On receiving the railway order application An Bord Pleanála may at its discretion hold an oral hearing in relation to the Railway Order application. This procedure replaces the previously mandatory ‘public inquiry’ which was required to be held by an appointee of the Minister of Transport upon receipt of a railway order application.
An Bord Pleanála appoints an inspector who will chair the oral hearing and submit a report setting out the findings of the oral hearing and any recommendations considered appropriate in relation to the application. An Bord Pleanála will then decide whether to grant a railway order and what conditions to attach thereto. The Railway Order comes into effect 8 weeks after the decision is issued unless judicial review proceedings are brought within that period.
A Guide to Public Participation is available on An Bord Pleanála's website, to view this, please click here.
For more information on the Railway Order process and to visit the An Bord Pleanála website please click here.