Clare County Council will make a decision on Donald Trump's planned sea protection barrier in Doonbeg after all.
An Bord Pleanala has decided that the project does not amount to strategic infrastructure.
The 10 million euro, 2.8km sea wall had been referred to An Bord Pleanala by Clare County Council for a determination on whether it amounts to strategic infrastructure.
If this had been the case, then the application would have gone directly to the national planning authority.
An artist's impression of how the wall would look after five years
However, they've now decided that the works don't meet the necessary criteria.
While recognising the five-star resort as being a valuable economic asset, An Bord Pleanala inspector Karla McBride says it is a private facility which does not attract passing tourist trade on any sort of regional scale.
The ruling means that a planning application will now have to be made to Clare County Council in the first instance.
The decision has been welcomed by Trump Doonbeg, who have told Clare FM that they understand why Clare County Council had to refer the matter to An Bord Pleanala.
However, a spokesman says the company is pleased with the decision, calling the project a local issue for the business and the community.
