THE CONTROVERSIAL Corrib gas project may be the subject of another oral hearing after extensive additional information, requested by An Bord Pleanála, is provided by Shell later this week.
"After assessing the information, the board will then make a decision as to whether an oral hearing is appropriate, in this case involving the onshore rerouting of the Corrib gas project," a planning board spokesman said yesterday.
Six weeks ago the board asked Shell consultants RPS to provide further information on the development's impact on the stability of the ground in the area. The modified onshore pipeline route runs from a landfall site at Glengad under Dooncarton mountain, where there was a series of major landslides in September 2003.
It has also requested information on potential habitat impact and the effects of the "extensification" of the wellfields.
Separately yesterday, Shell to Sea campaigners tried to board the ship to be used for Corrib gas offshore pipelaying. Five men in four kayaks paddled to the Solitaireoff Killybegs, Co Donegal, in a bid to persuade the skipper and crew to stay away from Broadhaven Bay, off Co Mayo.
Security guards prevented them initially from boarding, but eventually three protesters with an Irish Tricolour climbed a ladder to hand over a letter for delivery to skipper Simon Van der Plicht.