Hanlonstown, Navan, Co. Meath

What’s proposed

EXTENSION OF DURATION NA201153 - the proposal involves the development of two ventilation shafts that will provide ventilation to an underground exploration tunnel and enable further exploration. The development works will consist of: Raise-bore drilling two vertical 4.5-meter diameter shafts (to be known as Return Air Raise (RAR) 6 and RAR 7) reamed from a depth below ground of c. 1,000 meters to surface. The proposed shafts will connect to an underground fan station that will draw air from the extant exploration tunnel and exhaust it to surface. At surface level, the development site will occupy an area of approximately 90 m x 120 m bounded by a 2.5 m high boundary fence, service and access roads and all ancillary site works. Each shaft will be fitted with a deflection hood (5.7 m x 5.7 m x 8.8 m) that will direct airflow horizontally into a 6.5 m earthen berm. An Environmental Report for the development will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the planning application. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for the development has been prepared and will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the planning application