Kerry County Council refuses permission for wind energy development at Coom, Knockatee, Co. Kerry

In context

There were 61 nationally in the past twelve months. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 23 October 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Kerry County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

WE, TAURBEG LIMITED, INTEND TO APPLY FOR PERMISSION FOR DEVELOPMENT AT THIS SITE IN THE TOWNLANDS OF COOM AND KNOCKATEE, COUNTY KERRY. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL CONSIST OF: i. PERMANENT REMOVAL OF COMMERCIAL FORESTRY (DEFORESTATION) OVER AN AREA OF APPROX. 105.5 HA AND THE RESTORATION OF OPEN PEATLAND AND CREATION OF SCRUB HABITAT WITHIN THE FELLED AREA. ii. RESTORATION OF FARMLAND HABITAT TO GOOD QUALITY HEN HARRIER FORAGING HABITAT THROUGH DIVERSIFYING THE RANGE AND EXTENT OF HABITATS OVER AN AREA OF APPROX. 17.7 HA; iii. ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS INCLUDING FENCING. THE DEVELOPMENT IS COVERED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY DIRECTIVE III (DIRECTIVE 2023/2413) [ ] YES [?] NO AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT (EIAR) AND NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT (NIS) HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND ACCOMPANY THIS PLANNING APPLICATION. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT COMPRISES OFFSETTING MEASURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE TAURBEG WIND FARM AT GLASHEENANARGID, TAURBEG AND TAURMORE, COUNTY CORK. THE ENCLOSED EIAR ASSESSES BOTH THE DEFORESTATION, HABITAT RESTORATION AND ANCILLARY WORKS PROPOSED AS PART OF THIS PLANNING APPLICATION AND ALSO THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE EXISTING TAURBEG WIND FARM AND ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF 10 YEARS IN THE TOWNLANDS OF GLASHEENANARGID, TAURBEG AND TAURMORE, COUNTY CORK. THE TAURBEG WIND FARM IS LOCATED IN A SEPARATE PLANNING JURISDICTION (CORK COUNTY COUNCIL) AND WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF A SEPARATE PLANNING APPLICATION TO THAT PLANNING AUTHORITY.