An Bord Pleanála to make final call on drugs centre appeal

An Bord Pleanála is expected to make a decision very shortly on whether to appeal the High Court ruling quashing the Bord's decision to block development of the Narconon facility.
The Bord's decision to halt the development of a drug rehabilitation facility for the Scientology-linked group, Narconon was quashed in a high court ruling three weeks ago.
Chris Clarke, secretary, an Bord Pleanála said this week the board is working with its lawyers at present. “No final decision has been taken and further legal advice is awaited. A decision is due very soon,” he said.
The Narconan Trust had sought a judicial review of an An Bord Pleanála ruling that they needed planning permission for a change of use at the facility in Ballivor that was originally intended to be used as a nursing home.
Narconon Trust purchased the property in Ballivor after Meath Co Council confirmed, in a Section 5 Declaration in September 2016, that planning permission was not required for a change of use from a nursing home to a residential drug rehabilitation centre. Consequently, the building was developed as a modern alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre. 
More than two years later, when construction work on the building was nearly complete, An Bord Pleanála made a contradictory declaration.