The Infrastructure Minister wants to "robustly scrutinise" the Dalradian Gold Mine application as she prepares to request a public inquiry.
Minister Nicola Mallon will formally request that the Planning Appeals Commission hold the inquiry into the planning application for the controversial project in Co Tyrone, which was submitted to the Department for Infrastructure in 2017.
Over 40,000 representations from the public have been made regarding the application.
The Department has also called in two other planning applications from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Derry and Strabane District Council regarding two powerlines connected to the gold mine project.
Minister Mallon said: “In June 2020 I announced that the Dalradian Gold Mine project at Greencastle, County Tyrone would be the subject of an independent Public Inquiry. I am now satisfied that sufficient detail, consultee responses and representations have been provided to allow for robust scrutiny of the application in a public forum and that we should move as soon as practicable to the Public Inquiry phase in processing this application.
“I have therefore directed that my officials formally request a Public Inquiry to be held by the Commission. The Inquiry will consider a number of related applications including the gold mine minerals planning application and the two associated powerline applications. It will also consider the proposed abandonment of the Crockanboy Road, known locally as the ‘Green Road’.
“The handling of the Public Inquiry phase will be a matter for the Commission which will include providing all parties with the arrangements.
“Once the inquiry is completed I will carefully consider the findings of the Inquiry before reaching a decision.”
