Core Refusal Reason
The application was refused due to significant environmental and technical deficiencies, primarily the absence of mandatory assessments (NIS, EIAR, EcIA, FRA) required to evaluate impacts on protected habitats, flood risk, road safety, and visual amenity.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposal lacks essential environmental documentation, including a Natura Impact Statement (NIS), Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), and Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), meaning significant adverse impacts on the River Suck SPA and Killure Bog NHA cannot be ruled out.
- The applicant failed to provide a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) for a site located within a fluvial flood risk area, nor did they submit a Traffic Management Plan to address safety concerns on the R358 regionally restricted road.
- In the absence of comprehensive site surveys and cross-sections, the Planning Authority could not adequately assess the visual impact of raising ground levels by up to three metres, which was deemed potentially injurious to the amenities of the area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Policy Objective NHB 1Policy Objective NHB 2DM Standard 50Policy Objective NHB 4Policy Objective NHB 5Policy Objective MAS3Policy Objective FL2Policy Objective FL3Policy Objective FL7
Decision Document Summary
Darragh Lyons sought permission to reclaim and raise ground levels by up to three metres on a 3.9-hectare site of cutover raised bog at Creggaun, Co. Galway, for agricultural use via imported fill. The site is located near Ballinasloe and maintains hydrological connectivity to the River Suck SPA and Killure Bog NHA. Galway County Council refused the application because the scale of the wetland reclamation triggered a mandatory EIAR which was not provided, alongside a lack of critical data regard...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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