Anger over postponement of oral hearing into planned wind farm close to Limerick city

AN ORAL hearing into a planned wind farm on the outskirts of Limerick city, which has attracted significant opposition, has been put back to the new year, An Coimisiún Pleanála has confirmed.

The hearing, which was expected to last at least one day, was due to begin at Treacy's Oakwood Hotel in Shannon this Thursday.

However, in a notice published on its website, An Coimisiún Pleanála confirmed it will not now proceed and will instead take place in January 2026.

Last year, Ballycar Green Energy submitted an application seeking permission to develop the wind-farm on a 140-hectare site located around 3km outside of Limerick city.

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If approved, the 12 turbines will be located in the townlands of Cappateemore East, Ballycannan West, Ballycannan East, Ballycar South, Ballycar North, and Glennagross in County Clare.

AirNav Ireland and Shannon Airport are among those opposing the proposed development. 

In documentation circulated to all parties in advance of the oral hearing, An Coimisiún Pleanala stated the scope of the hearing would be limited to issues "relevant to Shannon Airport and the Woodcock Hill radar station".

It is proposed that the wind turbines will be 518 feet high and arising from the objections lodged by Shannon Airport and AirNav Ireland, An Coimisiún Pleanála commissioned an independent aviation review by aviation consultancy, Sagentia Aviation.

The 29-page report examines some of the concerns outlined in the submissions made by both AirNav Ireland and Shannon Airport.

“The development of the Windfarm at Ballycar would require minimal optimisation of the Woodcock Hill and Shannon Airport radars. The systems in place have the capacity to provide a service even if a large number of turbines were developed in the coverage area. Thales can also provide upgrades and enhancements to both systems should they be required in future," reads one of the conclusions. 

Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who was due to speak during the oral hearing, has hit out at the "eleventh hour" postponement, stating: “I think it’s totally unfair and unacceptable that An Coimisiún Pleanála have decided to postpone this oral hearing at such short notice.

“Those who were scheduled to participate in Thursday’s oral hearing got less than 48 hours’ notice that it wouldn’t be happening. I have been contacted by many local residents who had booked time off work and some of these people had even taken unpaid leave so they could be in attendance.

 “An Coimisiún Pleanála have cited that the reason for this postponement is to allow for the developer and AirNav Ireland to enter further negotiation, but I personally think that this exercise is rather futile, given that both entities have been locked in discussions and negotiations for several years now.

 “I also think that postponement is rather imbalanced as it becomes a powerplay between AirNav Ireland and the developer, whereas other stakeholders are now locked out of this negotiation process."

Deputy Crowe says he has written to the Chairman of An Coimisiún Pleanála strongly stating his view that the oral hearing should proceed as planned.

“In particular, I have emphasised that the fact that there is a copious body of evidence arguing the pros and cons of this planning application and this, in itself, should be enough for An Coimisiún Pleanála to make a decision on the matter once and for all without any need for procrastination, postponement or unnecessary delay.”