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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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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Joyce v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved)

Joyce v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Anor (Approved) [2026] IEHC 85 (16 February 2026)

The High Court refused costs protection under section 50B for a judicial review over a CPO tied to the Connemara Greenway, finding the CPO was not development consent.

• Compulsory purchase order
• Costs protection
• Environmental impact assessment
• Habitats directive
• Judicial review
• Judicial-review

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Wild Ireland Defence CLG v An Coimisiun Pleanala & Ors (Approved) (Rev1)

Wild Ireland Defence CLG v An Coimisiun Pleanala & Ors (Approved) (Rev1) [2025] IEHC 726 (17 December 2025)

The High Court refused judicial review of a wind farm permission, rejecting language, fair procedures, and environmental law challenges.

• Judicial review
• Planning permission
• Renewable energy
• Official languages
• Appropriate assessment
• Environmental impact assessment

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Rural Residents Wind Aware and Environmental Group & Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala & Ors (Approved)

Rural Residents Wind Aware and Environmental Group & Ors v An Coimisiun Pleanala & Ors (Approved) [2025] IEHC 601 (06 November 2025)

The High Court dismissed a judicial review challenge to a s.146B amendment to a wind farm permission, rejecting arguments on materiality, bias, and EU law.

• Judicial review
• Planning permission
• Strategic infrastructure development
• Habitats directive
• Eia directive
• Public participation

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Save The South Leinster Way & Anor v An Coimisiun Pleanala & Ors (Approved) (Rev1)

Save The South Leinster Way & Anor v An Coimisiun Pleanala & Ors (Approved) (Rev1) [2025] IEHC 541 (15 October 2025)

The High Court dismissed most challenges to planning permission for 21 wind turbines at Castlebanny, finding the main grounds either unpleaded, hypothetical, or failing on discretion.

• Judicial review
• Development consent
• Environmental impact assessment
• Habitats directive
• Renewable energy
• Ministerial direction

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Payne V Meath County Council, Ireland And The Attorney General (Approved)

Payne V Meath County Council, Ireland And The Attorney General (Approved) [2025] IEHC 540 (14 October 2025)

The High Court refused a stay on implementation of planning permission, holding the Planning and Development Act did not allow the court to rewrite the statutory scheme.

• Statutory interpretation
• Planning permission
• Judicial review
• Environmental impact assessment
• Habitats directive
• Public law

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Clancy & Anor v An Bord Pleanala & Ors (Approved)

Clancy & Anor v An Bord Pleanala & Ors (Approved) [2025] IEHC 528 (09 October 2025)

The High Court refused amendments to judicial review grounds and denied leave to challenge a confirmed compulsory purchase order for an Ennistymon relief road.

• Compulsory purchase order
• Judicial review procedure
• Habitats directive
• Development consent
• Proportionality
• Adequacy of compensation

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