Butterfly group objects to ESB and Bord na Móna solar farm project

Butterfly expert Jesmond Harding said the solar farm’s site at Drehid in Kildare is the only known breeding site for the Small Skipper butterfly in Ireland.

150 people are to be employed during the 25-month construction phase and the solar farm will be operational for 35 years if the scheme secures the green light. File picture.

Concerns around the fate of the Small Skipper and Marsh Fritillary butterflies have delayed An Bord Pleanála making a ruling on plans for a large scale solar farm for Co Kildare.

An Bord Pleanála was due to make a decision on the Bord na Móna and the ESB application in recent days.