Ireland Case Law

Save the South Leinster Way and Tara Heavey v An Coimisiún Pleanála, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Ireland, the Attorney General and Springfield Renewables Ltd (No. 3)

High Court judicial review of a wind-farm permission: the Court found missing site-specific conservation objectives made the assessment defective, but refused certiorari on harmless-error grounds.

• Site-specific conservation objectives
• Habitats directive
• Appropriate assessment
• Harmless error
• Certiorari
• Declaratory relief

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Wild Ireland Defence CLG v An Coimisiún Pleanála and Ors [No. 2]

The High Court held that the Board erred by carrying out an appropriate assessment without site-specific conservation objectives for Gearagh SPA, but refused certiorari as the error was harmless.

• Appropriate assessment
• Site-specific conservation objectives
• Habitats directive
• Birds directive
• Certiorari
• Declaratory relief

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Leamlara Preservation Group and Califf Delaney v An Coimisiún Pleanála, Ballysallagh Solar Farm Limited and Cork County Council

The High Court dismissed a planning judicial review over a solar farm permission, rejecting pleaded EIA, AA, project-splitting and bats challenges, and holding relief would be refused in discretion in any event.

• Planning permission
• Eia screening
• Appropriate assessment
• Project splitting
• Pleading requirements
• Expertise of decision-maker

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Milner and Anor -v- An Coimisiún Pleanála and Anor

The High Court dismissed a judicial review of solar farm permission, holding the project was not subject to EIA and that alleged screening defects did not invalidate the decision.

• Eia screening
• Appropriate assessment
• Development plan policy
• Renewable energy development
• Reasons for administrative decisions
• Discretionary refusal of relief

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Rogers v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved)

Rogers v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved) [2026] IEHC 257 (28 April 2026)

High Court judicial review over a road bypass planning decision. The court rejected claims that the Commission lacked sufficient expertise and refused relief.

• Environmental impact assessment
• Duty of candour
• Expertise of decision-maker
• Appropriate assessment
• Judicial review pleadings
• Judicial-review

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Connolly and Anor v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Ors (Approved)

Connolly and Anor v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Ors (Approved) [2026] IEHC 224 (17 April 2026)

Judicial review of a planning approval for a substation and grid connection serving a solar farm failed. The High Court found no legal error, irrationality, or failure to consider relevant matters.

• Judicial review of planning decisions
• Strategic infrastructure development
• Environmental impact assessment
• Appropriate assessment
• Development plan compliance
• Standing and procedural requirements

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Friends of the Irish Environment CLG v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Ors (Approved)

Friends of the Irish Environment CLG v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Ors (Approved) [2026] IEHC 205 (01 April 2026)

The High Court upheld planning permission for a 600MW gas-fired power plant and battery storage project in Kerry, rejecting climate and environmental law challenges.

• Strategic infrastructure development
• Environmental impact assessment
• Appropriate assessment
• Climate action
• Sustainable development
• Habitats directive

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Rural Residents Wind Aware and Environmental Group and Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Ors [II] [No. 2] (Approved)

Rural Residents Wind Aware and Environmental Group and Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Ors [II] [No. 2] (Approved) [2026] IEHC 136 (06 March 2026)

The High Court dismissed a judicial review challenge to a section 146B wind farm amendment decision, holding that public participation was not triggered and no invalidity was shown.

• Public participation
• Appropriate assessment
• Material alteration
• Conservation objectives
• Judicial review
• Environmental impact assessment

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Hoctor and Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved) (Rev1)

Hoctor and Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved) (Rev1) [2026] IEHC 65 (10 February 2026)

The High Court granted declaratory relief for failure to publish an ecologist’s report, but otherwise rejected the judicial review challenge to wind farm permission.

• Judicial review
• Planning permission
• Environmental impact assessment
• Appropriate assessment
• Material contravention
• Public participation

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Moss and Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved)

Moss and Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved) [2026] IEHC 62 (10 February 2026)

Judicial review challenge to a solar farm permission failed. The High Court rejected claims about EIA, development plan validity, and planning notice defects.

• Judicial review of planning decisions
• Environmental impact assessment (eia)
• Appropriate assessment
• Public participation
• Development plan validity
• European union environmental directives

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