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High Court challenge has been brought against An Bórd Pleanála’s decision to give the go-ahead for a data centre in Co Meath.

The action has been brought by Mannix Coyne and his daughter Amy Coyne, who live at Bracetown, Clonee, Co Meath, close to the 24.5-hectare site where permission has been given to allow EngineNode Ltd build a data centre.

At the High Court on Wednesday, Mr Justice Garrett Simons, granting them permission to bring their judicial review proceedings, said the case raised important points of domestic and EU law.

The proposed centre includes four two-storey data storage buildings, offices as well as associated roads and a car park. If constructed it is claimed that the centre will require of 180 megawatts of electricity per year and will generate an estimated 1 per cent of Ireland’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions.

The Coynes, claim the planning authority’s decision in early July granting planning permission is flawed, invalid and should be set aside.

Represented by barrister Jon Kenny, instructed by solicitor Gabriel Toolan, the Coynes claim the decision does not comply with planning regulations, the 2000 Planning and Development Act and the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments.

Read the full Irish Times aritcle here