Readymix Ltd today received permission from An Bord Pleanála to build a concrete manufacturing plant Barretstown Gang Camp in Co Kildare.
An Bord Pleanála granted the planning permission despite health concerns for children who attend Paul Newman's Hole-in-the-Wall project to give holidays to children who might be terminally ill.
A member of the Barretstown Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Ian Fraser, wrote to Kildare County Council objecting to the proposal.
"Currently at Barretstown we offer these children (at risk) a programme based on excellence in a clean and dust-free environment," the letter said."If the proposed quarry is approved we can no longer guarantee these children a dust-free environment where pulmonary function can be maintained. This would ultimately result in these children not experiencing ten days of magic at Barretstown".
The plan by Readymix (Dublin) Ltd entails the extraction of sand and gravel over an area of 35.5 hectares, new vehicular accesses and access road, a concrete batching plant and ancillary development works on an overall site of 49.5 hectares.
Opposition centered on the impact of the development on local amenities, traffic, property prices, and public health, including the health of the 1,500 children from throughout Europe who attend the camp each year.