Barry Cowen: supporting €350m power plant project in Offaly

AN BORD Pleanála is to fast-track a planning application for a €350m power station in Co Offaly, which is backed by the Taoiseach's younger brother, Barry Cowen, after ruling that the project was a strategic infrastructure development.

The move means that the project could receive planning approval within months. It comes as industry sources indicated that Japanese conglomerate Mitsui may be interested in acquiring a stake in the company behind the plans, Lumcloon Energy.

Lumcloon is backed by Irish engineering firms R&R Mechanical and Terotech International.

Over 500 jobs are likely to be created during the project's construction.