanation that the delay arises from the “complexity of the case” is difficult to reconcile with the fact that the proposal has already been examined and a decision made on it,” said Cllr Foley.

“Timely decision-making is an important element of an effective and transparent planning system. At this stage, it is imperative that An Coimisiún Pleanála makes a prompt, decisive and transparent determination not only on this application but all Strategic Infrastructure Development applications, in the interests of fairness and certainty in our planning process.”

Shannon Technology and Energy Park includes a 600 MW power plant and 220 kV electricity connection cables to connect the power plant to the grid. The long-awaited LNG project has been 16-years in the making, having encountered stiff opposition from environmentalists.

Cllr Foley warned that decade-long battles over planning could dissuade companies to start projects in Ireland and repel international investment.

“These ongoing delays and the lack of a timely and definitive decision, especially of a large-scale industrial development, prolong uncertainty in our planning system,” said Cllr Foley.

“It portrays our planning system as difficult and incoherent internationally, resulting in creating negative impacts to our Foreign Direct Investment.”

MEP for Ireland South Sean Kelly previously expressed his frustration at the Shannon LNG delays, calling the planning system “total inept”.

He said “endless delays” are undermining Ireland’s energy security, while simultaneously holding back the expansion of Ireland’s electricity grid.

“The planning authority continues to be a critical national bottleneck, stifling progress in every area of infrastructure development,” he said.

“We remain dangerously reliant on a single point of [gas] import...that leaves Irish households and businesses completely exposed to the volatility of European gas markets.”