Plans to redevelop a deepwater quay in Conamara remain anchored for at least another year as the Government scrambles to respond to a judicial review that could torpedo the project.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has confirmed it could take at least twelve months before it is ready to submit another planning application to An Bord Pleanála to proceed with construction of a €30m deepwater quay at Ros a’ Mhíl.

The project was granted planning permission in 2018, and that was due to expire in July of 2023, before it was completed.

Consulting engineers on behalf of the Department were granted an extension of planning permission for five years by Galway County Council to complete the works in July 2023, but an environmental NGO challenged this decision to extend the planning application.

The group, Wild Ireland Defence spearhead by Peter Sweetman, launched a judicial review and the Department ceased all works on site on May 20, “pending the outcome of the judicial review”.

The Judicial Review was heard in the High Court on October 29 last and a spokesperson for eth Department said, “the ruling will be carefully considered”.

“The Department has commenced the Substitute Consent process. An Bord Pleanála agreed to a request from the Department’s consultants for a pre-application consultation meeting under Section 177E (1A) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), and the meeting was held on the October 11 last.

“Preparation of the requisite material to accompany the Substitute Consent application is currently being prepared by the Department’s consultants. The timeframe for this may take up to twelve months.

“On completion of the required steps an application will be made to An Bord Pleanála for permission to complete the Ros an Mhíl Deep Water Quay Project. There is no statutory period under which An Bord Pleanála must decide on the application,” a Department spokesperson said.

The development was to facilitate offshore wind energy infrastructure, but Mr Sweetman successfully argued the extension of planning permission was illegal.

Mr Sweetman, in a statement to the Connacht Tribune this week, said: “At the moment we have won the case, there is no (planning) permission (for the deepwater quay). I presume that they will make an application. We are awaiting their movements. The ball is in their court. The site has no permission.”

Pictured: Peter Sweetman: at the moment we have won the case.