Lucasfilm has been granted permission by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphries, to shoot part on the new Star Wars movie, Episode VIII, on Skellig Michael island off the coast of Kerry.

Watch An Taisce heritage officer Ian Lumley and Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys comment on Star Wars filming on Skellig Michael by clicking the link above.

The location is a UNESCO world heritage site and concerns were raised by several organisations, including An Taisce, who described the location as an area of exceptional sensitivity, and feared the bird population could be affected.

Despite their objections the Minister has decided to grant permission for filming to go ahead and said strict environmental and ecological conditions are being put in place to ensure the filming does not have a negative impact on the site and its bird life.

She told RTÉ that there will be eight return flights in total and that an ecologist will be on site to supervise the filming. According to Minister Humphries, the ecologist will have the authority to halt any filming should any concern arise.

She said that "20% of tourists visit Ireland because they have been influenced by film and that this is an opportunity to showcase Ireland to the world."

Episode VIII is directed by Rian Johnson and the cast is expected to include Oscar Winner, Benicio del Toro, though little else is known about the latest in the trilogy.

This is not the first time Lucasfilm has filmed on the island. Last year part of forthcoming Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, was shot there.

Minister Humphries added that the filming will bring a significant boost for Ireland as an international film location. The filming in 2014 employed over 70 people. The announcement has also been welcomed by the Irish Film Board.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is due for release on December 18.

