High Court dismisses judicial review against Slane Bypass plan
The judicial review into the long-awaited Slane Bypass has been dismissed by the High Court, the Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council has confirmed.
The proceedings had been brought by former Attorney General John Rogers, who owns land in the area.
Planning permission for the project was granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála last July, but Mr Rogers subsequently applied for a judicial review in September.
Meath County Council Cathaoirleach, Councillor Wayne Harding — a Slane native and long-time advocate for the project — confirmed that the challenge has now been dismissed, describing it as “fantastic news and another huge milestone in the project.”
“The judicial review was holding up an extremely dangerous road being removed from village life. Every resident must enter the N2 to engage in their normal daily routine, whether they are the children of Slane school or members of Slane Men’s Shed. It has also held up a multi-million euro investment in the village’s public realm,” Cllr Harding said.
The proposed Slane Bypass would involve the construction of a 3.5km route around the village, including a dual carriageway and a 258-metre bridge over the River Boyne.
The project has been under consideration for more than a decade, with repeated concerns raised by residents and local representatives over traffic volumes and road safety in the village.
Slane sits at a key crossroads between the N2 Dublin–Derry route and the N51 linking Delvin, Co Westmeath, to Drogheda via Navan. It is estimated that around 17,000 vehicles pass through the village daily.
A previous bypass proposal was rejected by An Bord Pleanála in 2012 due to concerns about its proximity to the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, which includes Newgrange.
In December 2023, local residents marked ongoing road safety concerns by erecting 23 crosses on the wall of Slane Bridge, commemorating the 23 lives lost on the stretch of road, which includes a particularly steep gradient.