“The saga of the €850m Apple data centre in Co Galway has taken another turn as two local Athenry residents have applied to the Supreme Court to bring about an appeal over the rejection of their challenge to the proposed project,” Ellen Tannam reports for Silicon Republic. “Sinéad Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly were refused permission by the High Court to appeal its decision in November. In October, the court ruled against the application lodged by the objectors to overturn the permission previously granted by An Bord Pleanála for Apple to build the data centre in Athenry.”
“The objectors argued that the board did not carry out a proper Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed development, and that concerns around the energy demands of such a large project were not adequately addressed,” Tannam reports. “If the Supreme Court decides there is basis for a full hearing, the process could take at least six months.”
“A spokesperson from Apple For Athenry described the situation as ‘regrettable,’ adding: ‘It is even more regrettable that the objectors have not taken into consideration the will of the vast majority of the locality of the community and of the people of Ireland in general,'” Tannam reports. “The Government recently announced that data centres will in future be considered strategic infrastructure in terms of the planning process, meaning applicants will bypass the need to ask for permission from the local authority and instead go directly to An Bord Pleanála, thus avoiding some of the delays experienced by Apple.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The whims of the few outweigh the needs of the many.
Thankfully, due to this debacle, future applicants like Apple will have the ability to get permission and move forward expeditiously.
SEE ALSO:
$1 billion Apple dream fades for Irish villagers – November 9, 2017
Irish PM says future of $1 billion Apple data center uncertain – November 4, 2017
After years of delays, Apple finally gets the green light to build its $1 billion data center in Ireland – October 12, 2017
Apple to build second renewables-powered data center in Denmark – July 10, 2017
Apple’s $1 billion data center in Ireland faces High Court appeal as locals plan march in support – November 4, 2016
Apple’s €850m data center in Ireland finally gets green light – August 12, 2016
Apple’s huge data center in Ireland hits a snag – February 3, 2016
Some residents object to Apple’s planned new €850 million data center in Ireland – June 18, 2015
Apple’s strong commitment to the environment sets a powerful example for other companies – May 15, 2015
Apple to invest €1.7 billion to build two new european data centers – February 23, 2015
I’m surprised that these two haven’t been dealt with by those who’s jobs have been delayed all these years.