Environment group challenges permission for new Dursey Island cable car system

An environmental organisation is bringing a High Court challenge seeking to quash planning permission granted for the development of a new cable car system connecting Co Cork’s Beara Peninsula and Dursey Island.

An Bord Pleanála granted Cork County Council approval in November for the decommissioning of the existing cableway structure and the construction of a two-way cableway with operating stations, a mainland exhibition centre, a cafe and a car park.

The current cableway facilitates the operation of a single six-person cable car used by some 20,400 visitors each year, according to planning documents. The new cable cars would be able to carry 15 people each, with monthly users capped at 5,000.

Mr Justice Richard Humphreys gave leave to the Friends of the Irish Environment Limited (FIE) permitting it to proceed with its judicial review challenge over the planning permission. He adjourned the matter to a later date.

In a sworn statement, Kieran Cummins, director of the group, said the environment where the infrastructure is being placed is “highly sensitive” with both the island and mainland sides captured within the Beara Peninsula Special Protection Area (SPA).

Social media impact

He said he believed the popularity of social media sites such as Instagram had generated a “new level of interest in the drama and beauty” of Dursey Island in recent times.

FIE, represented by Oisin Collins SC, instructed by O’Connell & Clarke Solicitors, is challenging the board’s decision on a number of domestic and European law grounds.

It claims the board “erred” in concluding that the development does not adversely affect the integrity of European sites when this allegedly could not have been ascertained beyond reasonable scientific doubt.

It alleges the board does not scientifically justify its reasons for setting a monthly limit of 5,000 visitors and said the estimated 60,000 annual visitors is a “very significant increase” in traffic to Dursey Island.

The applicant also claims the board failed to properly provide any actual assessment either in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Appropriate Assessment (AA) as required by national and European Union law.

As well as a quashing order, FIE seeks various declarations, including that the State failed to properly transpose sections of the European Birds Directive by failing to put in place special conservation measures to ensure the survival and reproduction of the chough and gull-like Northern Fulmar birds in connection with the Beara Peninsula SPA.

FIE’s case is against An Bord Pleanála, Ireland and the Attorney General, while Cork County Council is a notice party.