Businessman Mr Donal Kinsella who recently succeeded in having 47 acres at Woodland, Dunleer, Co Louth rezoned for commercial and industrial use is seeking planning permission from Louth County Council to build what would be the State's first motorway service station.
The lands in question are adjacent to the M1 motorway, which at 72 kilometres is the longest single stretch of motorway in the State linking north Dublin to Dundalk, and there have been many calls by politicians and hauliers for a motorway service station.
Mr Kinsella is the chairman of the South Louth Cumann of Fianna Fáil and the recent rezoning of his lands is estimated to have increased their value by up to €9 million.
They were included in the development plan for Dunleer which itself has been the source of heated debate and controversy.
The lands were three times the subject of unsuccessful planning applications for a retail outlet centre but this week Mr Kinsella indicated he would now be seeking planning permission from the council to build a motorway service station at Woodland junction, Dunleer.
It is believed that the application relates to some of the land that was rezoned.
In addition to a petrol forecourt and delicatessen it would include a restaurant, tourist information office and parking for 80 cars, 20 trucks and six coaches.
An advert, indicating Mr Kinsella would be applying for planning permission, appeared in this week's Drogheda Independent and he has two weeks from the publication date to lodge his application.
The National Roads Authority said that at the moment the frequency of junctions and interchanges on existing motorways means there is "ready access" to villages and towns.
However with the motorway network continuing to expand "the possibility of providing a rest station is under review".
Planners in Louth are expected to seek the opinion of the NRA.