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A DECISION by Kerry County Council to grant planning permission for a café on the Great Blasket has opened the way for the State’s purchase of the island.

The green light for the café has been given to the company An Blascaod Mór Teo.

Seventeen of the 25 holdings on the island are owned by Blascaod Mór Teo.

The company has been in negotiations with the Government for several years but wanted planning for developments on the island including a café before reaching a final agreement on its sale.

Dingle solicitor and An Blascaod Mór Teo director Peter Callery welcomed the granting of planning and said they were accepting conditions attached.

However eight parties have expressed reservations to the council about granting planning permission and it is likely that some will lodge an appeal with An Bord Pleanála.

The decision to grant planning was welcomed by the Office of Public Works which has been negotiating on behalf of the Government.