An Bord Pleanála has given the green light to one of the State's biggest employers to build a 16,000 square metre extension to its existing facilities.

The planning board has approved micro-processor manufacturer Intel's application to build a new wafer fabrication plant on its 150-acre site in Leixlip, Co Kildare.

However, a company spokeswoman said yesterday that the company has no immediate plans to build the facility, which was the subject of the planning application.

She explained that the company had simply applied for planning permission in order to ensure that it had the go-ahead if its US-based parent wanted to build further manufacturing facilities.

"We do not have any project associated with this development at this time," the spokeswoman said.

If it is built, the new facility will be known as Fab 24.3.

The company recently built Fab 24.2 at Leixlip.

While it had expected to receive IDA Ireland grant-aid for the jobs that would be created at that facility, the €170 million grant application was withdrawn after the EU Commission indicated it would be opposed.

The spokeswoman was not in a position to say if the bar on grants for job creation would affect its parent's future plans for extending the Irish operation.

Heritage group, An Taisce, had the matter referred to An Bord Pleanála as it was seeking to have a number of conditions imposed on the development.

These dealt with traffic management and preserving the flood plain of the nearby Rye Water, a tributary of the Liffey.

The planning board is demanding that the Rye's flood plain be preserved, and says that the plans deal adequately with traffic issues.

The company sought and got planning for two multi-storey car parks at the plant.

Ian Lumley, heritage officer with An Taisce welcomed the board's decision yesterday.