Tipperary County Council grants permission for 3.2-hectare solar farm at Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Cashel Road, Co. Tipperary

In context

It is one of 20 solar farm applications Tipperary County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 337 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% 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 24 March 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

a) the construction of four new extensions with a total combined floor area of 2,522.50m², comprising - (i) extension 1 (2,367m²), a part single storey and part two storey extension to the west of the existing school building. Extension 1 comprises a 4 no. classroom SEN base, 6 no. general classrooms, 4 no. specialist classrooms, 3 no. SET rooms, as well as storage, toilets, locker/social spaces, and other ancillary accommodation. Extension 1 is connected to the existing school by two short link corridors. Extension 1 includes solar PV panels on the roof; (ii) extension 2 (58.5m²) and extension 3 (58.5m²), both single storey extensions located within a service yard to the east of the existing school building. Extensions 2 and 3 are both technology preparation rooms and are attached directly to existing technology classrooms, and; (iii) extension 4 (38.5m²), a single storey external store extension; b) demolition of part of the existing service yard, including four small stores (total area 67.4m²); c) construction of a new 2.1m high rendered wall and vehicular gates to the modified service yard, and construction of a new covered storage area; d) modifications and extension to the existing car park to provide additional car parking spaces and an SEN set down area; e) two new covered bicycle shelters and relocation of the two existing covered bicycle shelters; f) provision of a new heat pump compound enclosed in 2.1m high palisade fencing; g) construction of an SEN enclosed play area and a sensory garden; h) all ancillary site development works, including new hard and soft landscaping, an underground firefighting static storage tank, a swale and a soakaway, and i) all associated site services, including external lighting and EV charging