THE MINISTER FOR the Environment Phil Hogan has granted a foreshore licence to Shell E&P Ireland Limited (SEPIL) for construction the final stretch of the Corrib Gas Pipeline, subject to conditions.

The application for the licence was submitted in July of last year. Terry Nolan, Managing Director for SEPIL, said in a statement today that the company welcomed the decision, describing the decision as “good for Mayo and Ireland.”

The approval of the application will allow Shell to construct an 8km stretch of pipeline that will link the Corrib field, off the Mayo coast, with the terminal building located in Ballinaboy, reports the Irish Times.

The application had caused controversy among some local groups, however the Minister today said that he had made his decision “pursuant to the provisions of the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2009″ and having “regard to the submissions received during the public consultation procedures; the submissions received from prescribed bodies; and the conclusions and recommendations of the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), and the advice of his department”.

In one of his final acts as acting minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Carey approved the construction of the Corrib Gas pipeline.

A spokesman for a campaign group against the project, Terence Conway, told RTÉ: “We’ll continue to do everything we can to stop the project going ahead”.

The letter of notification to the applicant and supporting documentation are available on the department’s website here.