A decision on a 400 megawatt power plant for Farganstown, near Navan, Co Meath, will be the subject of a full oral hearing next month, An Bord Pleanala has confirmed.
While no date has yet been set for the hearing, the board says it is confident of making a final decision on the project by December.
Planning permission for the private plant was turned down by Meath County Council in June. The applicant was EPower, the electricity company partly owned by Esat founder Mr Denis O'Brien.
The plant was opposed by the environmental group, the Navan and Boyne Valley Environmental Forum, which has been invited by An Bord Pleanala to take part in the oral hearing.
EPower is also involved in a rival plant in north-west Dublin, which is being developed by BP Amoco in conjunction with Ireland Power, a group controlled by a US businessman, Mr Larry Thomas. EPower is investing about £100 million for its 40 per cent stake in the west Dublin plant.
The timing of a decision on the Co Meath plant is important as the Commissioner for Electricity Regulation, Mr Tom Reeves, prepares to allocate gas from the Bord Gais network to groups proposing to build gas-fired generation stations in the newly deregulated electricity market.
Mr Reeves has let it be known that he intends to approve only two or three proposed power stations on a "first to commission" basis.
In its rejection of the plant Meath County Council said the proposed site was less than 200 metres from the Boyne, in an area of high natural amenity which was listed for protection in the county development plan.
The Navan and Boyne Valley Environmental Forum has also submitted that the plant should be rejected on grounds which include public health, loss of residential amenity, visual intrusion, and damage to the river.