Apple is trying to fast-track its €850 million Irish data centre
The west Ireland data centre is facing an 18 month delay after three Irish residents - Allan Daly, Sinead Fitzpatrick, and Brian McDonagh - appealed against a local planning body giving the development the green light in August.
Apple has reportedly asked the High Court to put the dispute on a "commercial list," which is a dedicated court division designed to deal with legal disputes that have more than €1 million (£900,000) at stake.
The High Court will consider the motion on November 7. If it agrees, then the dispute will likely be settled within six months.
Apple wants to build eight data halls on a 500-acre site in Derrydonnell Forest, which is owned by state-sponsored forestry firm Coillte, and situated roughly three miles from Athenry.
Apple first announced the data centre in February 2015, saying at the time that it will build a similar facility in Denmark, which is already well underway.
Apple wants to use the data centres to store European user data and to help power online services, including the iTunes Store, the App Store, iMessage, Maps, and Siri for customers across Europe, according to a press release.
While the vast majority of people in Athenry want Apple to go ahead with the project, there were approximately 25 people that objected when Apple asked Galway County Council for planning permission. Among other things, they argued that the data centre would:
- Disrupt local wildlife populations (notably bats and badgers)
- Increase the chances of flooding on a nearby golf course
- Increase traffic noise and pollution.
The council granted Apple planning permission last September but eight objectors took the issue to local planning body An Bord Pleanála.
Following public hearings in Galway this summer, the board finally gave Apple the go-ahead to build the facility in August. Apple appeared to be home and dry.
However, three objectors have refused to accept An Bord Pleanála's decision. They've asked the High Court for a judicial review on environmental grounds, something that could delay the project by a year and a half.
Apple has reportedly told senior State officials in Ireland that it is concerned about the impact of a judicial review.
Apple has said up to 150 people will work in the data centre when it is complete, adding that other jobs will be created during the construction phase.
Local politicians, including Fine Gael TD Ciarán Cannon, have campaigned for the data centre to go ahead and a Facebook group called "Athenry for Apple" has also been set up. At the time of writing it had 1,621 members. Athenry has a population of just more than 5,000 residents.