It has been confirmed that a decision on a proposed ring road in Galway city has been put back for at least six weeks.
An Bord Pleanála has now set a date of 19 November as the target for a ruling on the project.
The planning board is still considering evidence given during the course of a lengthy oral hearing into the application last year.
After a number of earlier deferrals, a decision had expected by the end of this week.
The N6 Ring Road plan follows a failed attempt to construct a bypass of Galway city more than a decade ago.
Three years ago, Galway County Council submitted a formal planning application for the new 18km route through the city.
The proposed road would cost €600m. It would run from a location close to the existing M6 motorway, to a site west of the village of Bearna.
Compulsory Acquisition Notices have been issued to around 500 landowners along the route. The project would entail the demolition of 44 properties, around 40 of which are occupied at present.
Galway County Council estimates the road would take three years to construct and would involve a number of tunnels, as well as a viaduct over the River Corrib, on lands north of NUI Galway.
