Gold mine: The row over years-long Dalradian plan

The inquiry was ordered by former infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon in 2020.

It was scheduled to start last year but confusion over two licence applications relating to water abstraction and storage brought proceedings to a halt.

The Planning Appeals Commission public hearings will now begin on Monday and continue until the end of March.

The first two days will cover strategic matters and the principle of development, with representations from Fermanagh and Omagh and Derry City and Strabane district councils.

The inquiry will then examine environmental and public health issues including air quality, lighting, noise, radon, vibration and electric and magnetic fields.

The second week will consider the impact on water, water ecology and peat.

Hearings will then resume at the end of February looking at the landscape and visual impact and non-water ecology.

In March the topics for the inquiry include the mine waste plan, health and safety, culture and heritage, socio-economic matters, climate and transport.

The planning commissioners will then make recommendations, but it will be up to ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive to decide whether planning permission is granted.