An Bord Pleanála has given Bord na Móna permission to continue to operate a Co. Offaly power station for another seven years despite concerns over possible environmental damage to the Bog of Allen and EU protected rivers.
A document published this morning, shows that An Board Pleanála's Senior Inspector Derek Daly had turned down the application for planning for Edenderry Power Plant last February.
Mr Daly then concluded that it was not clearly demonstrated that the development would not give rise to significant adverse effects on the environment in terms of scale and significance.
An Bord Pleanála did not adopt his decision however, and they investigated further to see the environmental impact of the peat burning power station which resulted in the submission of a revised investigative report in July.
An Bord Pleanála says the station should be decommissioned in seven years time, unless an alternative use is found for it.
An Taisce who are against the decision said "Continuation of peat extraction and burning for electricity Ireland is irreconcilable with achieving the emission reductions required under the Paris Agreement or for Ireland meet its EU 2020 and 2030 targets and take on its fair share in global climate action."