IT’S nearly two years since Michael and Niamh McDowell brought Roscommon CC to heel with their legal action compelling the council to rescind its impertinent blocking of planning permission for the McDowells’ country retreat in Roosky. Now, the legal bill for this confrontation has been totted up and it totals just over €400,000 for Michael’s chums in the Law Library and attendant solicitors. Earlier this year the council paid off its legal fees and they amounted to €122,512.50 to James O’Reilly SC, Patrick Butler SC and Junior Counsel Conleth Bradley BL, plus €76,876.04 to county solicitor Dermot MacDermot, amounting in total to €199,388.54. Now McDowell’s legal team, Paul Gallagher SC, Michael Collins SC, David Barniville BL, instructed by solicitors Michael McInerney & Co, have totted up the cost of their valuable time. And would you believe it, it comes to €199,384.09 – a difference of less than a fiver out of a total of €400,000 circa for both sides. The justice minister had let it be known from the roof tops that his assault on the tiny kingdom of Roscommon would also include a suit for negligence in the matter and he accused the council of acting with “misfeasance” (!) in obstructing his holiday home.
This action could well have cost another six-figure sum in legal costs as well as swingeing damages for the trauma caused to the anticipated tranquillity and peace of mind of the McDowells. As things stand, the legal bill to date that must be picked up by the 55,000 strong local citizenry amounts to over €7 for every man, woman and child in the county.
However, the good news is that McDowell’s despotic tendencies are tempered wth a benevolence hitherto unrecognised and the misfeasance action has been shelved.
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
Hanafin's concern at objections to schools upgrading
It seems people even object to schools now. This by Sean Flynn in The Irish Times:
Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin has expressed concern about a new trend which has seen members of the public raise planning objections to new or upgraded school facilities. Until recently, she said, such objections were virtually unknown.
Ms Hanafin was speaking during a special briefing on the €32 billion education package in the new National Development Plan (NDP).
She said the objections raised - especially by those living in mature areas in Dublin and other major cities - was delaying the roll-out of some new school projects. She could understand people objecting to large-scale school developments providing for up to 1,000 pupils and the extra traffic this might generate.
However, she said, some applications for temporary accommodation like prefabs were drawing objections. "People are objecting to temporary accommodation which I cannot understand because it can offer an immediate response to the educational needs of children in their own community, " she said.
At present, the department is dealing with objections raised to school building plans in several counties including Kilkenny, Galway and Westmeath. Officials said objections usually come from long-established residents in well developed areas.
Meanwhile, the failure of the department's school-building programme to keep pace with rapidly developing areas in commuter towns in west Dublin, Kildare and Meath has been widely criticised.
Officials however said yesterday that new generic school designs and closer co-operation with local authorities would speed up the process. A series of meetings is ongoing between department officials and county managers to quicken the process of site-acquisition and planning.
Twenty-two sites have been purchased for school buildings in Dublin in the past year, most of them in rapidly growing areas.
More than €5 billion will be invested in school building and modernisation during the seven years of the NDP. Of this, €2.2 billion will go to primary schools, €1.6 billion to second-level with the balance made up of public private partnerships.
In all, there will be 100,000 additional places; this should meet the projected increase in the number of primary pupils over the next seven years.
The number of second-level pupils is also expected to increase dramatically from about 2012 but Ms Hanafin said there was sufficient surplus capacity in the second-level system to cope.
Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin has expressed concern about a new trend which has seen members of the public raise planning objections to new or upgraded school facilities. Until recently, she said, such objections were virtually unknown.
Ms Hanafin was speaking during a special briefing on the €32 billion education package in the new National Development Plan (NDP).
She said the objections raised - especially by those living in mature areas in Dublin and other major cities - was delaying the roll-out of some new school projects. She could understand people objecting to large-scale school developments providing for up to 1,000 pupils and the extra traffic this might generate.
However, she said, some applications for temporary accommodation like prefabs were drawing objections. "People are objecting to temporary accommodation which I cannot understand because it can offer an immediate response to the educational needs of children in their own community, " she said.
At present, the department is dealing with objections raised to school building plans in several counties including Kilkenny, Galway and Westmeath. Officials said objections usually come from long-established residents in well developed areas.
Meanwhile, the failure of the department's school-building programme to keep pace with rapidly developing areas in commuter towns in west Dublin, Kildare and Meath has been widely criticised.
Officials however said yesterday that new generic school designs and closer co-operation with local authorities would speed up the process. A series of meetings is ongoing between department officials and county managers to quicken the process of site-acquisition and planning.
Twenty-two sites have been purchased for school buildings in Dublin in the past year, most of them in rapidly growing areas.
More than €5 billion will be invested in school building and modernisation during the seven years of the NDP. Of this, €2.2 billion will go to primary schools, €1.6 billion to second-level with the balance made up of public private partnerships.
In all, there will be 100,000 additional places; this should meet the projected increase in the number of primary pupils over the next seven years.
The number of second-level pupils is also expected to increase dramatically from about 2012 but Ms Hanafin said there was sufficient surplus capacity in the second-level system to cope.
Tralee retail park development refused by one vote
Donal Hickey in The Examiner tells us that a RETAIL park for Tralee has been turned down by Kerry County Council.
The decision was made yesterday after councillors heard businesses in the county town were being hit by a growing number of out-of-town shopping facilities.
The proposed development had been earmarked for a 13.5-acre site on the southern side of the town.
However, it took the casting vote of mayor Ted Fitzgerald, also a Tralee town councillor, to defeat the proposed rezoning, following a 12-12 tie.
As a compromise, the 13.5 acres is to be rezoned from open space to retail /warehousing on a phased basis, subject to the building of a southern ring road and as part of an overall master plan for that area of Tralee.
Earlier, the council agreed to rezone land close to the current Manor West retail park to “mixed use” so as to allow for both large-scale retail developments and residential use.
But several Tralee-based councillors later came out strongly against proposal to rezone the Manor East site, as requested by Damien Smith and Michael Daly.
Fine Gael councillor Bobby O’Connell, who proposed the rezoning, rejected suggestions it would add to traffic problems and claimed it would enhance Tralee as a regional retail destination.
Former town mayor Terry O’Brien said the town council was fighting hard to keep Tralee town centre “alive” and warned that further damage would be done to business in the town, if more retail units were allowed on the outskirts.
“We may as well put up a for sale sign in the town centre if this rezoning goes through,” said the Labour Party’s Cllr O’Brien.
He added that he supported a phased development of the land.
“How can we put the rates on people and come on a few weeks after and bring in retail park a mile from the town centre?” he asked.
Cllr Norma Foley of Fine Fáil said the council would always have to ensure that any development would not have a negative impact on the town centre. “The town centre will always be the heartbeat of the town,” she remarked.
The issue arose in the course of a debate on submissions to a strategy for the development of Tralee /Killarney hub.
County manager Martin Riordan said there was no real case for rezoning the 13.5 acres which were separate from, but close to, the existing Manor West retail park.
“What may seem like a very easy decision will be like a dog’s dinner in terms of the overall environment of Tralee and could affect the potential of the business park to take off in the future. It would be a premature decision,” he said.
The decision was made yesterday after councillors heard businesses in the county town were being hit by a growing number of out-of-town shopping facilities.
The proposed development had been earmarked for a 13.5-acre site on the southern side of the town.
However, it took the casting vote of mayor Ted Fitzgerald, also a Tralee town councillor, to defeat the proposed rezoning, following a 12-12 tie.
As a compromise, the 13.5 acres is to be rezoned from open space to retail /warehousing on a phased basis, subject to the building of a southern ring road and as part of an overall master plan for that area of Tralee.
Earlier, the council agreed to rezone land close to the current Manor West retail park to “mixed use” so as to allow for both large-scale retail developments and residential use.
But several Tralee-based councillors later came out strongly against proposal to rezone the Manor East site, as requested by Damien Smith and Michael Daly.
Fine Gael councillor Bobby O’Connell, who proposed the rezoning, rejected suggestions it would add to traffic problems and claimed it would enhance Tralee as a regional retail destination.
Former town mayor Terry O’Brien said the town council was fighting hard to keep Tralee town centre “alive” and warned that further damage would be done to business in the town, if more retail units were allowed on the outskirts.
“We may as well put up a for sale sign in the town centre if this rezoning goes through,” said the Labour Party’s Cllr O’Brien.
He added that he supported a phased development of the land.
“How can we put the rates on people and come on a few weeks after and bring in retail park a mile from the town centre?” he asked.
Cllr Norma Foley of Fine Fáil said the council would always have to ensure that any development would not have a negative impact on the town centre. “The town centre will always be the heartbeat of the town,” she remarked.
The issue arose in the course of a debate on submissions to a strategy for the development of Tralee /Killarney hub.
County manager Martin Riordan said there was no real case for rezoning the 13.5 acres which were separate from, but close to, the existing Manor West retail park.
“What may seem like a very easy decision will be like a dog’s dinner in terms of the overall environment of Tralee and could affect the potential of the business park to take off in the future. It would be a premature decision,” he said.
Planners concerned about rezoning proposal
Jimmy Woulfe in The Examinaer tells us that a HUGE planning row is looming in idyllic Adare after it was confirmed yesterday that local politicians agreed, at a private meeting, to push for the rezoning of farmland near the village for housing.
Opponents warned it could turn the hamlet into a sprawling town.
At current prices, a one-acre site within 10 minutes walk of the village centre can fetch up to €1.5 million.
Due to spiralling site costs, councillors want to develop farmland near the village to open up the housing market for locally-born people.
However, planners are concerned the proposal could damage the village which attracts visitors from all over the world.
The seven councillors, who serve the Adare area, agreed at a recent private meeting to support an amendment of the County Limerick Development plan and press for the rezoning of surrounding farmland from agricultural use to housing.
Senior council officials claim the proposal flies in the face of an expert plan drawn up by the council on the development of the picture-postcard village.
Urban design consultants, Nicholas de Jong Associates, were commissioned to compile the plan.
The confidential report, seen by the Irish Examiner, concluded there was already adequate space — approximately 150 acres to fulfil the future housing needs of Adare for the next 20 years.
However, on being given access recently to the report, councillors for the Bruff electoral area — which includes Adare — agreed to press for a review of the de Jong recommendation.
Director of planning Tom Enright said yesterday the draft plan was still being prepared. “It will be brought back to the Bruff area meeting in February. We hope to have it before the full council in March and then put it on public display in April.”
Councillors from the Bruff electoral met privately on January 15 and agreed to support a move to rezone farmland on the outskirts of the village. A number of local farmers have asked to have lands rezoned.
Rezoning is one of the few powers still retained by elected council members but it requires 75% support, at a meeting of the full council.
It is the practice of Limerick county council if councillors in an electoral area agree to rezone land, colleagues from the other electoral areas back the move.
Councillor Niall Collins, a Fianna Fáil general election candidate who is one of the Bruff electoral area councillors, said: “All seven of us are singing from the one hymn sheet on this and want the boundary of the village pushed out. As a result of the lack of suitably-priced housing for locals, Adare has the smallest percentage of under 18s in the entire Bruff electoral area.
“Only a handful of the local hurling team live in the village area. The land which we want rezoned from agriculture to housing will be ring fenced for locals or people with local connections.”
A senior official said the council was extremely concerned at the implications of land on the periphery of the village being rezoned.
He said: “The de Jong report identifies 150 acres of development land in the village area. The report suggested a gradual development of this land which would hold about 1,800 houses, eventually increasing the village population by more than 7,000.”
Converting farmland into a housing site and adding them to this equation, he said, would be a recipe for potential disaster.
The senior council source, who asked not to be named, said many local people were not aware at what was going on behind closed doors among councillors.
“If the draft county development is amended to rezone farm land, the process might take on a certain momentum which could be hard to halt,” he said.
Opponents warned it could turn the hamlet into a sprawling town.
At current prices, a one-acre site within 10 minutes walk of the village centre can fetch up to €1.5 million.
Due to spiralling site costs, councillors want to develop farmland near the village to open up the housing market for locally-born people.
However, planners are concerned the proposal could damage the village which attracts visitors from all over the world.
The seven councillors, who serve the Adare area, agreed at a recent private meeting to support an amendment of the County Limerick Development plan and press for the rezoning of surrounding farmland from agricultural use to housing.
Senior council officials claim the proposal flies in the face of an expert plan drawn up by the council on the development of the picture-postcard village.
Urban design consultants, Nicholas de Jong Associates, were commissioned to compile the plan.
The confidential report, seen by the Irish Examiner, concluded there was already adequate space — approximately 150 acres to fulfil the future housing needs of Adare for the next 20 years.
However, on being given access recently to the report, councillors for the Bruff electoral area — which includes Adare — agreed to press for a review of the de Jong recommendation.
Director of planning Tom Enright said yesterday the draft plan was still being prepared. “It will be brought back to the Bruff area meeting in February. We hope to have it before the full council in March and then put it on public display in April.”
Councillors from the Bruff electoral met privately on January 15 and agreed to support a move to rezone farmland on the outskirts of the village. A number of local farmers have asked to have lands rezoned.
Rezoning is one of the few powers still retained by elected council members but it requires 75% support, at a meeting of the full council.
It is the practice of Limerick county council if councillors in an electoral area agree to rezone land, colleagues from the other electoral areas back the move.
Councillor Niall Collins, a Fianna Fáil general election candidate who is one of the Bruff electoral area councillors, said: “All seven of us are singing from the one hymn sheet on this and want the boundary of the village pushed out. As a result of the lack of suitably-priced housing for locals, Adare has the smallest percentage of under 18s in the entire Bruff electoral area.
“Only a handful of the local hurling team live in the village area. The land which we want rezoned from agriculture to housing will be ring fenced for locals or people with local connections.”
A senior official said the council was extremely concerned at the implications of land on the periphery of the village being rezoned.
He said: “The de Jong report identifies 150 acres of development land in the village area. The report suggested a gradual development of this land which would hold about 1,800 houses, eventually increasing the village population by more than 7,000.”
Converting farmland into a housing site and adding them to this equation, he said, would be a recipe for potential disaster.
The senior council source, who asked not to be named, said many local people were not aware at what was going on behind closed doors among councillors.
“If the draft county development is amended to rezone farm land, the process might take on a certain momentum which could be hard to halt,” he said.
European Commission to consider petition on Poolbeg incinerator site
Fiona Gartland in The Irish Times tells us that the European Commission is to hear a petition today on whether EU law was breached when the Poolbeg peninsula in Dublin was chosen as the site for a waste incinerator.
The case is being taken by Fianna Fáil councillor Chris Andrews, who believes the Government did not give proper consideration to a European directive that requires it to ensure waste is disposed of without endangering human health or the environment.
Mr Andrews contends that when former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald commissioned a private consulting company to conduct a siting study in 1999, he in effect ordered the company to select the incinerator site.
By doing so, Mr Andrews said, councillors were denied their right to exercise control in the decision-making on the siting of the incinerator, and because of this, they could not ensure that the goals of the EU directive would be achieved.
In his petition to the commission, he said the Poolbeg peninsula and the surrounding residential areas of Ringsend, Sandymount and Irishtown were already subject to an "unacceptable degree of environmental pollution, accompanied by alarming noise levels and fierce odours due to industrial activity and severe traffic.
"In addition to these strains, the Dublin waste water treatment plant, which was opened on the Poolbeg peninsula in 2004 and was promised to be run at the highest of environmental and safety standards, has proven to have severe health and environmental implications," he said.
He called on the commission to ensure Ireland complied with its obligations under EU law.
Mr Andrews will be accompanied by representatives from the Combined Residents Against the Incinerator and the Ringsend-Sandymount Environmental Group at the hearing today.
The commission will then carry out its own investigation before making a decision.
The case is being taken by Fianna Fáil councillor Chris Andrews, who believes the Government did not give proper consideration to a European directive that requires it to ensure waste is disposed of without endangering human health or the environment.
Mr Andrews contends that when former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald commissioned a private consulting company to conduct a siting study in 1999, he in effect ordered the company to select the incinerator site.
By doing so, Mr Andrews said, councillors were denied their right to exercise control in the decision-making on the siting of the incinerator, and because of this, they could not ensure that the goals of the EU directive would be achieved.
In his petition to the commission, he said the Poolbeg peninsula and the surrounding residential areas of Ringsend, Sandymount and Irishtown were already subject to an "unacceptable degree of environmental pollution, accompanied by alarming noise levels and fierce odours due to industrial activity and severe traffic.
"In addition to these strains, the Dublin waste water treatment plant, which was opened on the Poolbeg peninsula in 2004 and was promised to be run at the highest of environmental and safety standards, has proven to have severe health and environmental implications," he said.
He called on the commission to ensure Ireland complied with its obligations under EU law.
Mr Andrews will be accompanied by representatives from the Combined Residents Against the Incinerator and the Ringsend-Sandymount Environmental Group at the hearing today.
The commission will then carry out its own investigation before making a decision.
Kicked into touch
Interesting case from The Dublin People:
ONE of the Northside’s best-known GAA clubs is on a collision course with its local council and residents over a new floodlighting pylon it has erected at its grounds. St Vincent’s GAA Club in Marino replaced an existing floodlighting pylon in December, with a new larger structure to help accommodate a mobile phone mast and three-metre control box.
Local residents have reacted angrily to the erection of the mast, which they claim is in breach of safety guidelines that recommend phone masts should not be placed beside schools or houses.
And Dublin City Council has already ordered St Vincent’s to remove the new pylon, because it is in breach of strict planning regulations.
St Vincent’s had a planning exemption based on erecting phone antennae on the original pylon, but not for the erection of a new bulkier structure.
The club has been given a month to comply with the request from Dublin City Council, after a letter was sent to it from the local authority’s planning enforcement officer.
However, a spokeswoman for St Vincent’s told Northside People that the club was unaware it had violated any planning rules.
Similarly, a spokeswoman for Vodafone, the mobile phone company responsible for the erection of the phone antennae on the pylon, stated that no planning regulations had been broken.
She said Vodafone was very confident of proving this to Dublin City Council and that the new pylon with mast would be retained at the grounds.
Should St Vincent’s and Vodafone’s claims prove successful, it is sure to bring an angry response from residents living beside the club.
Speaking to Northside People, Conor Horgan, from Charlemont, Griffith Avenue, Marino, said the local residents were forming a group to appeal against ‘retention’ permission for the mast, if this is applied for.
Mr Horgan said he was horrified when he noticed the new pylon with the mast going up, without any prior knowledge or consent from local residents.
“The first we knew about this was when we seen the construction equipment arriving,” Mr Horgan stated.
“This new pylon with mast was subsequently erected in a matter of days and is now domineering over our homes.
“From discussions with my neighbours, we are in shock that this could have taken place.”
Mr Horgan said the residents are extremely worried about the possible health implications of having a mast so close to their homes.
The mast is less than 20 metres from the closest houses in Charlemont estate.
Mr Horgan added that following local discussions between neighbours, it was agreed that if St Vincent’s move the mast to their second pitch, which is away from houses, local residents would not object.
Cllr Gerry Breen (FG) supports the residents and brought the issue up with Dublin City Council.
Cllr Breen said the club had no right to go ahead with the new pylon, without first contacting local residents and obtaining the proper planning permission.
The spokeswoman for St Vincent’s said, however, that the club would not have gone ahead with the pylon and mast if the health of local residents was at risk in any way.
“The club did extensive research into the possible risks, including gaining information from Government agencies and relevant health authourities,” she stated.
“We are very confident that this new mast will not pose any health risks to the residents.
“Besides that, we have a very large local juvenile base at the club and if we felt this was posing a risk to them in any way, we would not have gone ahead with it.
“Anyone with concerns can check out the relevant links on our website, paying specific attention in regard to any of the health issues with masts,” she added.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Vodafone said there has been a misconception about what exactly is, and is not, exempt from planning permission under Department of Environment guidelines.
“The guidelines specifically state that a new structure cannot be taller than the original,” she explained.
“The new pylon erected at St Vincent’s is wider than the original but it is not taller and is therefore not in breach of the regulations.
“We are happy to revert back to Dublin City Council in relation to this and are very confident that the new pylon with mast will be retained,” the spokeswoman added.
A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said the council’s Planning Enforcement Officer inspected the new floodlighting pylon and issued a warning letter to St Vincent’s.
“One of the requirements in this letter requires the removal of the unauthorised floodlighting pole together with all fixtures and fittings, including the antennae,” she said.
ONE of the Northside’s best-known GAA clubs is on a collision course with its local council and residents over a new floodlighting pylon it has erected at its grounds. St Vincent’s GAA Club in Marino replaced an existing floodlighting pylon in December, with a new larger structure to help accommodate a mobile phone mast and three-metre control box.
Local residents have reacted angrily to the erection of the mast, which they claim is in breach of safety guidelines that recommend phone masts should not be placed beside schools or houses.
And Dublin City Council has already ordered St Vincent’s to remove the new pylon, because it is in breach of strict planning regulations.
St Vincent’s had a planning exemption based on erecting phone antennae on the original pylon, but not for the erection of a new bulkier structure.
The club has been given a month to comply with the request from Dublin City Council, after a letter was sent to it from the local authority’s planning enforcement officer.
However, a spokeswoman for St Vincent’s told Northside People that the club was unaware it had violated any planning rules.
Similarly, a spokeswoman for Vodafone, the mobile phone company responsible for the erection of the phone antennae on the pylon, stated that no planning regulations had been broken.
She said Vodafone was very confident of proving this to Dublin City Council and that the new pylon with mast would be retained at the grounds.
Should St Vincent’s and Vodafone’s claims prove successful, it is sure to bring an angry response from residents living beside the club.
Speaking to Northside People, Conor Horgan, from Charlemont, Griffith Avenue, Marino, said the local residents were forming a group to appeal against ‘retention’ permission for the mast, if this is applied for.
Mr Horgan said he was horrified when he noticed the new pylon with the mast going up, without any prior knowledge or consent from local residents.
“The first we knew about this was when we seen the construction equipment arriving,” Mr Horgan stated.
“This new pylon with mast was subsequently erected in a matter of days and is now domineering over our homes.
“From discussions with my neighbours, we are in shock that this could have taken place.”
Mr Horgan said the residents are extremely worried about the possible health implications of having a mast so close to their homes.
The mast is less than 20 metres from the closest houses in Charlemont estate.
Mr Horgan added that following local discussions between neighbours, it was agreed that if St Vincent’s move the mast to their second pitch, which is away from houses, local residents would not object.
Cllr Gerry Breen (FG) supports the residents and brought the issue up with Dublin City Council.
Cllr Breen said the club had no right to go ahead with the new pylon, without first contacting local residents and obtaining the proper planning permission.
The spokeswoman for St Vincent’s said, however, that the club would not have gone ahead with the pylon and mast if the health of local residents was at risk in any way.
“The club did extensive research into the possible risks, including gaining information from Government agencies and relevant health authourities,” she stated.
“We are very confident that this new mast will not pose any health risks to the residents.
“Besides that, we have a very large local juvenile base at the club and if we felt this was posing a risk to them in any way, we would not have gone ahead with it.
“Anyone with concerns can check out the relevant links on our website, paying specific attention in regard to any of the health issues with masts,” she added.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Vodafone said there has been a misconception about what exactly is, and is not, exempt from planning permission under Department of Environment guidelines.
“The guidelines specifically state that a new structure cannot be taller than the original,” she explained.
“The new pylon erected at St Vincent’s is wider than the original but it is not taller and is therefore not in breach of the regulations.
“We are happy to revert back to Dublin City Council in relation to this and are very confident that the new pylon with mast will be retained,” the spokeswoman added.
A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said the council’s Planning Enforcement Officer inspected the new floodlighting pylon and issued a warning letter to St Vincent’s.
“One of the requirements in this letter requires the removal of the unauthorised floodlighting pole together with all fixtures and fittings, including the antennae,” she said.
Monday, 29 January 2007
2007 Sustainable Energy Awards
The annual Sustainable Energy Awards are intended to encourage, recognise and reward excellence in energy management.
The awards focus on the individuals and groups who demonstrate a commitment to include energy management as part of their overall management structure and provide an opportunity for organisations - regardless of size - to gain public recognition for their achievements in reducing energy use and emissions.
The 2007 Sustainable Energy Awards will be launched on 7th February at the Heritage Hotel Portlaoise. Delegates will have an opportunity to hear from 2006 winners and participate in energy workshops.
Attendance is free. However, early registration is recommended as spaces are limited.
To attend the launch - or learn more about the awards - contact:
Deirdre Farrelly
Email: deirdre.farrelly@sei.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1 8082087.
The awards focus on the individuals and groups who demonstrate a commitment to include energy management as part of their overall management structure and provide an opportunity for organisations - regardless of size - to gain public recognition for their achievements in reducing energy use and emissions.
The 2007 Sustainable Energy Awards will be launched on 7th February at the Heritage Hotel Portlaoise. Delegates will have an opportunity to hear from 2006 winners and participate in energy workshops.
Attendance is free. However, early registration is recommended as spaces are limited.
To attend the launch - or learn more about the awards - contact:
Deirdre Farrelly
Email: deirdre.farrelly@sei.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1 8082087.
SEI event - European Perspective on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) contains a range of provisions aimed at improving energy performance in residential and non-residential buildings - both new-build and existing.
The EPBD obliges specific forms of information and advice on energy to be provided to building purchasers, tenants and users. The intention is that this information and advice will help consumers make informed decisions leading to practical actions to improve energy performance.
The European Commission encourages and supports dialogue between Members States through the Concerted Action (CA) programme. Concerted Action - funded by the Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme of DG TREN - works in certification of buildings, inspection of boilers and air-conditioning systems, procedural aspects for energy performance characterisation and specification and training requirements for experts and inspectors.
Participants of the Concerted Action Programme are representatives of national governmental ministries or governmental affiliated institutions from 25 countries that are in charge of preparing the technical, legal and administrative framework for transposing and implementing the EPBD in their own country.
On 24th January 2007, contributors to the Concerted Action met in Dublin. To coincide with this meeting, SEI organised an EPBD information event in Dublin. The target audience was made up of Irish building professionals - particularly those involved in non-residential and public sector buildings. A number of speakers from EU member states shared their experience of the introduction of the EPBD.
The EPBD obliges specific forms of information and advice on energy to be provided to building purchasers, tenants and users. The intention is that this information and advice will help consumers make informed decisions leading to practical actions to improve energy performance.
The European Commission encourages and supports dialogue between Members States through the Concerted Action (CA) programme. Concerted Action - funded by the Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme of DG TREN - works in certification of buildings, inspection of boilers and air-conditioning systems, procedural aspects for energy performance characterisation and specification and training requirements for experts and inspectors.
Participants of the Concerted Action Programme are representatives of national governmental ministries or governmental affiliated institutions from 25 countries that are in charge of preparing the technical, legal and administrative framework for transposing and implementing the EPBD in their own country.
On 24th January 2007, contributors to the Concerted Action met in Dublin. To coincide with this meeting, SEI organised an EPBD information event in Dublin. The target audience was made up of Irish building professionals - particularly those involved in non-residential and public sector buildings. A number of speakers from EU member states shared their experience of the introduction of the EPBD.
Engineers Ireland allays concerns that NDP will boost inflation
Concerns expressed about excessive construction inflation and cost overruns in respect of the new €184 billion National Development Plan are being over-stated - according to the Director General of Engineers Ireland, Kevin Kernan.
"While it is understandable that this matter should be raised, the clear record of the last couple of years in respect of major infrastructural projects in terms of timely delivery and being on budget, highlights the expertise now built up in the engineering and allied sectors" - he said.
Mr. Kernan said that the threat to the timely delivery of key elements of the new NDP should not be understated either - and "it remains to be seen if the Strategic Infrastructure Act - specifically aimed at speeding up the planning process, including processing objections - can achieve a real breakthrough when these problems arise."
He added - "In order to ensure value for money in the NDP, it will be vital that projects are clearly defined and scoped prior to tendering. Recent experience has indicated that demand for infrastructure has usually been underestimated - so, it is essential that this time around, capacity is provided ahead of demand."
The Engineers Ireland Director General also warmly welcomed the emphasis in the new Plan on achieving balanced regional development - and the focus on further ICT and broadband development, as vital to achieving the goal of transforming Ireland into a knowledge economy.
"It is essential that the NDP is closely linked to the key elements of the National Spatial Strategy - updated in line with data from last year's census."
"While it is understandable that this matter should be raised, the clear record of the last couple of years in respect of major infrastructural projects in terms of timely delivery and being on budget, highlights the expertise now built up in the engineering and allied sectors" - he said.
Mr. Kernan said that the threat to the timely delivery of key elements of the new NDP should not be understated either - and "it remains to be seen if the Strategic Infrastructure Act - specifically aimed at speeding up the planning process, including processing objections - can achieve a real breakthrough when these problems arise."
He added - "In order to ensure value for money in the NDP, it will be vital that projects are clearly defined and scoped prior to tendering. Recent experience has indicated that demand for infrastructure has usually been underestimated - so, it is essential that this time around, capacity is provided ahead of demand."
The Engineers Ireland Director General also warmly welcomed the emphasis in the new Plan on achieving balanced regional development - and the focus on further ICT and broadband development, as vital to achieving the goal of transforming Ireland into a knowledge economy.
"It is essential that the NDP is closely linked to the key elements of the National Spatial Strategy - updated in line with data from last year's census."
DAA to host information session on €2bn Airport Development Plan
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is to brief construction firms on its €2bn capital development plan for Dublin Airport.
The event - which is open to all interested firms - takes place on February 14th 2007 at the Carlton Dublin Airport Hotel and is aimed at giving companies, interested in bidding for work, an overview of the DAA's capital plans for the next three years and the types of contracts that will go out to tender during that period. About €1.2bn of the €2bn capital programme will be delivered over the next three years.
The event will also explain the innovative multi-package contract system that is being used for the €600m-plus T2 project at Dublin Airport. The project - which includes a 75,000sq m terminal building, a 24,000sq m pier building, apron works and a wide range of other campus upgrades - is being broken up into 16 separate packages, each of which is being tendered separately.
Mark Foley, the Director of Capital Programmes with the DAA, said that while this type of multi-package approach is rarely used in the Irish market, it is becoming common in large aviation construction contracts overseas and has been used successfully at Heathrow's T5 project.
"By dividing the job into specific contracts - tailored to key disciplines within the T2 programme - our intention is to get the right company with the right skills for each of the 16 individual jobs" - Foley said. "We and our partners are focused on delivering T2 within a tight timeframe and this process also allows us to move at the required speed to have the project completed on target by the autumn of 2009."
Each of the T2 contracts - as well as all other major contracts that collectively comprise the DAA's Airport Development Programme - are being advertised under the OJEU tender process.
The information event begins at 10am on February 14th and will include presentations on the T2 project, the Dublin Airport Masterplan and the other developments that are scheduled to be delivered over the next three years. Senior DAA executives will also be on hand to answer questions on the capital development programme.
Interested parties can confirm their attendance by contacting -
Karin Morkovska at the DAA
Tel: +353 (0)1 814 5423
Email: karin.morkovska@dublinairportauthority.com
The event - which is open to all interested firms - takes place on February 14th 2007 at the Carlton Dublin Airport Hotel and is aimed at giving companies, interested in bidding for work, an overview of the DAA's capital plans for the next three years and the types of contracts that will go out to tender during that period. About €1.2bn of the €2bn capital programme will be delivered over the next three years.
The event will also explain the innovative multi-package contract system that is being used for the €600m-plus T2 project at Dublin Airport. The project - which includes a 75,000sq m terminal building, a 24,000sq m pier building, apron works and a wide range of other campus upgrades - is being broken up into 16 separate packages, each of which is being tendered separately.
Mark Foley, the Director of Capital Programmes with the DAA, said that while this type of multi-package approach is rarely used in the Irish market, it is becoming common in large aviation construction contracts overseas and has been used successfully at Heathrow's T5 project.
"By dividing the job into specific contracts - tailored to key disciplines within the T2 programme - our intention is to get the right company with the right skills for each of the 16 individual jobs" - Foley said. "We and our partners are focused on delivering T2 within a tight timeframe and this process also allows us to move at the required speed to have the project completed on target by the autumn of 2009."
Each of the T2 contracts - as well as all other major contracts that collectively comprise the DAA's Airport Development Programme - are being advertised under the OJEU tender process.
The information event begins at 10am on February 14th and will include presentations on the T2 project, the Dublin Airport Masterplan and the other developments that are scheduled to be delivered over the next three years. Senior DAA executives will also be on hand to answer questions on the capital development programme.
Interested parties can confirm their attendance by contacting -
Karin Morkovska at the DAA
Tel: +353 (0)1 814 5423
Email: karin.morkovska@dublinairportauthority.com
Good luck to the Senior Exec' interviewees for DCC
Apparently a few of the applicants for DCC's Senior Exec' interviews are using the blog for revision. I hope you all do well. Good luck, Brendan.
Sunday, 28 January 2007
Who actually gets the affordable houses?
Planners deal regularly with Part V 'Social and Affordable Housing' requirements, all understand where the social housing goes, but few know who gets the affordable housing. We hope it is people who really need it: those on very low incomes, those in jobs which require a certain location (Gardai, nurses, etc.) and so on. It seems this is wishful thinking. Kate Holmquist in The Irish Times tells us you can get one and work for Price Waterhouse Coopers or be a couple earning €100,000. Seems the housing is going to people who don't really need it. Perhaps affordable housing needs reviewing, as it is not meant to be a cheap way to get a house/apartment.
Some 40,000 affordable homes are promised, but the people at whom they are aimed are confused about the system, writes
For the smug middle classes, the very thought of one of their own turning to the local authority for housing would have caused apoplexy only a few years ago. But with the average home now costing seven times the average industrial wage and adult children coming with begging bowls looking for deposits, the 50- to 65-year-old age group have clued in to the biggest giveaway in the history of the State. Instead of remortgaging their own homes, they're telling their kids to apply for affordable housing.
Fiona Dolan, a PA with Price Waterhouse Coopers, may have grown up with four siblings in a huge house on Leinster Road in Rathmines, Dublin, but she realised she could never repeat her parents' good fortune by buying a home on the private market. She could afford a mortgage of €160,000 - considerably less than the average of €220,000.
Eight months ago, her mother asked her: "Are you feeling lucky? There's an affordable homes lottery draw coming up." Like most people, Dolan didn't know what affordable housing was. She learned that it's not social housing, which is provided by local authorities for people who can't get a mortgage. Affordable housing is for employed people with good credit whose incomes are too small to afford a mortgage in the current market. So the State does deals with developers that result in whopping discounts of 30-50 per cent on brand new homes in developments where the neighbours, perhaps to their chagrin, will have paid full price.
Dolan got lucky when she applied for 12 properties in a Dublin City Council affordable housing lottery - she is now the proud owner of a new Cosgrave-built two-bedroom apartment near Parnell Square. It cost her €250,000 - including a parking space - which is about a €100,000 discount on the full price. She has trimmed her mortgage down to an affordable €160,000 by entering into a part-purchase and part-rental scheme that will allow her to buy the council out in later years. If she sells before the mortgage is paid off, the council will claw back a portion of the value. After 20 years, she'll own the property outright and will benefit from the equity.
"I know many people in my situation who never considered affordable housing, perhaps because people don't understand it," says Dolan.
It's a good news story and one that the Government hasn't been shy about publicising. The National Development Plan (NDP), announced on Tuesday, includes 40,000 affordable homes, and the previous week 70 new affordables for Killiney and 1,000 for Lucan were announced.
It's understood that shortly there will be a further announcement of at least 500 apartments in various locations in Dublin city that the State has purchased outright under the Affordable Housing Initiative in order to cater for some of the 7,200 people on the Dublin City Council "panel" for affordable housing lottery draws.
A word about that "panel": the figure of 7,200 is misleading, as only about half of those people are realistically eligible because they could actually earn enough to get a mortgage.
Dublin City Council uses "self- verification", which means that it is up to the applicant to decide if they can actually afford an affordable house.
The council does ask to see a payslip, but apart from that it seeks no evidence that the applicant has actually gone about securing a mortgage. In some schemes, half the lottery winners haven't actually got the house in the end because they weren't financially viable. So the council draws twice as many names as it needs, then contacts them one by one until it fills every place. For people on the panel who have mortgages ready to go, the delays are frustrating.
But supply is only part of the problem. Affordable housing has been developed so fast by so many different providers that it's mostly those who know how to "play the system" who have taken advantage of it so far. "I am concerned that houses are going to people who know how to play the system. In some local authorities huge numbers of housing staff have affordable housing . . . If the staff know the rules, then the public should know the rules," says John O'Connor of the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP), a state agency that was set up 18 months ago to make the provision of affordable housing transparent and more efficient in the Greater Dublin Area.
Foreign nationals also have an edge on getting affordable housing because their own information networks are so efficient. "In some local authorities, such as South Dublin and Fingal county councils, the proportion of foreign nationals in affordable housing schemes can be 30 to 40 per cent," says O'Connor.
Foreign nationals don't seem to see a stigma around local authority housing, the way many indigenous Irish do.
"There is a stigma and we have to address it," says O'Connor. "My long-term view would be to take affordable housing away from the local authorities and have a central applications agency."
In a new housing development in Ongar, near Ongar Village outside Blanchardstown, foreign nationals have bought up a large proportion of the affordable housing because they were well-informed, says O'Connor.
Foreign nationals have snapped up 1,200sq ft houses at a price of €315,000 each, a discount of €100,000 off the full value. But, apparently, indigenous Irish are reluctant to apply because they don't want to live with foreign nationals. "If you wanted one of these houses tomorrow, you could get one. It's near a village and a train station is due to be built there shortly," says O'Connor.
Apart from the stigma, confusion about how the system works has to be addressed if everyone is to have a fair chance, he adds. Fiona Dolan says that the AHP website and Dublin City Council couldn't have been more helpful, but not everyone finds it so easy. Some of the local authority websites are difficult to navigate if you're interested in affordable housing.
O'Connor says: "I don't mind saying that the system, as it stands, is confusing. There shouldn't be different rules according to different local authorities. Different providers have different income requirements. I believe that we need flexibility so if someone can get a mortgage but is cut out because of house prices they should be targeted for affordable housing. I want to see clarity, simplicity, fairness and an equitable system where all applicants are treated the same."
Many local authorities operate on a first-come, first-served basis and the public often doesn't understand that when an ad for affordable housing is published in these areas, it's important to apply early, well before the deadline. Those in the know get houses by virtue of getting there first. "A huge number of undesirable housing developments have come about on the back of tax incentives. These include sub-quality houses and useless blocks of apartments in country villages," says Jim Power, chief economist with Friends First.
There are 100,000 families that can't afford houses, while 300,000 useless houses and apartments sit empty, according to Prof PJ Drudy, of TCD, author of Out of Reach: Inequalities in the Housing System. "It's time we started thinking of houses as homes rather than commodities," he says.
Clearly, the NDP's 40,000 affordable homes are desperately needed. "The biggest issue is whether this is achievable, because it would take a huge amount of hard work. As it stands, the system could not deliver these 40,000 houses because the system has to be re-organised," O'Connor says. As well as taking responsibility for affordable housing away from local authorities, he wants to see a fast-tracking system introduced for builders who include affordable housing in mixed schemes. This approach has worked well in Massachusetts in the US, where the affordable housing system is seen as an international beacon of good practice.
Currently, it can take five to seven years for a new housing development to come to fruition, but that could be shortened to a year or two. For some families, the waiting time could mean never being able to afford even an affordable home. Cllr Chris O'Leary of the Green Party in Cork tells of a couple, both aged 46, who have been waiting four years for a home. They've been approved for a mortgage, but with house prices rising faster than their incomes, and taking their age into account, they are worried they may no longer qualify by the time an affordable home comes up.
After a three-year wait for an affordable home in Dublin city, Michael and Rukhsana Ingle (both 32) are frustrated with the city council's lottery system, which means that someone who has been waiting for six months may get a home before someone waiting for three years. Every time the Ingles have applied, their number hasn't come up. In the last Dublin City Council lottery, 206 homes were awarded among a pool of about 3,000 eligible applicants, which put the odds of winning at 15 to one.
And bizarrely, Dublin City Council uses self-verification of eligibility for a mortgage, so that of the 7,200 people on the affordable housing panel only about 3,000 can likely get a sufficient mortgage.
The lottery aspect of it is fine if you're a winner, but if not, says Ingle: "One person gets a discount of €150,000, keeps it for 20 years and gets to keep the profit. While the other person gets no home and no money." The Ingles have their hearts set on an apartment in Longboat Quay, in the Docklands, where 11,000 new homes are being built, one fifth of them social and affordable. (So far, the social housing will be concentrated in one building, with the affordable housing in buildings mixed with full-price apartments.) But getting information about what is happening in the Docklands isn't easy. The Dublin Docklands Authority and Dublin City Council kept passing this journalist back and forth between each other for answers to my questions, even though the Dublin Docklands Authority brochure clearly states that further information is available from Dublin City Council. The AHP cleared this up - while the Docklands authority is building the scheme, the council is running the lottery for places.
The Ingles are anxious to know when Longboat Quay will be put up for lottery, and, according to the Dublin Docklands Authority, mid-2007 is now the date. The launch has been delayed over arguments about how much equity the affordable housing owners should be allowed to retain, should they choose to sell their affordable homes once their mortgages are paid off.
While prices are yet to be finalised, there will be discounts of 30 to 50 per cent on apartments worth in the region of €550,000, so interest is keen.
One view being bandied about in the Department of Environment, it is understood, is that after paying off a 20-year mortgage, the owner should keep the entire equity, as with current affordable housing schemes. However, the AHP and the Dublin Docklands Authority would like to see a substantial portion of the equity - perhaps 30-50 per cent - being returned to the Dublin Docklands Authority and "recycled" to provide further affordable housing. "We are not in the business of giving people presents," says O'Connor. "We need to be recycling equity back into the system in order to create further housing."
Taking some of the rezoning profit away from landowners and developers is another issue. The AHP is recommending that when land is rezoned for housing, the benefit of the added value should be shared between landowners, getting 40 per cent, and the public purse, which would receive 60 per cent.
This ethos is a world away from the quick-buck property deals of the not-so-distant past.
Judging by the presence of other political parties at the Green Party's well-attended conference this week, there can be little doubt that the current housing famine, in which houses sit empty while families seek homes, will be a top issue in the general election and that candidates are keen to get a handle on it.
Politicians could, however, be part of the problem. Nay-sayers who object to new developments in principle or as vote-getting exercises are holding back the development of affordable housing, asserts builder Bernard McNamara, whose McNamara Construction is building the Docklands developments. Regarded by Green TD Ciarán Cuffe as "one of the good guys", McNamara has an ambitious plan to establish a private foundation, independently run, which would build affordable housing on hundreds of acres of land he owns, but he has been frustrated by a reluctance by local authorities to take up his ideas. His overall plan to build 3,000 affordable homes embraces Castleknock, Sutton, Kildare, Blackrock, Lucan, Blanchardstown and Templeogue among other areas, but to make it happen he has to negotiate with local authorities and this can take five years. He says: "In my humble opinion, the only way to expand affordable housing is to build, and as quickly as possible."
Cuffe says that politicians are going to have to be "more open-minded" about high-density housing and moving it fast through council chambers. As economist Jim Power puts it, something is going to have to radically change, because as things are "my two kids won't be able to afford to buy a house".
Now that the middle classes are up in arms, perhaps something really will be done to solve a problem that has beleaguered the poor for generations.
Affordable housing: the numbers
16,260 people on waiting lists for affordable housing, including Dublin City, 7,000; Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, 900; Fingal, 600; South Dublin, 700; Galway city and county, 1,220; Cork city and county, 4,200; Co Kildare, 900; Co Meath, 720.
9,896 affordable homes provided between 2003 and 2006.
500 affordable apartments purchased by the State are to be offered in Dublin shortly.
Docklands: 56 affordable units, including 41 two- and three-bedroom apartments in Longboat Quay, will be allocated in mid-2007, with 30 more becoming available at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2008.
300,000 unoccupied houses and apartments built under tax incentive schemes.
100,000 individuals and families in need of homes who can't afford to buy.
40,000 additional affordable housing units proposed under the new National Development Plan.
Sources: Affordable Housing Partnership; Department of Environment; Dublin Docklands Authority; Professor PJ Drudy, Trinity College Dublin.
Some 40,000 affordable homes are promised, but the people at whom they are aimed are confused about the system, writes
For the smug middle classes, the very thought of one of their own turning to the local authority for housing would have caused apoplexy only a few years ago. But with the average home now costing seven times the average industrial wage and adult children coming with begging bowls looking for deposits, the 50- to 65-year-old age group have clued in to the biggest giveaway in the history of the State. Instead of remortgaging their own homes, they're telling their kids to apply for affordable housing.
Fiona Dolan, a PA with Price Waterhouse Coopers, may have grown up with four siblings in a huge house on Leinster Road in Rathmines, Dublin, but she realised she could never repeat her parents' good fortune by buying a home on the private market. She could afford a mortgage of €160,000 - considerably less than the average of €220,000.
Eight months ago, her mother asked her: "Are you feeling lucky? There's an affordable homes lottery draw coming up." Like most people, Dolan didn't know what affordable housing was. She learned that it's not social housing, which is provided by local authorities for people who can't get a mortgage. Affordable housing is for employed people with good credit whose incomes are too small to afford a mortgage in the current market. So the State does deals with developers that result in whopping discounts of 30-50 per cent on brand new homes in developments where the neighbours, perhaps to their chagrin, will have paid full price.
Dolan got lucky when she applied for 12 properties in a Dublin City Council affordable housing lottery - she is now the proud owner of a new Cosgrave-built two-bedroom apartment near Parnell Square. It cost her €250,000 - including a parking space - which is about a €100,000 discount on the full price. She has trimmed her mortgage down to an affordable €160,000 by entering into a part-purchase and part-rental scheme that will allow her to buy the council out in later years. If she sells before the mortgage is paid off, the council will claw back a portion of the value. After 20 years, she'll own the property outright and will benefit from the equity.
"I know many people in my situation who never considered affordable housing, perhaps because people don't understand it," says Dolan.
It's a good news story and one that the Government hasn't been shy about publicising. The National Development Plan (NDP), announced on Tuesday, includes 40,000 affordable homes, and the previous week 70 new affordables for Killiney and 1,000 for Lucan were announced.
It's understood that shortly there will be a further announcement of at least 500 apartments in various locations in Dublin city that the State has purchased outright under the Affordable Housing Initiative in order to cater for some of the 7,200 people on the Dublin City Council "panel" for affordable housing lottery draws.
A word about that "panel": the figure of 7,200 is misleading, as only about half of those people are realistically eligible because they could actually earn enough to get a mortgage.
Dublin City Council uses "self- verification", which means that it is up to the applicant to decide if they can actually afford an affordable house.
The council does ask to see a payslip, but apart from that it seeks no evidence that the applicant has actually gone about securing a mortgage. In some schemes, half the lottery winners haven't actually got the house in the end because they weren't financially viable. So the council draws twice as many names as it needs, then contacts them one by one until it fills every place. For people on the panel who have mortgages ready to go, the delays are frustrating.
But supply is only part of the problem. Affordable housing has been developed so fast by so many different providers that it's mostly those who know how to "play the system" who have taken advantage of it so far. "I am concerned that houses are going to people who know how to play the system. In some local authorities huge numbers of housing staff have affordable housing . . . If the staff know the rules, then the public should know the rules," says John O'Connor of the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP), a state agency that was set up 18 months ago to make the provision of affordable housing transparent and more efficient in the Greater Dublin Area.
Foreign nationals also have an edge on getting affordable housing because their own information networks are so efficient. "In some local authorities, such as South Dublin and Fingal county councils, the proportion of foreign nationals in affordable housing schemes can be 30 to 40 per cent," says O'Connor.
Foreign nationals don't seem to see a stigma around local authority housing, the way many indigenous Irish do.
"There is a stigma and we have to address it," says O'Connor. "My long-term view would be to take affordable housing away from the local authorities and have a central applications agency."
In a new housing development in Ongar, near Ongar Village outside Blanchardstown, foreign nationals have bought up a large proportion of the affordable housing because they were well-informed, says O'Connor.
Foreign nationals have snapped up 1,200sq ft houses at a price of €315,000 each, a discount of €100,000 off the full value. But, apparently, indigenous Irish are reluctant to apply because they don't want to live with foreign nationals. "If you wanted one of these houses tomorrow, you could get one. It's near a village and a train station is due to be built there shortly," says O'Connor.
Apart from the stigma, confusion about how the system works has to be addressed if everyone is to have a fair chance, he adds. Fiona Dolan says that the AHP website and Dublin City Council couldn't have been more helpful, but not everyone finds it so easy. Some of the local authority websites are difficult to navigate if you're interested in affordable housing.
O'Connor says: "I don't mind saying that the system, as it stands, is confusing. There shouldn't be different rules according to different local authorities. Different providers have different income requirements. I believe that we need flexibility so if someone can get a mortgage but is cut out because of house prices they should be targeted for affordable housing. I want to see clarity, simplicity, fairness and an equitable system where all applicants are treated the same."
Many local authorities operate on a first-come, first-served basis and the public often doesn't understand that when an ad for affordable housing is published in these areas, it's important to apply early, well before the deadline. Those in the know get houses by virtue of getting there first. "A huge number of undesirable housing developments have come about on the back of tax incentives. These include sub-quality houses and useless blocks of apartments in country villages," says Jim Power, chief economist with Friends First.
There are 100,000 families that can't afford houses, while 300,000 useless houses and apartments sit empty, according to Prof PJ Drudy, of TCD, author of Out of Reach: Inequalities in the Housing System. "It's time we started thinking of houses as homes rather than commodities," he says.
Clearly, the NDP's 40,000 affordable homes are desperately needed. "The biggest issue is whether this is achievable, because it would take a huge amount of hard work. As it stands, the system could not deliver these 40,000 houses because the system has to be re-organised," O'Connor says. As well as taking responsibility for affordable housing away from local authorities, he wants to see a fast-tracking system introduced for builders who include affordable housing in mixed schemes. This approach has worked well in Massachusetts in the US, where the affordable housing system is seen as an international beacon of good practice.
Currently, it can take five to seven years for a new housing development to come to fruition, but that could be shortened to a year or two. For some families, the waiting time could mean never being able to afford even an affordable home. Cllr Chris O'Leary of the Green Party in Cork tells of a couple, both aged 46, who have been waiting four years for a home. They've been approved for a mortgage, but with house prices rising faster than their incomes, and taking their age into account, they are worried they may no longer qualify by the time an affordable home comes up.
After a three-year wait for an affordable home in Dublin city, Michael and Rukhsana Ingle (both 32) are frustrated with the city council's lottery system, which means that someone who has been waiting for six months may get a home before someone waiting for three years. Every time the Ingles have applied, their number hasn't come up. In the last Dublin City Council lottery, 206 homes were awarded among a pool of about 3,000 eligible applicants, which put the odds of winning at 15 to one.
And bizarrely, Dublin City Council uses self-verification of eligibility for a mortgage, so that of the 7,200 people on the affordable housing panel only about 3,000 can likely get a sufficient mortgage.
The lottery aspect of it is fine if you're a winner, but if not, says Ingle: "One person gets a discount of €150,000, keeps it for 20 years and gets to keep the profit. While the other person gets no home and no money." The Ingles have their hearts set on an apartment in Longboat Quay, in the Docklands, where 11,000 new homes are being built, one fifth of them social and affordable. (So far, the social housing will be concentrated in one building, with the affordable housing in buildings mixed with full-price apartments.) But getting information about what is happening in the Docklands isn't easy. The Dublin Docklands Authority and Dublin City Council kept passing this journalist back and forth between each other for answers to my questions, even though the Dublin Docklands Authority brochure clearly states that further information is available from Dublin City Council. The AHP cleared this up - while the Docklands authority is building the scheme, the council is running the lottery for places.
The Ingles are anxious to know when Longboat Quay will be put up for lottery, and, according to the Dublin Docklands Authority, mid-2007 is now the date. The launch has been delayed over arguments about how much equity the affordable housing owners should be allowed to retain, should they choose to sell their affordable homes once their mortgages are paid off.
While prices are yet to be finalised, there will be discounts of 30 to 50 per cent on apartments worth in the region of €550,000, so interest is keen.
One view being bandied about in the Department of Environment, it is understood, is that after paying off a 20-year mortgage, the owner should keep the entire equity, as with current affordable housing schemes. However, the AHP and the Dublin Docklands Authority would like to see a substantial portion of the equity - perhaps 30-50 per cent - being returned to the Dublin Docklands Authority and "recycled" to provide further affordable housing. "We are not in the business of giving people presents," says O'Connor. "We need to be recycling equity back into the system in order to create further housing."
Taking some of the rezoning profit away from landowners and developers is another issue. The AHP is recommending that when land is rezoned for housing, the benefit of the added value should be shared between landowners, getting 40 per cent, and the public purse, which would receive 60 per cent.
This ethos is a world away from the quick-buck property deals of the not-so-distant past.
Judging by the presence of other political parties at the Green Party's well-attended conference this week, there can be little doubt that the current housing famine, in which houses sit empty while families seek homes, will be a top issue in the general election and that candidates are keen to get a handle on it.
Politicians could, however, be part of the problem. Nay-sayers who object to new developments in principle or as vote-getting exercises are holding back the development of affordable housing, asserts builder Bernard McNamara, whose McNamara Construction is building the Docklands developments. Regarded by Green TD Ciarán Cuffe as "one of the good guys", McNamara has an ambitious plan to establish a private foundation, independently run, which would build affordable housing on hundreds of acres of land he owns, but he has been frustrated by a reluctance by local authorities to take up his ideas. His overall plan to build 3,000 affordable homes embraces Castleknock, Sutton, Kildare, Blackrock, Lucan, Blanchardstown and Templeogue among other areas, but to make it happen he has to negotiate with local authorities and this can take five years. He says: "In my humble opinion, the only way to expand affordable housing is to build, and as quickly as possible."
Cuffe says that politicians are going to have to be "more open-minded" about high-density housing and moving it fast through council chambers. As economist Jim Power puts it, something is going to have to radically change, because as things are "my two kids won't be able to afford to buy a house".
Now that the middle classes are up in arms, perhaps something really will be done to solve a problem that has beleaguered the poor for generations.
Affordable housing: the numbers
16,260 people on waiting lists for affordable housing, including Dublin City, 7,000; Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, 900; Fingal, 600; South Dublin, 700; Galway city and county, 1,220; Cork city and county, 4,200; Co Kildare, 900; Co Meath, 720.
9,896 affordable homes provided between 2003 and 2006.
500 affordable apartments purchased by the State are to be offered in Dublin shortly.
Docklands: 56 affordable units, including 41 two- and three-bedroom apartments in Longboat Quay, will be allocated in mid-2007, with 30 more becoming available at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2008.
300,000 unoccupied houses and apartments built under tax incentive schemes.
100,000 individuals and families in need of homes who can't afford to buy.
40,000 additional affordable housing units proposed under the new National Development Plan.
Sources: Affordable Housing Partnership; Department of Environment; Dublin Docklands Authority; Professor PJ Drudy, Trinity College Dublin.
Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Tall Buildings Study
In addition to my being surpised at the exceptionally fast turnaround time by the consultants - Urban Initatives - on a study of such importance. It appears that a study which took just a few months to complete, is now being used to call into question the development of Carlisle Pier whose proposed redevelopment has been a much longer process. How this study could develop a conclusion such as this so fast is, in my view, worthy of review. This from Fiona Gartland in The Irish Times.
A proposed development on the Carlisle Pier in Dún Laoghaire could be ruled out if recommendations included in a study of tall buildings in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown are adopted by councillors.
The Tall Buildings Study, commissioned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, recommends tall buildings should not be developed in conservation areas or along the coastline. This would exclude the 10-storey Carlisle Pier development, selected by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, following public consultation and a tender process in 2004.
The pier development stalled in 2005 when the harbour company withdrew preferred bidder status from Urban Capital, the consortium chosen to develop the project. However, the harbour company has said that it is now in pre-planning discussions with the council in relation to the project.
The study, developed by planning consultants Urban Initiatives, recommended protection of "the unique skyline" and a general height of four storeys was recommended for Dún Laoghaire, with up to six storeys for exceptional landmark buildings.
In Sandyford, it recommended six-storey developments in central areas, with exceptional heights of 15 - 20 storeys, subject to certain conditions.
The study said that inappropriately planned tall buildings would seriously detract from a residential environment and would be especially harmful for listed buildings, conservation areas, and significant views.
Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council councillor Eugene Regan said that apart from the recommendations of the study, there are serious doubts that the proposed development for the Carlisle Pier actually complies with the requirements of the county's development plan.
"This is particularly the case in relation to the need for the development to incorporate uses that bring significant cultural, social, recreational and economic benefits to the town and that it should integrate with the immediate built environment," he said.
Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of the Save Our Seafront campaign, said the study was "hugely significant" and a vindication and a result of the protests by groups against high-rise developments. It was also welcomed by the Combined Residents to Save Open Space group and by An Taisce.
A spokesman for Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company said that it could not comment since it had not seen the study nor had been advised about it.
The study will be on public display at Dún Laoghaire and Dundrum council offices until February 7th.
A proposed development on the Carlisle Pier in Dún Laoghaire could be ruled out if recommendations included in a study of tall buildings in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown are adopted by councillors.
The Tall Buildings Study, commissioned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, recommends tall buildings should not be developed in conservation areas or along the coastline. This would exclude the 10-storey Carlisle Pier development, selected by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, following public consultation and a tender process in 2004.
The pier development stalled in 2005 when the harbour company withdrew preferred bidder status from Urban Capital, the consortium chosen to develop the project. However, the harbour company has said that it is now in pre-planning discussions with the council in relation to the project.
The study, developed by planning consultants Urban Initiatives, recommended protection of "the unique skyline" and a general height of four storeys was recommended for Dún Laoghaire, with up to six storeys for exceptional landmark buildings.
In Sandyford, it recommended six-storey developments in central areas, with exceptional heights of 15 - 20 storeys, subject to certain conditions.
The study said that inappropriately planned tall buildings would seriously detract from a residential environment and would be especially harmful for listed buildings, conservation areas, and significant views.
Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council councillor Eugene Regan said that apart from the recommendations of the study, there are serious doubts that the proposed development for the Carlisle Pier actually complies with the requirements of the county's development plan.
"This is particularly the case in relation to the need for the development to incorporate uses that bring significant cultural, social, recreational and economic benefits to the town and that it should integrate with the immediate built environment," he said.
Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of the Save Our Seafront campaign, said the study was "hugely significant" and a vindication and a result of the protests by groups against high-rise developments. It was also welcomed by the Combined Residents to Save Open Space group and by An Taisce.
A spokesman for Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company said that it could not comment since it had not seen the study nor had been advised about it.
The study will be on public display at Dún Laoghaire and Dundrum council offices until February 7th.
Corrib Gas Protectors Unhappy - News?
Lorna Siggins witing in The Irish Times tells us how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision on an integrated pollution prevention and control licence for the Corrib gas project has been welcomed by the Corrib gas partners and criticised by An Taisce and the Shell to Sea campaign in north Mayo.
Leo Corcoran, consultant to An Taisce, said the 85 conditions attached to the preliminary licence ruling included "no practical provisions" to protect the drinking water supply for 10,000 people in the Erris region, drawn from Carrowmore lake.
"If a major incident occurs it is highly likely that the surrounding blanket bog and consequently Carrowmore lake, close to the Bellanaboy terminal, would be polluted," Mr Corcoran, a former Bord Gáis engineer, said. He pointed out that the international code of practice which Government bodies are expected to apply "specifically requires engineers to consider the location of water catchments when selecting an appropriate site".
"Because Bellanaboy is within the water catchment of the major supply for this area its selection is in breach of the code of practice. Bellanaboy should never have been selected as the location for the terminal on this basis alone."
The Shell to Sea campaign said that it would be requesting an oral hearing into the decision, and questioned the timing of the announcement by the EPA when a decision had not been anticipated before March 7th.
Spokesman Dr Mark Garavan said once again it highlighted the essential flaws in a "project splitting" exercise. The issue of health and safety to residents in relation to the onshore pipeline and location of the terminal had still not been resolved, he said. Shell is currently engaged in a seven-stage procedure to modify the pipeline route.
These health and safety concerns, and the wider concerns relating to Government handling of natural resources, would be an issue in the forthcoming general election campaign, Dr Garavan said.
Imelda Moran, a local resident in north Mayo, said "no one could have faith in the planning process" as a result of the move.
"The EPA sought additional information from Shell in relation to its environmental impact statement (EIS), which it found to be defective," she said.
"This flawed EIS had already been used by other agencies, including Mayo County Council, to award planning permission.
"This effectively means that a developer can withhold essential information until it has to provide it - in this case, after planning permission has been granted," Ms Moran said.
She has already made submissions to the EPA, including cold venting of gas which was not included in the EIS presented to Mayo County Council. She has also expressed concerns about the impact of the refinery's outfall pipe into Broadhaven Bay.
Leo Corcoran, consultant to An Taisce, said the 85 conditions attached to the preliminary licence ruling included "no practical provisions" to protect the drinking water supply for 10,000 people in the Erris region, drawn from Carrowmore lake.
"If a major incident occurs it is highly likely that the surrounding blanket bog and consequently Carrowmore lake, close to the Bellanaboy terminal, would be polluted," Mr Corcoran, a former Bord Gáis engineer, said. He pointed out that the international code of practice which Government bodies are expected to apply "specifically requires engineers to consider the location of water catchments when selecting an appropriate site".
"Because Bellanaboy is within the water catchment of the major supply for this area its selection is in breach of the code of practice. Bellanaboy should never have been selected as the location for the terminal on this basis alone."
The Shell to Sea campaign said that it would be requesting an oral hearing into the decision, and questioned the timing of the announcement by the EPA when a decision had not been anticipated before March 7th.
Spokesman Dr Mark Garavan said once again it highlighted the essential flaws in a "project splitting" exercise. The issue of health and safety to residents in relation to the onshore pipeline and location of the terminal had still not been resolved, he said. Shell is currently engaged in a seven-stage procedure to modify the pipeline route.
These health and safety concerns, and the wider concerns relating to Government handling of natural resources, would be an issue in the forthcoming general election campaign, Dr Garavan said.
Imelda Moran, a local resident in north Mayo, said "no one could have faith in the planning process" as a result of the move.
"The EPA sought additional information from Shell in relation to its environmental impact statement (EIS), which it found to be defective," she said.
"This flawed EIS had already been used by other agencies, including Mayo County Council, to award planning permission.
"This effectively means that a developer can withhold essential information until it has to provide it - in this case, after planning permission has been granted," Ms Moran said.
She has already made submissions to the EPA, including cold venting of gas which was not included in the EIS presented to Mayo County Council. She has also expressed concerns about the impact of the refinery's outfall pipe into Broadhaven Bay.
The Corrib Gas Licence Saga Continues
Lorna Siggins , Western Correspondent with The Irish Times reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied claims that it was under political pressure to issue an early ruling on the licence application for the Corrib gas refinery in north Mayo.
The EPA was responding to criticism by the Shell to Sea campaign yesterday on the timing of its preliminary decision on a pollution prevention and control (IPPC) licence for the refinery being built at Bellanaboy.
The ruling has been welcomed by Shell E&P Ireland and its Corrib gas partners, Statoil and Marathon, and by the Pro-Gas Mayo group, comprising business interests in the area.
It is subject to a 28-day consultation period and may go to an oral hearing before a final licence is issued.
Shell to Sea said a decision was not expected before March 7th. However, the agency said this was the final date by which it must give a ruling.
As an independent body, it did not come under any influence in relation to the date of its decision, a spokeswoman said yesterday.
The licence deals with emissions and the environmental management of the facility. IPPC licences aim to prevent or reduce emissions to air, water and land, reduce waste and use energy/resources efficiently, according to the EPA.
Before a licence may be granted the agency must be satisfied that emissions do not cause adverse environmental impacts.
The EPA said that if approved, the proposed decision provided for the processing of 9.9 million cubic metres of natural gas a day which will be exported to the Bord Gáis Éireann distribution network.
The agency added that it was "satisfied that emissions from the refinery, when operated in accordance with the conditions of the proposed licence, will not adversely affect human health or the environment and will meet all relevant national and EU standards".
More than 85 conditions attached to the interim ruling refer to various aspects of the environmental management, operation, control and monitoring of the proposed refinery.
They include what the EPA describes as "strict controls" on emissions and a "high standard of treatment" of waste water which will be discharged from the terminal by a pipeline offshore.
The EPA said the discharge will be "outside" the Broadhaven Bay Special Area of Conservation.
The conditions, it said would be monitored by the Office of Environmental Enforcement, through "environmental audits, unannounced site visits and systematic checks on emissions".
An IPPC licence was applied for by the Corrib gas partners on December 8th, 2004, and the agency sought further information - specifically in relation to the environmental impact statement. This information was received on October 12th, 2006, and was available on its website for further submissions.
Submissions will be accepted during the 28-day consultation period, and an oral hearing may be requested by any person or group or by the applicant.
The EPA was responding to criticism by the Shell to Sea campaign yesterday on the timing of its preliminary decision on a pollution prevention and control (IPPC) licence for the refinery being built at Bellanaboy.
The ruling has been welcomed by Shell E&P Ireland and its Corrib gas partners, Statoil and Marathon, and by the Pro-Gas Mayo group, comprising business interests in the area.
It is subject to a 28-day consultation period and may go to an oral hearing before a final licence is issued.
Shell to Sea said a decision was not expected before March 7th. However, the agency said this was the final date by which it must give a ruling.
As an independent body, it did not come under any influence in relation to the date of its decision, a spokeswoman said yesterday.
The licence deals with emissions and the environmental management of the facility. IPPC licences aim to prevent or reduce emissions to air, water and land, reduce waste and use energy/resources efficiently, according to the EPA.
Before a licence may be granted the agency must be satisfied that emissions do not cause adverse environmental impacts.
The EPA said that if approved, the proposed decision provided for the processing of 9.9 million cubic metres of natural gas a day which will be exported to the Bord Gáis Éireann distribution network.
The agency added that it was "satisfied that emissions from the refinery, when operated in accordance with the conditions of the proposed licence, will not adversely affect human health or the environment and will meet all relevant national and EU standards".
More than 85 conditions attached to the interim ruling refer to various aspects of the environmental management, operation, control and monitoring of the proposed refinery.
They include what the EPA describes as "strict controls" on emissions and a "high standard of treatment" of waste water which will be discharged from the terminal by a pipeline offshore.
The EPA said the discharge will be "outside" the Broadhaven Bay Special Area of Conservation.
The conditions, it said would be monitored by the Office of Environmental Enforcement, through "environmental audits, unannounced site visits and systematic checks on emissions".
An IPPC licence was applied for by the Corrib gas partners on December 8th, 2004, and the agency sought further information - specifically in relation to the environmental impact statement. This information was received on October 12th, 2006, and was available on its website for further submissions.
Submissions will be accepted during the 28-day consultation period, and an oral hearing may be requested by any person or group or by the applicant.
Ancient vessel discovered in the Boyne late last year is to be excavated
Dick Roche announced this on Friday. Mark Rodden in The Irish Times covers the story:
An ancient vessel discovered in the river Boyne late last year is to be excavated, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche announced yesterday.
The vessel is thought to date from the early medieval period and was discovered by chance during dredging operations by the Drogheda Port Company in November.
The wreck lies close to Drogheda port and is believed to be between nine and 16 metres in length. It is described as "clinker built", which is a shipbuilding technology dating from the Viking era but which was still in use centuries later.
"Potentially this is an enormously exciting discovery," Mr Roche said yesterday. "But clearly we have to wait and see what condition the vessel is in and have it dated."
"Carbon-dating analysis of some of the vessel's timbers has been arranged by my department, with the results expected in a number of weeks," he added.
The vessel is lying midstream of the Boyne, meaning it poses a potential shipping hazard and cannot be preserved where it is.
It is hoped that after excavation and further investigation the vessel may eventually be put on public display.
It is envisaged that the investigation and excavation operation will be completed by the end of March.
Mr Roche said yesterday that the National Monuments Service of his department would oversee the excavation in co-operation with conservation experts from the National Museum of Ireland, while the Drogheda Port Company would provide logistical support.
"Discoveries of this type highlight the rich and varied heritage we enjoy in Ireland," said Mr Roche.
"My department and the other authorities involved will make every effort to ensure the preservation of this potentially highly valuable find and its safeguarding for the people of Ireland."
The Minister added: "A find like this can tell us much about the technologies, trading patterns and daily lives of our ancestors and can open a window onto how life was in Ireland over a thousand years ago."
An ancient vessel discovered in the river Boyne late last year is to be excavated, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche announced yesterday.
The vessel is thought to date from the early medieval period and was discovered by chance during dredging operations by the Drogheda Port Company in November.
The wreck lies close to Drogheda port and is believed to be between nine and 16 metres in length. It is described as "clinker built", which is a shipbuilding technology dating from the Viking era but which was still in use centuries later.
"Potentially this is an enormously exciting discovery," Mr Roche said yesterday. "But clearly we have to wait and see what condition the vessel is in and have it dated."
"Carbon-dating analysis of some of the vessel's timbers has been arranged by my department, with the results expected in a number of weeks," he added.
The vessel is lying midstream of the Boyne, meaning it poses a potential shipping hazard and cannot be preserved where it is.
It is hoped that after excavation and further investigation the vessel may eventually be put on public display.
It is envisaged that the investigation and excavation operation will be completed by the end of March.
Mr Roche said yesterday that the National Monuments Service of his department would oversee the excavation in co-operation with conservation experts from the National Museum of Ireland, while the Drogheda Port Company would provide logistical support.
"Discoveries of this type highlight the rich and varied heritage we enjoy in Ireland," said Mr Roche.
"My department and the other authorities involved will make every effort to ensure the preservation of this potentially highly valuable find and its safeguarding for the people of Ireland."
The Minister added: "A find like this can tell us much about the technologies, trading patterns and daily lives of our ancestors and can open a window onto how life was in Ireland over a thousand years ago."
Dublin Port Tunnel finally opens to cars
Tim O'Brien writes in The Irish Times that Dublin Port Tunnel will come a step nearer to being fully operational at 6am tomorrow when private cars are allowed to use the tunnel for the first time - but it will continue to close at night for the next few weeks at least.
Drivers however will face a further hurdle as "eazy pass" tags which work on the East and West Link bridges will not be accepted at the tunnel toll plaza.
Dublin City Council hopes the tunnel will be fully operation in about three weeks when the ban on HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) comes into effect in the city centre.
The council also hopes that the technology arrangements which have prevented the eazy pass system from being used in the tunnel, as well as on the M4 motorway in the midlands and the new Fermoy bypass in Co Cork, will be sorted out by then.
Currently each of the toll operators on the Republic's new toll motorways have separate electronic tags for motorists for expressways.
Despite a promise from Minister for Transport Martin Cullen that inter-operability issues would be sorted out within months of the M4 motorway opening, this has still not happened.
Jimmy Quinn for the Irish Road Haulage Association said hauliers were exasperated by the problem. "Everybody went ahead with their own tag even though we warned Séamus Brennan [ then minister for transport] five years ago, that this could happen."
However while the hauliers may have to carry a number of tags in the Republic they are not required to pay tolls at all on the Dublin Port Tunnel. Charges apply only to smaller vehicles including private cars.
Dublin City Council says nearly 6,000 heavy goods vehicles are already using Dublin Port Tunnel daily to travel between Dublin Port and the National Roads Network. The council's strategy on February 19th, banning HGVs within the cordon area, will also increase the number of goods vehicles using the Port Tunnel.
A spokesman said tunnel closures between 11pm-5am will continue for the next few weeks to allow for the completion of "final systems calibrations and testing".
Drivers using the Dublin Port Tunnel are advised to switch on dipped headlights.
Drivers however will face a further hurdle as "eazy pass" tags which work on the East and West Link bridges will not be accepted at the tunnel toll plaza.
Dublin City Council hopes the tunnel will be fully operation in about three weeks when the ban on HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) comes into effect in the city centre.
The council also hopes that the technology arrangements which have prevented the eazy pass system from being used in the tunnel, as well as on the M4 motorway in the midlands and the new Fermoy bypass in Co Cork, will be sorted out by then.
Currently each of the toll operators on the Republic's new toll motorways have separate electronic tags for motorists for expressways.
Despite a promise from Minister for Transport Martin Cullen that inter-operability issues would be sorted out within months of the M4 motorway opening, this has still not happened.
Jimmy Quinn for the Irish Road Haulage Association said hauliers were exasperated by the problem. "Everybody went ahead with their own tag even though we warned Séamus Brennan [ then minister for transport] five years ago, that this could happen."
However while the hauliers may have to carry a number of tags in the Republic they are not required to pay tolls at all on the Dublin Port Tunnel. Charges apply only to smaller vehicles including private cars.
Dublin City Council says nearly 6,000 heavy goods vehicles are already using Dublin Port Tunnel daily to travel between Dublin Port and the National Roads Network. The council's strategy on February 19th, banning HGVs within the cordon area, will also increase the number of goods vehicles using the Port Tunnel.
A spokesman said tunnel closures between 11pm-5am will continue for the next few weeks to allow for the completion of "final systems calibrations and testing".
Drivers using the Dublin Port Tunnel are advised to switch on dipped headlights.
Saturday, 27 January 2007
Locals likely to appeal Dunlavin quarry decision
I had a call yesterday on this. This was a story the Wicklow People covered last week.
An appeal to An Bord Pleanala from residents of the Dunlavin area is likely following the news that a leading quarrying company has received planning permission for a 19-hectare (47-acre) quarry there.
On Tuesday, the planning office of Wicklow County Council granted planning permission for Kilsaran Concrete to quarry land at Ballyhurtin, Dunlavin, despite receiving 33 objections from concerned locals.
One of the objectors, Matthew Leith, runs a local bed and breakfast and is convinced that any quarry on his doorstep will kill off tourists visiting Rathsallagh House and the surrounding area. He is also baffled about the decision, considering how difficult it is for locals to get planning permission for one-off houses.
'My daughter has been looking into building a house quite near on a road not quite as bad as where this quarry will be situated,' he said.
'This has been ongoing for the past five years, yet the County Council and An Bord Pleanala have turned her down. It seems to be one rule for big companies and another for the ordinary local,' says a frustrated Mr. Leith.
The site will also necessitate the removal of an esker, a long narrow ridge of sand and gravel deposited by glacial meltwaters, which Mr. Leith further believes will completely change and ruin the local landscape.
'This will put us out of business,' says the downhearted bed and breakfast owner. 'The main industries here are bloodstock and tourism and I can't see how either will survive. The traffic on that particular road is already bad, especially around school time. I don't see how it can handle any more traffic.'
He and most of his neighbours have now vowed to take their objections to An Bord Pleanala, and have the support of the Dunlavin & District Forum as well as Deputy Billy Timmins.
According to the Fine Gael Deputy, 'the decision is a strange one, particularly considering people in the area are being turned down for one off housing due to the narrowness of the roads. Its also one of the scenic gems in the county.'
An appeal to An Bord Pleanala from residents of the Dunlavin area is likely following the news that a leading quarrying company has received planning permission for a 19-hectare (47-acre) quarry there.
On Tuesday, the planning office of Wicklow County Council granted planning permission for Kilsaran Concrete to quarry land at Ballyhurtin, Dunlavin, despite receiving 33 objections from concerned locals.
One of the objectors, Matthew Leith, runs a local bed and breakfast and is convinced that any quarry on his doorstep will kill off tourists visiting Rathsallagh House and the surrounding area. He is also baffled about the decision, considering how difficult it is for locals to get planning permission for one-off houses.
'My daughter has been looking into building a house quite near on a road not quite as bad as where this quarry will be situated,' he said.
'This has been ongoing for the past five years, yet the County Council and An Bord Pleanala have turned her down. It seems to be one rule for big companies and another for the ordinary local,' says a frustrated Mr. Leith.
The site will also necessitate the removal of an esker, a long narrow ridge of sand and gravel deposited by glacial meltwaters, which Mr. Leith further believes will completely change and ruin the local landscape.
'This will put us out of business,' says the downhearted bed and breakfast owner. 'The main industries here are bloodstock and tourism and I can't see how either will survive. The traffic on that particular road is already bad, especially around school time. I don't see how it can handle any more traffic.'
He and most of his neighbours have now vowed to take their objections to An Bord Pleanala, and have the support of the Dunlavin & District Forum as well as Deputy Billy Timmins.
According to the Fine Gael Deputy, 'the decision is a strange one, particularly considering people in the area are being turned down for one off housing due to the narrowness of the roads. Its also one of the scenic gems in the county.'
Wicklow locals voice fears about treatment centre plans
The Wicklow People tells us that Residents living on Marlton Road are currently engaged in talks with the town council to ensure their fears over the community addiction services centre based on the road are listened to.
Just before Christmas, An Bord Pleanala overturned a decision made by Wicklow Town Council and gave the centre the green light.
Part of the report maintained that the centre would be used mainly for counselling of people suffering from addiction and their families and loved ones, and the premises wouldn't be used for the dispensing of medicines. Medical treatment remains the exclusive statutory responsibility of the HSE.
While many residents remain concerned about the development, they at lest feel that the town council are taking their worries on board.
David Lang, Chairman of the Residents Association, says 'we have been engaged with the town council and the talks have proved very constructive. We want to ensure that the clinic adheres to the conditions.
'There are a number of points we have suggested and the discussions are still ongoing.'
While the Residents Association now accepts that the clinic will soon be up and running, they still maintain that Marlton Road isn't the correct location.
Just before Christmas, An Bord Pleanala overturned a decision made by Wicklow Town Council and gave the centre the green light.
Part of the report maintained that the centre would be used mainly for counselling of people suffering from addiction and their families and loved ones, and the premises wouldn't be used for the dispensing of medicines. Medical treatment remains the exclusive statutory responsibility of the HSE.
While many residents remain concerned about the development, they at lest feel that the town council are taking their worries on board.
David Lang, Chairman of the Residents Association, says 'we have been engaged with the town council and the talks have proved very constructive. We want to ensure that the clinic adheres to the conditions.
'There are a number of points we have suggested and the discussions are still ongoing.'
While the Residents Association now accepts that the clinic will soon be up and running, they still maintain that Marlton Road isn't the correct location.
Opposition to regeneration plans in Muirhevnamor and Cox’s Demesne
The Argus tells us of how Dundalk Town Council is facing massive organised opposition to regeneration plans in Muirhevnamor and Cox’s Demesne.
And the two estates have plans to put past rivalries to one side and join together to form a united front against elements of the multi-million euro draft plans. They are demanding officials start listening to them.
This unity represents a headache for council officials who were eager that their ideas would be accepted so that funding could be applied for from the Department of Environment before the end of this year.
It is expected that joint meetings between the council and the two estates will be held and common approaches will be agreed on between representatives in both areas.
Last month, Dundalk Town Council officials held public meetings in Muirhevnamor and Cox’s Demesne to outline their architects’ visions for the regeneration of the estates.
The meetings, which were very well attended by people in both areas, showed detailed draft plans for regeneration projects that would cost upwards of €60 million.
Controversially, it was revealed that up to 114 houses were earmarked for demolition in Muirhevnamor while the main bone of contention in Cox’s was the proposed destruction of 13 homes on the hill at Ashling Park.
Following intensive negotiation with people in Muirhevnamor, it was yesterday announced that a petition has been signed by more than 80 percent of residents outlining their opposition to aspects of the plan.
At Ait na Daoine, members of Muirhevnamor Community Council (MMCC) said that while they broadly welcomed the regeneration programme in the estate, the building and maintaining of trust was crucial to its implementation.
The petition, which gave the MMCC an overwhelming mandate to represent the views of residents, calls for representatives to be elected from across the estate to a steering group who would handle meetings with council officials about the regeneration programme.
MMCC claimed there was little consultation by officials ahead of the announcement that 114 homes will be demolished.
There is also massive opposition in principle to the plan to build 220 new houses on what residents say is an already overcrowded estate. In addition, the demolition of the OPDs and their accommodation in an ‘isolated’ area is also rejected.
RAPID board member Kevin Mulgrew said fragile trust was smashed when officials presented the plans to the public as a ‘fait acompli’.
He said, “The news two weeks before Christmas that people’s homes, some of whom have been here for more than 30 years, were going to be knocked shattered confidence and caused panic and rumour.
“We welcome the regeneration project overall, but there are large aspects that we want officials to reconsider.
“We are willing to sit down with them and talk about the issues, but there is no trust here towards the Town Council after years of neglect”.
He also pointed out that the Department of the Environment, who will oversee any large project like this, have no formal guidelines for regeneration of estates.
Doolargy Avenue resident Anna Bond was getting positive signals from the council over the last couple of years about acquiring a green area beside her home, but that’s all up in the air now.
At the start of December, she was informed that her home was to be demolished. She said, “The only reason that they gave for this is that they want to turn the houses to face a different direction and to put one more house in the row - it’s senseless”.
Community worker Tony Jordan said that while no-one could deny Muirhevanmor needed a major facelift, homes, not just houses, were being razed for little reason. Siobhan McGarrigle is facing the demolition of not just her own home, but also her mum’s house.
Resident Ciaran Bond said the council should look at the more immediate problems such as the fact that 19 houses are currently boarded up and the remedial works scheme has not achieved what it set out to.
He said, “A lot of the problems could be solved if the council was willing to look at simple alternatives.
“We have talked to them before about what we think would improve the estate and they went away and drew up this regeneration plans that contain nothing that we suggested”.
Other issues such as the blocking off of access to the Avenue Road from some parts of the estate, the realignment of Hoey’s lane, the building of around 80 flats and duplexes on a green site and the lack of provision of proper facilities are also major bones of contention.
The first meeting between residents of Aghameen and council officials was due to take place last (Tuesday) night.
And the two estates have plans to put past rivalries to one side and join together to form a united front against elements of the multi-million euro draft plans. They are demanding officials start listening to them.
This unity represents a headache for council officials who were eager that their ideas would be accepted so that funding could be applied for from the Department of Environment before the end of this year.
It is expected that joint meetings between the council and the two estates will be held and common approaches will be agreed on between representatives in both areas.
Last month, Dundalk Town Council officials held public meetings in Muirhevnamor and Cox’s Demesne to outline their architects’ visions for the regeneration of the estates.
The meetings, which were very well attended by people in both areas, showed detailed draft plans for regeneration projects that would cost upwards of €60 million.
Controversially, it was revealed that up to 114 houses were earmarked for demolition in Muirhevnamor while the main bone of contention in Cox’s was the proposed destruction of 13 homes on the hill at Ashling Park.
Following intensive negotiation with people in Muirhevnamor, it was yesterday announced that a petition has been signed by more than 80 percent of residents outlining their opposition to aspects of the plan.
At Ait na Daoine, members of Muirhevnamor Community Council (MMCC) said that while they broadly welcomed the regeneration programme in the estate, the building and maintaining of trust was crucial to its implementation.
The petition, which gave the MMCC an overwhelming mandate to represent the views of residents, calls for representatives to be elected from across the estate to a steering group who would handle meetings with council officials about the regeneration programme.
MMCC claimed there was little consultation by officials ahead of the announcement that 114 homes will be demolished.
There is also massive opposition in principle to the plan to build 220 new houses on what residents say is an already overcrowded estate. In addition, the demolition of the OPDs and their accommodation in an ‘isolated’ area is also rejected.
RAPID board member Kevin Mulgrew said fragile trust was smashed when officials presented the plans to the public as a ‘fait acompli’.
He said, “The news two weeks before Christmas that people’s homes, some of whom have been here for more than 30 years, were going to be knocked shattered confidence and caused panic and rumour.
“We welcome the regeneration project overall, but there are large aspects that we want officials to reconsider.
“We are willing to sit down with them and talk about the issues, but there is no trust here towards the Town Council after years of neglect”.
He also pointed out that the Department of the Environment, who will oversee any large project like this, have no formal guidelines for regeneration of estates.
Doolargy Avenue resident Anna Bond was getting positive signals from the council over the last couple of years about acquiring a green area beside her home, but that’s all up in the air now.
At the start of December, she was informed that her home was to be demolished. She said, “The only reason that they gave for this is that they want to turn the houses to face a different direction and to put one more house in the row - it’s senseless”.
Community worker Tony Jordan said that while no-one could deny Muirhevanmor needed a major facelift, homes, not just houses, were being razed for little reason. Siobhan McGarrigle is facing the demolition of not just her own home, but also her mum’s house.
Resident Ciaran Bond said the council should look at the more immediate problems such as the fact that 19 houses are currently boarded up and the remedial works scheme has not achieved what it set out to.
He said, “A lot of the problems could be solved if the council was willing to look at simple alternatives.
“We have talked to them before about what we think would improve the estate and they went away and drew up this regeneration plans that contain nothing that we suggested”.
Other issues such as the blocking off of access to the Avenue Road from some parts of the estate, the realignment of Hoey’s lane, the building of around 80 flats and duplexes on a green site and the lack of provision of proper facilities are also major bones of contention.
The first meeting between residents of Aghameen and council officials was due to take place last (Tuesday) night.
Friday, 26 January 2007
EPA proposes licence for Corrib gas terminal
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed that the €900 million Corrib gas onshore terminal in Co Mayo be granted a licence.
The announcement constitutes a significant advance for the controversial project.
RTÉ News has learned the agency believes 85 separate conditions should apply, but will delay a final decision in case an oral hearing is deemed necessary.
See :http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0126/corrib.html for more information
see also the objector's website : http://www.corribsos.com
see epa website for more detail: http://www.epa.ie/NewsCentre/PressReleases/MainBody,11680,en.html
The announcement constitutes a significant advance for the controversial project.
RTÉ News has learned the agency believes 85 separate conditions should apply, but will delay a final decision in case an oral hearing is deemed necessary.
See :http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0126/corrib.html for more information
see also the objector's website : http://www.corribsos.com
see epa website for more detail: http://www.epa.ie/NewsCentre/PressReleases/MainBody,11680,en.html
Thursday, 25 January 2007
Is the NDP built on poor foundations?
This is what Frank McDonald writes in The Irish Times:
The experience of the past 10 years, according to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, "shows the need for, and benefits of, longer-term policy planning to ensure that we rise to the challenges and maximise the opportunities facing us".
Would that this were true. Although the word "sprawl" is mentioned nowhere in the latest National Development Plan (NDP), the document concedes that most of Ireland's population growth "is taking place in the urban hinterlands".
Among the resulting changes, it says, "are longer commuting times, increasing car numbers and usage, and serious congestion difficulties with attendant impacts on competitiveness, quality of life and the environment".
Had the last NDP been properly focused, some of these negatives could have been avoided - for example, with a determined effort to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing in Dublin and the smaller cities, in order to curb sprawl.
Instead, the Government adopted a laissez-faire approach to planning, with the result that Dublin's commuter belt now extends to 100km and the same is true, to a lesser extent, within the orbit of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. There is much emphasis in the new plan on balanced regional development, with the Taoiseach saying implementation of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) "is crucial to our ability to absorb the huge population growth predicted over the next 20 years".
As the plan says, "economic development in all countries, including Ireland, invariably occurs at a different pace in different regions", reflecting many different factors, "some of which can be directly influenced by Government policy".
The dramatic growth which Dublin has experienced is inextricably related to the fact that it "has spearheaded the growth of the Irish economy" and thus, in terms of scale and significance, it's on a different level to other NSS gateways.
The key question about the latest plan is whether it will succeed in developing these eight gateways and nine "hub" towns in a way that would ensure their growth and prosperity while simultaneously taking some of the pressure off Dublin.
As the NDP says, long-term population trends show that the economically stronger regions are those with large urban centres containing a high proportion of their population. In that broad context, some of the gateways hardly qualify at all.
The best bet in counterbalancing Dublin would be to strengthen the "critical mass" of the Atlantic gateways of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, both individually and collectively, to develop a second "major metropolitan corridor".
However, apart from better road links between them, there is not much on offer to Ireland's second-tier cities - though one of Cork's real strengths is its scale, which is equivalent to the combined populations of Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
Yet, notoriously, when it came to "decentralising" public servants from Dublin, the Government ignored Cork city, opting instead to scatter them around smaller towns throughout the county, from Clonakilty right round to Youghal.
Had the Government paid any attention to its own spatial strategy, this would not have happened. So now there isn't even a clutch of civil servants to people a single office block that would help underpin the redevelopment of Cork's docklands.
How can this be reconciled with the new NDP's declaration that promoting regional development "will aim to ensure that each NSS gateway region maximises its potential for economic and social development"? The answer is that it can't.
It is simply disingenuous to say, as the plan does, that the "direct instrument [ of decentralisation] will strengthen . . . the hub, smaller town and rural structure and complement the key and dynamic role to be played by the gateways".
As for the new Gateways Innovation Fund, worth €300 million over three years, each of the nine gateways (including Dublin) will have to make bids for a share of the money for projects that are not funded by "mainstream capital programmes".
This pilot programme is intended to "stimulate and reward joined-up thinking at local and regional level [ and] bring about better co-ordination in regional development and to support distinctive and innovative projects in gateway areas".
But there is a stick as well as this carrot: local authorities that adopt policies which are inconsistent with the NSS by facilitating development patterns such as extensive low-density housing "will not be favoured by investment under this plan".
In addition, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche "will as necessary use his powers under the planning Acts to compel local authorities to adopt land use policies that are consistent with the NSS and the regional planning guidelines".
Mr Roche has already intervened to curb the over-zoning of land in Laois by issuing a planning policy directive under the 2000 Planning Act, and he may well do the same in the case of Monaghan County Council's recent spate of land rezoning.
Roche's predecessor, Martin Cullen, declined to use these powers in 2002 to halt the over-zoning of land around Gorey, Co Wexford, even though there was evidence that up to 70 per cent of its new residents were commuting to Dublin.
The capital's sprawl was allowed to continue unabated, piggy-backing on major road improvements financed under the last NDP. It remains to be seen whether the Government will really crack down on similar piggy-backing on the latest plan.
At least it talks about the importance of promoting a switch from car to public transport. The critical issue for Dublin, it says, is to ensure that the range and quantity of housing as well as transport and social infrastructure can accommodate its population within the region, served by high-capacity public transport.
The real shame is that this was not recognised and made a priority by the last NDP.
The experience of the past 10 years, according to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, "shows the need for, and benefits of, longer-term policy planning to ensure that we rise to the challenges and maximise the opportunities facing us".
Would that this were true. Although the word "sprawl" is mentioned nowhere in the latest National Development Plan (NDP), the document concedes that most of Ireland's population growth "is taking place in the urban hinterlands".
Among the resulting changes, it says, "are longer commuting times, increasing car numbers and usage, and serious congestion difficulties with attendant impacts on competitiveness, quality of life and the environment".
Had the last NDP been properly focused, some of these negatives could have been avoided - for example, with a determined effort to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing in Dublin and the smaller cities, in order to curb sprawl.
Instead, the Government adopted a laissez-faire approach to planning, with the result that Dublin's commuter belt now extends to 100km and the same is true, to a lesser extent, within the orbit of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. There is much emphasis in the new plan on balanced regional development, with the Taoiseach saying implementation of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) "is crucial to our ability to absorb the huge population growth predicted over the next 20 years".
As the plan says, "economic development in all countries, including Ireland, invariably occurs at a different pace in different regions", reflecting many different factors, "some of which can be directly influenced by Government policy".
The dramatic growth which Dublin has experienced is inextricably related to the fact that it "has spearheaded the growth of the Irish economy" and thus, in terms of scale and significance, it's on a different level to other NSS gateways.
The key question about the latest plan is whether it will succeed in developing these eight gateways and nine "hub" towns in a way that would ensure their growth and prosperity while simultaneously taking some of the pressure off Dublin.
As the NDP says, long-term population trends show that the economically stronger regions are those with large urban centres containing a high proportion of their population. In that broad context, some of the gateways hardly qualify at all.
The best bet in counterbalancing Dublin would be to strengthen the "critical mass" of the Atlantic gateways of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, both individually and collectively, to develop a second "major metropolitan corridor".
However, apart from better road links between them, there is not much on offer to Ireland's second-tier cities - though one of Cork's real strengths is its scale, which is equivalent to the combined populations of Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
Yet, notoriously, when it came to "decentralising" public servants from Dublin, the Government ignored Cork city, opting instead to scatter them around smaller towns throughout the county, from Clonakilty right round to Youghal.
Had the Government paid any attention to its own spatial strategy, this would not have happened. So now there isn't even a clutch of civil servants to people a single office block that would help underpin the redevelopment of Cork's docklands.
How can this be reconciled with the new NDP's declaration that promoting regional development "will aim to ensure that each NSS gateway region maximises its potential for economic and social development"? The answer is that it can't.
It is simply disingenuous to say, as the plan does, that the "direct instrument [ of decentralisation] will strengthen . . . the hub, smaller town and rural structure and complement the key and dynamic role to be played by the gateways".
As for the new Gateways Innovation Fund, worth €300 million over three years, each of the nine gateways (including Dublin) will have to make bids for a share of the money for projects that are not funded by "mainstream capital programmes".
This pilot programme is intended to "stimulate and reward joined-up thinking at local and regional level [ and] bring about better co-ordination in regional development and to support distinctive and innovative projects in gateway areas".
But there is a stick as well as this carrot: local authorities that adopt policies which are inconsistent with the NSS by facilitating development patterns such as extensive low-density housing "will not be favoured by investment under this plan".
In addition, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche "will as necessary use his powers under the planning Acts to compel local authorities to adopt land use policies that are consistent with the NSS and the regional planning guidelines".
Mr Roche has already intervened to curb the over-zoning of land in Laois by issuing a planning policy directive under the 2000 Planning Act, and he may well do the same in the case of Monaghan County Council's recent spate of land rezoning.
Roche's predecessor, Martin Cullen, declined to use these powers in 2002 to halt the over-zoning of land around Gorey, Co Wexford, even though there was evidence that up to 70 per cent of its new residents were commuting to Dublin.
The capital's sprawl was allowed to continue unabated, piggy-backing on major road improvements financed under the last NDP. It remains to be seen whether the Government will really crack down on similar piggy-backing on the latest plan.
At least it talks about the importance of promoting a switch from car to public transport. The critical issue for Dublin, it says, is to ensure that the range and quantity of housing as well as transport and social infrastructure can accommodate its population within the region, served by high-capacity public transport.
The real shame is that this was not recognised and made a priority by the last NDP.
IS the NDP environmentally responsible
Liam Reid writing in The Irish Times raised some questions about the environmental aspirations of the NDP The Government is keen to portray the new National Development Plan as a paragon of environmental responsibility. Addressing climate change was a "cornerstone" of the plan, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche was keen to stress to journalists.
Climate change does merit its own section in the plan, which also speaks about the need for a "holistic" approach to the problem, which included an important role for individuals. However, judging by the 48 cars parked in the upper yard of Dublin Castle at the launch of the plan - many of them gas-guzzling ministerial State cars - the concept of individual responsibility on climate change is one which has yet to make an impact on many junior and senior Ministers.
When briefing journalists, however, Mr Roche said climate change was now at the centre of the Government agenda, and the plan would produce real reductions in emissions.
He dismissed critics of Government as "dissembling" when they claimed the Government was not doing enough to combat climate change.
Whatever Mr Roche might say, the harsh fact is that the commitments contained in the plan will merely have the country treading water in terms of the serious emissions reductions that will have to be made over the next 13 years.
The main reason for this is that all of the measures included in the plan have already been taken into account in Government calculations of predicted greenhouse gas emission levels between now and 2012, which are modest to say the least.
The Government's own calculations show they make only a small dent in the growing levels of emissions from the Ireland. In fact the principle contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the plan is to pay other less developed countries to reduce theirs. And while this is relatively cheap in the short term, it is storing up considerable trouble in the long term.
One of the main elements highlighted in the plan as contributing to greenhouse gas reductions is what the Government describes as an unprecedented investment of €13 billion in public transport. It will see people switch from cars to public transport, thus reducing the amount of fossil fuels consumed.
A second element is the environmental benefits of the national spatial strategy. Balanced regional development will mean less travel for many people because they will live closer to their places of work, and facilities such as education, leisure and shopping.
A third element in the plan relates to the €270 million investment commitment in renewable energy. In one of the most oil and gas-dependent economies in
the world, it will increase the amount of electricity generated from wind, biomass and other sustainable sources. These measures are all commendable in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However they make but a small dent. And they have already been included in the Government's estimates and commitments on climate change.
At best they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by less than one million tonnes, at a time when the reduction required under the Kyoto agreement is closer to seven million tonnes. For example, the spatial strategy element will reduce emissions by just 50,000 tonnes, according to the Department of the Environment's own projections.
The main measure contained in the plan for greenhouse gas reductions is the carbon fund. This €270 million fund, announced in last month's budget, will enable the Government to buy carbon "credits" to make up for a predicted shortfall on emission reductions within Ireland.
Under the international scheme, the credits are purchased through investing in carbon dioxide emission reductions in developing countries. In short, the Government will purchase 3.6 million tonnes a year between 2008 and 2012 in order to meet its Kyoto commitments. It is the single biggest element in the Government's climate change strategy. But the main problem with this is that the cost of meeting future commitments could be much higher.
The reason is two-fold. The successor to Kyoto, which the Government is committed to being part, will require Ireland to reduce its emissions by up to 20 per cent below 1990 levels. It would require a real reduction of up to 30 million tonnes a year, five times the current shortfall in reaching the Kyoto target.
Secondly, the cost of carbon credits is likely to rise significantly above the current estimated cost of €15 a tonne, as making reductions become more difficult not only in Ireland but also in developing countries.
The absence of serious emission reduction policies such as carbon taxes, stringent energy requirements for new homes, means that ultimately the taxpayer could be facing an annual bill similar in size to interest payments on the national debt.
Climate change does merit its own section in the plan, which also speaks about the need for a "holistic" approach to the problem, which included an important role for individuals. However, judging by the 48 cars parked in the upper yard of Dublin Castle at the launch of the plan - many of them gas-guzzling ministerial State cars - the concept of individual responsibility on climate change is one which has yet to make an impact on many junior and senior Ministers.
When briefing journalists, however, Mr Roche said climate change was now at the centre of the Government agenda, and the plan would produce real reductions in emissions.
He dismissed critics of Government as "dissembling" when they claimed the Government was not doing enough to combat climate change.
Whatever Mr Roche might say, the harsh fact is that the commitments contained in the plan will merely have the country treading water in terms of the serious emissions reductions that will have to be made over the next 13 years.
The main reason for this is that all of the measures included in the plan have already been taken into account in Government calculations of predicted greenhouse gas emission levels between now and 2012, which are modest to say the least.
The Government's own calculations show they make only a small dent in the growing levels of emissions from the Ireland. In fact the principle contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the plan is to pay other less developed countries to reduce theirs. And while this is relatively cheap in the short term, it is storing up considerable trouble in the long term.
One of the main elements highlighted in the plan as contributing to greenhouse gas reductions is what the Government describes as an unprecedented investment of €13 billion in public transport. It will see people switch from cars to public transport, thus reducing the amount of fossil fuels consumed.
A second element is the environmental benefits of the national spatial strategy. Balanced regional development will mean less travel for many people because they will live closer to their places of work, and facilities such as education, leisure and shopping.
A third element in the plan relates to the €270 million investment commitment in renewable energy. In one of the most oil and gas-dependent economies in
the world, it will increase the amount of electricity generated from wind, biomass and other sustainable sources. These measures are all commendable in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However they make but a small dent. And they have already been included in the Government's estimates and commitments on climate change.
At best they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by less than one million tonnes, at a time when the reduction required under the Kyoto agreement is closer to seven million tonnes. For example, the spatial strategy element will reduce emissions by just 50,000 tonnes, according to the Department of the Environment's own projections.
The main measure contained in the plan for greenhouse gas reductions is the carbon fund. This €270 million fund, announced in last month's budget, will enable the Government to buy carbon "credits" to make up for a predicted shortfall on emission reductions within Ireland.
Under the international scheme, the credits are purchased through investing in carbon dioxide emission reductions in developing countries. In short, the Government will purchase 3.6 million tonnes a year between 2008 and 2012 in order to meet its Kyoto commitments. It is the single biggest element in the Government's climate change strategy. But the main problem with this is that the cost of meeting future commitments could be much higher.
The reason is two-fold. The successor to Kyoto, which the Government is committed to being part, will require Ireland to reduce its emissions by up to 20 per cent below 1990 levels. It would require a real reduction of up to 30 million tonnes a year, five times the current shortfall in reaching the Kyoto target.
Secondly, the cost of carbon credits is likely to rise significantly above the current estimated cost of €15 a tonne, as making reductions become more difficult not only in Ireland but also in developing countries.
The absence of serious emission reduction policies such as carbon taxes, stringent energy requirements for new homes, means that ultimately the taxpayer could be facing an annual bill similar in size to interest payments on the national debt.
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
Full text of the National Development Plan 2007-2013 "TRANSFORMING IRELAND A Better Quality of Life for All".
The full text of the NDP can be viewed at:
http://www.ndp.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=1904&mn=&nID=&UserLang=EN&StartDate=1+January+2007
http://www.ndp.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=1904&mn=&nID=&UserLang=EN&StartDate=1+January+2007
Social & Affordable Housing to be a priority in the NDP
Do you believe it?
Mr. Noel Ahern T.D., Minister for Housing & Urban Renewal today (23 January 07) announced an investment programme of some €18 billion in Housing over the next seven years.
Speaking at the launch of the Social Infrastructure Priority of the NDP, the Minister said:
"An estimated 140,000 new households will have their accommodation needs met over the coming seven years. To achieve this, ambitious targets of 60,000 new units of social housing have been set and it is estimated that some 40,000 affordable homes will also be provided over the NDP period. Other households will benefit from the Rental Accommodation Scheme, under contractual arrangements with landlords for existing properties transferring from rent supplement, as well as from accommodation made available through vacancies normally arising in social housing and other social housing measures."
The investment of €18 billion, rising to €21 billion when rent allowance expenditure is taken into account, builds on the commitments agreed in Towards 2016. It is framed against the backdrop of the NESC report on Housing, acknowledging the recommendation of that report to expand the supply while maintaining an important focus on the quality of housing.
The Minister added:
"The Housing Policy Framework, launched at the end of 2005, set the building of sustainable communities as its guiding principle for our investment and this is reflected in the NDP. A new housing policy statement, due to be published in February, will provide greater detail on the actions required if the goals in the Framework document are to be achieved. The key objective in all of this is to build sustainable communities and to use resources to meet individual needs in a manner that facilitates personal choice and autonomy."
The Minister concluded:
"We are setting out a challenging but exciting vision for housing. One that is necessary to meet the needs of our growing population and to ensure that those who have affordability problems, or special housing needs, can be offered a greater range of choices to improve their position. Invariably with the launch of a seven year National Development Plan, there is a welter of statistical references in terms of investment figures, targets and outputs. But when the enormous sums of money that have been provided under the Housing Programme of this NDP are broken down, what we are about is providing homes. We will be using this investment wisely to provide choice and new opportunities for the maximum number of households."
Mr. Noel Ahern T.D., Minister for Housing & Urban Renewal today (23 January 07) announced an investment programme of some €18 billion in Housing over the next seven years.
Speaking at the launch of the Social Infrastructure Priority of the NDP, the Minister said:
"An estimated 140,000 new households will have their accommodation needs met over the coming seven years. To achieve this, ambitious targets of 60,000 new units of social housing have been set and it is estimated that some 40,000 affordable homes will also be provided over the NDP period. Other households will benefit from the Rental Accommodation Scheme, under contractual arrangements with landlords for existing properties transferring from rent supplement, as well as from accommodation made available through vacancies normally arising in social housing and other social housing measures."
The investment of €18 billion, rising to €21 billion when rent allowance expenditure is taken into account, builds on the commitments agreed in Towards 2016. It is framed against the backdrop of the NESC report on Housing, acknowledging the recommendation of that report to expand the supply while maintaining an important focus on the quality of housing.
The Minister added:
"The Housing Policy Framework, launched at the end of 2005, set the building of sustainable communities as its guiding principle for our investment and this is reflected in the NDP. A new housing policy statement, due to be published in February, will provide greater detail on the actions required if the goals in the Framework document are to be achieved. The key objective in all of this is to build sustainable communities and to use resources to meet individual needs in a manner that facilitates personal choice and autonomy."
The Minister concluded:
"We are setting out a challenging but exciting vision for housing. One that is necessary to meet the needs of our growing population and to ensure that those who have affordability problems, or special housing needs, can be offered a greater range of choices to improve their position. Invariably with the launch of a seven year National Development Plan, there is a welter of statistical references in terms of investment figures, targets and outputs. But when the enormous sums of money that have been provided under the Housing Programme of this NDP are broken down, what we are about is providing homes. We will be using this investment wisely to provide choice and new opportunities for the maximum number of households."
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND BALANCED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORNERSTONES OF NDP 2007-2013
What do you think? Here's the Dept of Environment's press release:
"Environmental sustainability and balanced regional development are cornerstones of the National Development Plan" said Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government following today's (23rd January 2007) publication of the National Development Plan 2007-2013 which includes investment of over €32 billion on measures for which his Department is responsible.
Environmental Sustainability
"The Government is convinced that economic growth and progressive environmental policies can, and must, go hand in hand. Sound environmental management is now an accepted prerequisite for all of Ireland's key industries and will create further economic opportunity. Environmental protection and economic progress are increasingly being viewed as mutually reinforcing.
Because of this the National Development Plan has been constructed around principles that are as environmentally robust as possible. The NDP does not simply list out some environmental projects on which money is to be spent: it analyses the principal environmental issues facing our country and it sets out the action to be taken to address them. Some of these actions require direct investment and some require other responses on our part. It adds up to a clear, rational and consistent approach which will generate results, just like the Plan as a whole" he said.
The Minister pointed out that some €25 billion will be invested in programmes generating an environmental dividend. The include, but are not limited to, public transport, water and waste water services, waste management, climate change, sustainable energy, natural and built heritage and research into environmental technologies. "All these programmes will give rise to real benefits for our environment. Better public transport systems will encourage people to switch from private to public transport and this is a win-win solution. It will enable people to travel for work or for pleasure more sustainably and quickly. It will see reductions in vehicle emissions and assist in meeting our Kyoto targets for greenhouse gases" said the Minister.
He also said that the Plan would continue to provide resources for drinking water quality, effluent disposal and waste management, all of which would build upon the rapid progress made in these services in recent years.
Achievements of NDP 2000-2006
"This National Development Plan is being launched from a very solid base" said the Minister "with huge investment made and real and lasting outputs achieved under the NDP 2000-2006 which positions us well for the next phase of the development of our economy and society". For example, under NDP 2000-2006:
· 337 water and wastewater projects were completed (up to the middle of 2006) with an investment of €3.2 billion over the period of the Plan. The increase in wastewater treatment capacity since 2000 is the equivalent to the needs of a population of 3.1 million. Irish wastewater discharges rose from 25% compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive in 2000 to over 90% today.
· 39,000 Local Authority and Voluntary Housing units and 12,400 Affordable Housing units were provided with an investment of over €10 billion;
· spending on non-national roads reached over €3.1 billion – 30% ahead of target. Over 51,000 kilometres of non-national roads were improved/restored between 2000 and the end of 2005;
· the 2013 national recycling target was achieved in 2005, 8 years ahead of schedule.
National Spatial Strategy/Gateways Innovation Fund
"The National Spatial Strategy has already been a driving force behind infrastructure decisions taken by Government since it was launched in 2002" said the Minister. "For example, it was a key influence in determining the scale and priority of investment under Transport 21. It has led to a reorientation of investment under my Department's water and sewerage services investment programme and had led to the introduction of a scheme to support development of Strategic Non-National Roads for NSS gateway areas. This new NDP allows us systematically thread the NSS through our investment policy."
Continued and accelerated implementation of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is the Government's main policy instrument for achieving more balanced regional development over the period of the NDP.
Under the NDP, investment in the regions, particularly infrastructure investment, will be based on the regional planning roadmap set out in the NSS and which has already been translated into regional planning guidelines which set the strategic policy agenda for local authority development plans at city and county level. These guidelines will be the template to secure good alignment between public investment plans at national level and physical planning at regional and local levels.
The Minister particularly welcomed the establishment of a dedicated Gateways Innovation Fund with an initial Exchequer allocation of €300 million to cover its operations over the period 2008-2010; this will be reviewed as part of the NDP Mid-term Review foreseen for 2010. In welcoming the Fund, Minister Roche said, "The Fund is evidence of the Government's commitment to the NSS. It will provide tangible support to the development of the nine Gateway cities and towns designated under the NSS allowing them to provide a competitive and vibrant environment for enterprise, and a high quality of life that attracts people to live in them. Strong Gateways will be drivers for the development of their wider regions, including surrounding towns, villages and rural areas ".
The Minister highlighted the interrelationship between environmental quality and the National Spatial Strategy. "This Plan is a good example of joined up thinking," he said. "Better spatial planning reduces our environmental footprint. It enables us to avoid long commuting distances, and to live close to the infrastructure and amenities on which a modern society depends. It will give rise to the critical mass of development that will repay investment in public transport. Everyone benefits. A better quality of life and a better environment can, and will, go hand in hand".
National Development Plan 2007-2013
"We have committed very significant resources under NDP 2007-2013 so that we can decisively tackle the remaining priority infrastructural challenges" said the Minister. He pointed to:
· a proposed investment of over €21 billion, of which about €15.5 billion, will come from the Exchequer, on housing measures that will address the accommodation needs of 140,000 households;
· an investment of €4.7 billion on Water Services, to facilitate economic, housing, and other development while ensuring that environmental sustainability objectives are achieved. Meeting the development needs of NSS gateways and hubs while be a key priority.
· a total of €4.3 billion being invested in non-national roads aimed at improvement of and maintenance of the non-national road network and on strategic non-national roads with a particular focus on roads in NSS gateway areas;
· waste management remaining a key priority with total investment of some €750 million by the public and private sectors. The main aim of this investment is to address the problems associated with legacy landfills, support, through private investment, the development of thermal treatment plants to reduce landfill usage and continue to promote recycling and recovery;
· the Government's commitment to achieving it's Kyoto protocol targets with a provision of up to €270 million for the purchase of carbon credits through the Carbon Fund which is to be established through legislation this year;
· investment of €895 million on community infrastructure, which includes €476 million for urban and village renewal, public libraries and fire services:
o The Urban and Village Renewal programme will support projects aimed at enhancing the public realm such as streetscapes, public buildings, squares, parks and riverfronts, cycling and pedestrian facilities.
o Investment under the libraries programme will be aimed at further improvement and expansion of the public library service through library infrastructure provision, ICT provision, improvements in the range and quality of the stock and improvements in service provision. This will build on the major programme of improvements introduced since 1998 with the publication of the Government's "Branching Out – a New Public Library Service". Since then, 51 new libraries have been opened including 9 in 2006.
o Investment in Fire Services will support the further development of this key service which has benefited from the completion of 37 new fire stations since 1999.
· significant investment being made across a range of other programmes including Built and Natural Heritage (€540 million) and Environmental Research (€93 million).
"The key challenge now is delivery and doing so in a way that secures cost certainty and value for money. A flexible construction industry, a well resourced local authority system, new fixed price contracts and new streamlined planning processes introduced under the Strategic Infrastructure Act are important parts of the armoury that will allow us achieve these objectives" concluded the Minister.
"Environmental sustainability and balanced regional development are cornerstones of the National Development Plan" said Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government following today's (23rd January 2007) publication of the National Development Plan 2007-2013 which includes investment of over €32 billion on measures for which his Department is responsible.
Environmental Sustainability
"The Government is convinced that economic growth and progressive environmental policies can, and must, go hand in hand. Sound environmental management is now an accepted prerequisite for all of Ireland's key industries and will create further economic opportunity. Environmental protection and economic progress are increasingly being viewed as mutually reinforcing.
Because of this the National Development Plan has been constructed around principles that are as environmentally robust as possible. The NDP does not simply list out some environmental projects on which money is to be spent: it analyses the principal environmental issues facing our country and it sets out the action to be taken to address them. Some of these actions require direct investment and some require other responses on our part. It adds up to a clear, rational and consistent approach which will generate results, just like the Plan as a whole" he said.
The Minister pointed out that some €25 billion will be invested in programmes generating an environmental dividend. The include, but are not limited to, public transport, water and waste water services, waste management, climate change, sustainable energy, natural and built heritage and research into environmental technologies. "All these programmes will give rise to real benefits for our environment. Better public transport systems will encourage people to switch from private to public transport and this is a win-win solution. It will enable people to travel for work or for pleasure more sustainably and quickly. It will see reductions in vehicle emissions and assist in meeting our Kyoto targets for greenhouse gases" said the Minister.
He also said that the Plan would continue to provide resources for drinking water quality, effluent disposal and waste management, all of which would build upon the rapid progress made in these services in recent years.
Achievements of NDP 2000-2006
"This National Development Plan is being launched from a very solid base" said the Minister "with huge investment made and real and lasting outputs achieved under the NDP 2000-2006 which positions us well for the next phase of the development of our economy and society". For example, under NDP 2000-2006:
· 337 water and wastewater projects were completed (up to the middle of 2006) with an investment of €3.2 billion over the period of the Plan. The increase in wastewater treatment capacity since 2000 is the equivalent to the needs of a population of 3.1 million. Irish wastewater discharges rose from 25% compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive in 2000 to over 90% today.
· 39,000 Local Authority and Voluntary Housing units and 12,400 Affordable Housing units were provided with an investment of over €10 billion;
· spending on non-national roads reached over €3.1 billion – 30% ahead of target. Over 51,000 kilometres of non-national roads were improved/restored between 2000 and the end of 2005;
· the 2013 national recycling target was achieved in 2005, 8 years ahead of schedule.
National Spatial Strategy/Gateways Innovation Fund
"The National Spatial Strategy has already been a driving force behind infrastructure decisions taken by Government since it was launched in 2002" said the Minister. "For example, it was a key influence in determining the scale and priority of investment under Transport 21. It has led to a reorientation of investment under my Department's water and sewerage services investment programme and had led to the introduction of a scheme to support development of Strategic Non-National Roads for NSS gateway areas. This new NDP allows us systematically thread the NSS through our investment policy."
Continued and accelerated implementation of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is the Government's main policy instrument for achieving more balanced regional development over the period of the NDP.
Under the NDP, investment in the regions, particularly infrastructure investment, will be based on the regional planning roadmap set out in the NSS and which has already been translated into regional planning guidelines which set the strategic policy agenda for local authority development plans at city and county level. These guidelines will be the template to secure good alignment between public investment plans at national level and physical planning at regional and local levels.
The Minister particularly welcomed the establishment of a dedicated Gateways Innovation Fund with an initial Exchequer allocation of €300 million to cover its operations over the period 2008-2010; this will be reviewed as part of the NDP Mid-term Review foreseen for 2010. In welcoming the Fund, Minister Roche said, "The Fund is evidence of the Government's commitment to the NSS. It will provide tangible support to the development of the nine Gateway cities and towns designated under the NSS allowing them to provide a competitive and vibrant environment for enterprise, and a high quality of life that attracts people to live in them. Strong Gateways will be drivers for the development of their wider regions, including surrounding towns, villages and rural areas ".
The Minister highlighted the interrelationship between environmental quality and the National Spatial Strategy. "This Plan is a good example of joined up thinking," he said. "Better spatial planning reduces our environmental footprint. It enables us to avoid long commuting distances, and to live close to the infrastructure and amenities on which a modern society depends. It will give rise to the critical mass of development that will repay investment in public transport. Everyone benefits. A better quality of life and a better environment can, and will, go hand in hand".
National Development Plan 2007-2013
"We have committed very significant resources under NDP 2007-2013 so that we can decisively tackle the remaining priority infrastructural challenges" said the Minister. He pointed to:
· a proposed investment of over €21 billion, of which about €15.5 billion, will come from the Exchequer, on housing measures that will address the accommodation needs of 140,000 households;
· an investment of €4.7 billion on Water Services, to facilitate economic, housing, and other development while ensuring that environmental sustainability objectives are achieved. Meeting the development needs of NSS gateways and hubs while be a key priority.
· a total of €4.3 billion being invested in non-national roads aimed at improvement of and maintenance of the non-national road network and on strategic non-national roads with a particular focus on roads in NSS gateway areas;
· waste management remaining a key priority with total investment of some €750 million by the public and private sectors. The main aim of this investment is to address the problems associated with legacy landfills, support, through private investment, the development of thermal treatment plants to reduce landfill usage and continue to promote recycling and recovery;
· the Government's commitment to achieving it's Kyoto protocol targets with a provision of up to €270 million for the purchase of carbon credits through the Carbon Fund which is to be established through legislation this year;
· investment of €895 million on community infrastructure, which includes €476 million for urban and village renewal, public libraries and fire services:
o The Urban and Village Renewal programme will support projects aimed at enhancing the public realm such as streetscapes, public buildings, squares, parks and riverfronts, cycling and pedestrian facilities.
o Investment under the libraries programme will be aimed at further improvement and expansion of the public library service through library infrastructure provision, ICT provision, improvements in the range and quality of the stock and improvements in service provision. This will build on the major programme of improvements introduced since 1998 with the publication of the Government's "Branching Out – a New Public Library Service". Since then, 51 new libraries have been opened including 9 in 2006.
o Investment in Fire Services will support the further development of this key service which has benefited from the completion of 37 new fire stations since 1999.
· significant investment being made across a range of other programmes including Built and Natural Heritage (€540 million) and Environmental Research (€93 million).
"The key challenge now is delivery and doing so in a way that secures cost certainty and value for money. A flexible construction industry, a well resourced local authority system, new fixed price contracts and new streamlined planning processes introduced under the Strategic Infrastructure Act are important parts of the armoury that will allow us achieve these objectives" concluded the Minister.
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
North Cork Dump Plan
The Corkman tells of how residents in Kildorrery are up in arms this week over proposals for the development of a landfill near the village which was previously turned down by An Bord Pleanála.
A planning application for the development of a landfill at Ballyguyroe has been lodged with Cork County Council by Dublin based company Greenstar Ltd, which failed in its bid to secure planning for a similar development on the same site back in 2004.
Plans for the landfill, which proposes to cater for 145,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per annum and comprising of eight landfill cells, has caused outrage amongst local residents who fought for years for the closure of a dump operated by Cork County Council in the same area.
Following a high court battle, the council dump was finally closed in 2000. Three years later, locals were also successful in preventing Greenstar from securing planning permission for a second landfill on the site next door. Following representations to An Bord Pleanála, a decision by Cork County Council not to grant planning was upheld with the Bord citing that such a development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
However, the company has now returned with renewed plans for a dump to which locals have responded by reactivating the former Kildorrery Anti-Dump Group.
A public meeting has been called to discuss the proposals which will take place at Kildorrery Community Hall on Wednesday next, January 17 at 8.30pm.
A spokesman for the group, who resides within a half mile of the proposed landfill, said they plan to do everything in their power to stop this development from going ahead amid fears of contamination to the local water supply and increased traffic levels arising from the development.
“We will be objecting to Cork County Council on a number of grounds, paying particular attention to the threat which this development poses to health and safety. Kildorrery has taken more than its fair share when it comes to the disposal of waste and we are not willing to go down that road again,” said the spokesman.
The group spokesman added that locals had been left enraged by the erection of the site notice at Ballyguyroe just days before Christmas.
“Did the company hope their plans would go un-noticed and the five week submission period would be up before locals realised what was happening? They couldn’t have been more wrong and we are urging locals to attend next week’s meeting to help us in the fight to protect our community,” he added.
Cllr Liam O’Doherty, chairman of the local dump monitoring committee, said he was astonished that on foot of two refusals Greenstar Ltd would return to the negotiating table.
“Communities cannot be expected to keep fighting these multinationals which continue to target rural communities with limited resources,” he said.
A planning application for the development of a landfill at Ballyguyroe has been lodged with Cork County Council by Dublin based company Greenstar Ltd, which failed in its bid to secure planning for a similar development on the same site back in 2004.
Plans for the landfill, which proposes to cater for 145,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per annum and comprising of eight landfill cells, has caused outrage amongst local residents who fought for years for the closure of a dump operated by Cork County Council in the same area.
Following a high court battle, the council dump was finally closed in 2000. Three years later, locals were also successful in preventing Greenstar from securing planning permission for a second landfill on the site next door. Following representations to An Bord Pleanála, a decision by Cork County Council not to grant planning was upheld with the Bord citing that such a development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
However, the company has now returned with renewed plans for a dump to which locals have responded by reactivating the former Kildorrery Anti-Dump Group.
A public meeting has been called to discuss the proposals which will take place at Kildorrery Community Hall on Wednesday next, January 17 at 8.30pm.
A spokesman for the group, who resides within a half mile of the proposed landfill, said they plan to do everything in their power to stop this development from going ahead amid fears of contamination to the local water supply and increased traffic levels arising from the development.
“We will be objecting to Cork County Council on a number of grounds, paying particular attention to the threat which this development poses to health and safety. Kildorrery has taken more than its fair share when it comes to the disposal of waste and we are not willing to go down that road again,” said the spokesman.
The group spokesman added that locals had been left enraged by the erection of the site notice at Ballyguyroe just days before Christmas.
“Did the company hope their plans would go un-noticed and the five week submission period would be up before locals realised what was happening? They couldn’t have been more wrong and we are urging locals to attend next week’s meeting to help us in the fight to protect our community,” he added.
Cllr Liam O’Doherty, chairman of the local dump monitoring committee, said he was astonished that on foot of two refusals Greenstar Ltd would return to the negotiating table.
“Communities cannot be expected to keep fighting these multinationals which continue to target rural communities with limited resources,” he said.
Neeed somewhere to live? Try a shed
A twist in Dublin's housing market has provoked outrage.
Local residents are fuming after An Bord Pleanala gave permission for a shed in a Blanchardstown garden to be used as living accommodation.
Fingal Co Council learned this week that the board had overruled the recommendation of its own inspector and of the council concerning use of the shed.
Neighbours of the property at Summerfield Meadows said they were bitterly disappointed by the decision.
Labour TD Joan Burton said the development was "astonishing" and "disturbing" and could open the floodgates for similar shed conversions.
The Dublin West TD called on the chair of An Bord Pleanala to explain how it reached the "extraordinary' decision".
She also urged him to explain what precedence it set for similar applications, whether in Dublin 15 or nationwide.
"In making its decision the board overturned both the recommendation of its own inspector and of Fingal Co Council, who quite rightly opposed the conversion of a concrete garden shed, in the back garden of a semi-detached house, into living accommodation," she said.
Although the decision allowed the shed to be used for living purposes for just five years, and it had to be occupied only by people connected to the household, it was difficult to see how the board or the council was going to check that this condition was complied with, she added.
Mother of one Tanya Grogan, whose garden backs onto the property, said: "We are very upset and disenchanted with the whole system," said "What is the point of having a planning system in place if you can build and then get permission retrospectively? People can obviously do what they like."
She added: "When our neighbour built a flat roof, my husband objected to the size of the shed, but one day we came home and there were roof trusses there.
"It is so imposing. It is like the size of a garden wall and then the same height again.
"I wrote to every councillor in the area to get them to do something."
The decision followed an appeal by David and Mary O'Donnell of Summerfield Meadows against a decision of July 11 last year by Fingal Co Council to refuse planning permission.
Anne-Marie Walsh
© Irish Independent
Local residents are fuming after An Bord Pleanala gave permission for a shed in a Blanchardstown garden to be used as living accommodation.
Fingal Co Council learned this week that the board had overruled the recommendation of its own inspector and of the council concerning use of the shed.
Neighbours of the property at Summerfield Meadows said they were bitterly disappointed by the decision.
Labour TD Joan Burton said the development was "astonishing" and "disturbing" and could open the floodgates for similar shed conversions.
The Dublin West TD called on the chair of An Bord Pleanala to explain how it reached the "extraordinary' decision".
She also urged him to explain what precedence it set for similar applications, whether in Dublin 15 or nationwide.
"In making its decision the board overturned both the recommendation of its own inspector and of Fingal Co Council, who quite rightly opposed the conversion of a concrete garden shed, in the back garden of a semi-detached house, into living accommodation," she said.
Although the decision allowed the shed to be used for living purposes for just five years, and it had to be occupied only by people connected to the household, it was difficult to see how the board or the council was going to check that this condition was complied with, she added.
Mother of one Tanya Grogan, whose garden backs onto the property, said: "We are very upset and disenchanted with the whole system," said "What is the point of having a planning system in place if you can build and then get permission retrospectively? People can obviously do what they like."
She added: "When our neighbour built a flat roof, my husband objected to the size of the shed, but one day we came home and there were roof trusses there.
"It is so imposing. It is like the size of a garden wall and then the same height again.
"I wrote to every councillor in the area to get them to do something."
The decision followed an appeal by David and Mary O'Donnell of Summerfield Meadows against a decision of July 11 last year by Fingal Co Council to refuse planning permission.
Anne-Marie Walsh
© Irish Independent
Houses built on dump
Paul Melia in the Irish Indo' writes of how a mother blames family's illnesses on poisons left under home by developer
NEW council houses have been built on a site which was used for illegal dumping.
And samples taken from the back garden of one house show that traces of dangerous chemicals remain in the soil.
Since moving in last year Mary Joyce claims her children - Ellen (9), Bernard (20), James (8) and John (16) - have been constantly sick.
She is worried that dangerous chemicals could be in her back garden, and wants a full investigation to be carried out.
"Since I came up here it's nothing but sore throats and sickness. The colour of my kids is divine white," she said.
Her two youngest children, she says, had good health in their old home in Ballymun flats at Balcurris Lane. Now they suffer from stomach aches, diarrhoea and continuous sores.
Residents believe more could be present throughout the site.
Yesterday Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said he believed the site was a dump that had been covered over and called for a full public inquiry.
The houses on Balbutcher Lane, off the St Margaret's Road in north Dublin, were built as part of the €1bn Ballymun regeneration project, were completed last year.
More than 90 homes are in the development, which were built at a cost of €15m.
A sample taken from Mary Joyce's house shows that traces of phenols and thiocyanate are present in the soil.
These substances can be found in landfills and waste water. They are used in the production of herbicides and insecticides and in industrial processes.
Exposure can cause respiratory irritation, headaches and other health difficulties.
One forensic scientist said the phenols and thiocyanate could be 'witnesses' to serious contamination as they could move throughout a site and might be found in greater quantities elsewhere.
They suggested a full site investigation be carried out to ensure that residents health was not at risk.
Yesterday Ballymun Regeneration Ltd - an arm of Dublin City Council charged with redeveloping the north Dublin suburb - confirmed that the site on which the houses were built was used as an illegal dump.
Abandoned cars had to be removed before building work commenced but the council rejected allegations that there was a health risk to residents.
"Ballymun Regeneration is satisfied that there is no contamination on the site of Carton Court that could cause any risk to health," a statement said.
"The site in question was never a landfill site although it had been used for fly tipping and abandoned cars had to be removed before any development took place."
It said a specialist company had been commissioned to carry out site investigations and these showed no evidence of contamination.
It added that testing of one soil sample could not be considered representative of the whole area, and that it was satisfied there was no risk to human health.
But yesterday Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said he believed that waste discovered on the site had been covered over, and that the site had been a dump which was simply covered over.
He called for a series of independent tests and a full public inquiry.
NEW council houses have been built on a site which was used for illegal dumping.
And samples taken from the back garden of one house show that traces of dangerous chemicals remain in the soil.
Since moving in last year Mary Joyce claims her children - Ellen (9), Bernard (20), James (8) and John (16) - have been constantly sick.
She is worried that dangerous chemicals could be in her back garden, and wants a full investigation to be carried out.
"Since I came up here it's nothing but sore throats and sickness. The colour of my kids is divine white," she said.
Her two youngest children, she says, had good health in their old home in Ballymun flats at Balcurris Lane. Now they suffer from stomach aches, diarrhoea and continuous sores.
Residents believe more could be present throughout the site.
Yesterday Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said he believed the site was a dump that had been covered over and called for a full public inquiry.
The houses on Balbutcher Lane, off the St Margaret's Road in north Dublin, were built as part of the €1bn Ballymun regeneration project, were completed last year.
More than 90 homes are in the development, which were built at a cost of €15m.
A sample taken from Mary Joyce's house shows that traces of phenols and thiocyanate are present in the soil.
These substances can be found in landfills and waste water. They are used in the production of herbicides and insecticides and in industrial processes.
Exposure can cause respiratory irritation, headaches and other health difficulties.
One forensic scientist said the phenols and thiocyanate could be 'witnesses' to serious contamination as they could move throughout a site and might be found in greater quantities elsewhere.
They suggested a full site investigation be carried out to ensure that residents health was not at risk.
Yesterday Ballymun Regeneration Ltd - an arm of Dublin City Council charged with redeveloping the north Dublin suburb - confirmed that the site on which the houses were built was used as an illegal dump.
Abandoned cars had to be removed before building work commenced but the council rejected allegations that there was a health risk to residents.
"Ballymun Regeneration is satisfied that there is no contamination on the site of Carton Court that could cause any risk to health," a statement said.
"The site in question was never a landfill site although it had been used for fly tipping and abandoned cars had to be removed before any development took place."
It said a specialist company had been commissioned to carry out site investigations and these showed no evidence of contamination.
It added that testing of one soil sample could not be considered representative of the whole area, and that it was satisfied there was no risk to human health.
But yesterday Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said he believed that waste discovered on the site had been covered over, and that the site had been a dump which was simply covered over.
He called for a series of independent tests and a full public inquiry.
RPS Planning Consultants hired to help Shell
Laura Siggins in The Irish Times Shell tells us that E&P Ireland has hired consultants RPS to assist it in finding a modified route for the controversial Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
The company's brief includes "consultation around the criteria for finding a modified route, surveying and mapping, engineering design, environmental assessment, procurement support and construction supervision", Shell said yesterday in a statement.
Public meetings are promised as part of the lengthy procedure which the company has been pursuing since a modified route was proposed by Government mediator Peter Cassells six months ago.
Under the company's plan, construction of its terminal at Bellanaboy may be well under way before a proposal for modification is submitted to Government.
Daily protests by residents as part of the Shell to Sea campaign are still continuing at the terminal site, and several demonstrators were injured last Friday in altercations with gardaí.
More than 100 gardaí are still deployed in Belmullet as part of security for Shell staff.
Shell has applied for a foreshore licence to carry out surveys on one alternative pipeline route via Sruwaddaccon Bay and is currently awaiting a decision from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
RPS is described as a company which is "highly experienced in gas pipeline routing and environmental assessment", having worked for Bord Gáis on the 335km gas pipeline from Dublin to Galway-Limerick in 2002.
Shell also said yesterday that more than 200 people, "including a number of school groups", attended its open days last week in Castlebar and Ballina, Co Mayo
The company's brief includes "consultation around the criteria for finding a modified route, surveying and mapping, engineering design, environmental assessment, procurement support and construction supervision", Shell said yesterday in a statement.
Public meetings are promised as part of the lengthy procedure which the company has been pursuing since a modified route was proposed by Government mediator Peter Cassells six months ago.
Under the company's plan, construction of its terminal at Bellanaboy may be well under way before a proposal for modification is submitted to Government.
Daily protests by residents as part of the Shell to Sea campaign are still continuing at the terminal site, and several demonstrators were injured last Friday in altercations with gardaí.
More than 100 gardaí are still deployed in Belmullet as part of security for Shell staff.
Shell has applied for a foreshore licence to carry out surveys on one alternative pipeline route via Sruwaddaccon Bay and is currently awaiting a decision from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
RPS is described as a company which is "highly experienced in gas pipeline routing and environmental assessment", having worked for Bord Gáis on the 335km gas pipeline from Dublin to Galway-Limerick in 2002.
Shell also said yesterday that more than 200 people, "including a number of school groups", attended its open days last week in Castlebar and Ballina, Co Mayo
Corrib protesters bruised
Liam McNally in The Irish Times writes of how three people sought hospital treatment following scuffles between gardaí and protesters outside Shell's Corrib gas site in north Mayo yesterday.
Between 50 and 60 protesters from the Shell to Sea campaign gathered at Bellanaboy bridge when workers at the Shell site were being driven past to the refinery site's entrance gates.
A Garda spokesman said scuffles broke out after a garda was attacked and pulled among the protesters. Other gardaí went to his assistance and were assaulted. He said some had their uniforms torn in the incident.
The spokesman denied batons had been used by gardaí and rejected claims that some gardaí were not wearing mandatory identity numbers on their shoulders. He said a Garda sergeant was pushed into the path of a slow-moving bus carrying Shell workers. He was not seriously injured and remained on duty.
Three protesters - all local men - were injured in the scuffle. One was driven to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar, some 45 miles away. Another man received three stitches to an injury on his face, while a third man, with a suspected broken nose, also attended the hospital later for an X-ray.
An American television crew filming in north Mayo yesterday captured the incidents on camera. Gardaí are investigating the confrontation.
PJ Moran from the Shell to Sea campaign denied that protesters started the trouble.
"A Garda sergeant recognised one of the men in the group and ordered another garda to pull out the man. That is how it all started. That is when the scuffles broke out. We categorically deny that Shell to Sea initiated the incident."
Mr Moran also rejected the Garda claim that no baton was used. "One man was injured by a baton today. He was struck on the back of the head and a family member drove him to hospital for treatment. Several people asked to speak to the commanding officer today but no garda came forward."
Between 50 and 60 protesters from the Shell to Sea campaign gathered at Bellanaboy bridge when workers at the Shell site were being driven past to the refinery site's entrance gates.
A Garda spokesman said scuffles broke out after a garda was attacked and pulled among the protesters. Other gardaí went to his assistance and were assaulted. He said some had their uniforms torn in the incident.
The spokesman denied batons had been used by gardaí and rejected claims that some gardaí were not wearing mandatory identity numbers on their shoulders. He said a Garda sergeant was pushed into the path of a slow-moving bus carrying Shell workers. He was not seriously injured and remained on duty.
Three protesters - all local men - were injured in the scuffle. One was driven to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar, some 45 miles away. Another man received three stitches to an injury on his face, while a third man, with a suspected broken nose, also attended the hospital later for an X-ray.
An American television crew filming in north Mayo yesterday captured the incidents on camera. Gardaí are investigating the confrontation.
PJ Moran from the Shell to Sea campaign denied that protesters started the trouble.
"A Garda sergeant recognised one of the men in the group and ordered another garda to pull out the man. That is how it all started. That is when the scuffles broke out. We categorically deny that Shell to Sea initiated the incident."
Mr Moran also rejected the Garda claim that no baton was used. "One man was injured by a baton today. He was struck on the back of the head and a family member drove him to hospital for treatment. Several people asked to speak to the commanding officer today but no garda came forward."
Will the new NDP be better than the last?
Frank McDonald in The Irish Times tells how the new National Development Plan will be unveiled next week, but the current plan was a disaster, writes Frank McDonald , Environment Editor.
It is no secret that one of the key elements of the current National Development Plan (NDP) - the completion "by 2006" of motorways or dual-carriageways linking Dublin with Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and the Border, north of Dundalk - has not been realised.
It is also no secret that these roads will cost a lot more than the estimate of €5.6 billion given in the NDP when it was launched in November 1999. In fact, this "rough, ballpark, back-of-the-envelope" figure - as Seamus Brennan called it later - was a fiction from the start.
The original figure came from the National Roads Authority (NRA), but it was for something different altogether. As envisaged by its 1998 National Road Needs Study, the existing routes were to be upgraded, some to motorway standard, with bypasses built to relieve towns along the way.
But, less than 12 months later, the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure - consisting of Bertie Ahern, Mary Harney, Charlie McCreevy, Noel Dempsey, Mary O'Rourke and John O'Donoghue - decided to go for a motorway programme, and the NRA was told to recast its plans.
Despite this, Charlie McCreevy - then minister for finance - refused to increase the NDP allocation to reflect the likely cost of the Government's more ambitious programme. But even if the figure had been more factual, it would soon have been overtaken by construction inflation.
The cost of building roads doubled within a few years, fuelling spectacular over-runs - 92.4 per cent on the Cavan bypass (€33 million), 98.6 per cent on
the Nenagh bypass (€43 million), 117 per cent on the Drogheda bypass (€244 million), 306 per cent on the Youghal bypass (€44 million), and so on.
As a result, the estimate for completing the NDP roads programme rapidly rose to nearly €16 billion, and the Department of Finance was warned by economic consultants Fitzpatrick & Associates, in their November 2002 mid-term review, that the final bill could be €22 billion or more.
While stricter cost controls and better management have delivered more recent road projects within budget, the real issue is whether the plans currently being pursued make any sense - especially in terms of promoting the oft-repeated but elusive goal of "balanced regional development".
How can this be achieved if all of our major roads converge on Dublin (with the sole exception of the "Atlantic Corridor" mooted in Transport 21, the Government's capital investment framework for transport development)? There, they will feed into the congested M50, which will carry even heavier volumes of traffic after its €1 billion upgrade is completed in 2010.
What other country in Europe would have four motorways - the M1, M2, M3 and proposed Outer Orbital Ring road (an M50 bypass, in effect) - running virtually parallel within a corridor just 30km wide? The answer is none, mainly because planning for motorways is done more rationally elsewhere. The NDP never explicitly stated that the Government had opted for greenfield motorways, running parallel to the old national routes; this only emerged later. But had the Cabinet sub-committee examined a map of Ireland closely, it could have planned a quite different motorway network.
FOR EXAMPLE, AS former IFA president Joe Rea suggested in 2001, both Limerick and Cork could have been served by one motorway routed via north Tipperary running northeastwards to Dublin. Alternatively, a Cork-Dublin motorway could have been routed east to serve Waterford on the way.
Either of these options would have been much cheaper, and would have done more to promote regional development by providing a high-quality route between two of the smaller cities. But nobody who made the fateful decision to go for a radial motorway network ever thought so laterally.
As James Nix and I showed in our book, Chaos at the Crossroads, ministers had no real evidence on which to base this decision. It was grounded on the dubious assumption that the best way to grow regional cities at a faster rate than Dublin is to ensure better access to and from Dublin.
Radial motorways will simply reinforce Ireland's east coast-loaded regional imbalance. In Germany, by contrast, road planners have prevented the development of a "hub and spoke" motorway network because they realise that its centralising effects would be almost impossible to counter.Entirely new greenfield motorways, consuming thousands of acres of farmland, were chosen here because it would have been too controversial to compulsorily
acquire and demolish hundreds of one-off houses strung out along existing national routes, so that they could be widened.
In May 2002, Noel Dempsey warned that up to 1,500 homes would have to be demolished to improve existing national routes along the lines proposed by the NRA's Road Needs Study. "What we're trying to do is to get value for money by long-term planning", he said at the time.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S planning for motorways takes no account of wider environmental implications, notably the car-dependent sprawl they would inevitably promote and the rise in road transport's carbon dioxide emissions, which are up by 144 per cent - the highest for any sector.
Just this week, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen announced an allocation of €1.53 billion for NRA projects in 2007, which works out at €4 million-plus per day. The effect of all this spending on roads will lock us into car dependency at a time when global oil production is about to peak.
It is also a myth that the motorways are needed to cater for long-distance traffic. Roads may account for 96 per cent of all passenger traffic in the State, but the overwhelming majority of these trips are relatively short hops, typically for commuting, rather than long journeys from city to city. This was confirmed by a survey carried out by Scetauroute, a French toll consulting company, for the NRA's National Road Needs Study; it found that the number of vehicles travelling the full distance of a national route was low; the highest was just 1,700 per day between Dublin and Cork.
Yet, over the past seven years, massive investment in new roads outstripped public transport by a ratio of four to one. Indeed, some of the rail projects - such as four-tracking the Kildare line to separate commuter and mainline services - were dusted down to reappear in Transport 21.
On the last page of the NDP, an appendix conceded that "some unsustainable patterns of development" could emerge within its framework, as a result of "the pace of current economic development, unforeseen interaction between measures, or [ other] unanticipated consequences".
That's the classic get-out clause by a laissez-faire Government whose greatest single legacy is car-dependent sprawl.
It is no secret that one of the key elements of the current National Development Plan (NDP) - the completion "by 2006" of motorways or dual-carriageways linking Dublin with Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and the Border, north of Dundalk - has not been realised.
It is also no secret that these roads will cost a lot more than the estimate of €5.6 billion given in the NDP when it was launched in November 1999. In fact, this "rough, ballpark, back-of-the-envelope" figure - as Seamus Brennan called it later - was a fiction from the start.
The original figure came from the National Roads Authority (NRA), but it was for something different altogether. As envisaged by its 1998 National Road Needs Study, the existing routes were to be upgraded, some to motorway standard, with bypasses built to relieve towns along the way.
But, less than 12 months later, the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure - consisting of Bertie Ahern, Mary Harney, Charlie McCreevy, Noel Dempsey, Mary O'Rourke and John O'Donoghue - decided to go for a motorway programme, and the NRA was told to recast its plans.
Despite this, Charlie McCreevy - then minister for finance - refused to increase the NDP allocation to reflect the likely cost of the Government's more ambitious programme. But even if the figure had been more factual, it would soon have been overtaken by construction inflation.
The cost of building roads doubled within a few years, fuelling spectacular over-runs - 92.4 per cent on the Cavan bypass (€33 million), 98.6 per cent on
the Nenagh bypass (€43 million), 117 per cent on the Drogheda bypass (€244 million), 306 per cent on the Youghal bypass (€44 million), and so on.
As a result, the estimate for completing the NDP roads programme rapidly rose to nearly €16 billion, and the Department of Finance was warned by economic consultants Fitzpatrick & Associates, in their November 2002 mid-term review, that the final bill could be €22 billion or more.
While stricter cost controls and better management have delivered more recent road projects within budget, the real issue is whether the plans currently being pursued make any sense - especially in terms of promoting the oft-repeated but elusive goal of "balanced regional development".
How can this be achieved if all of our major roads converge on Dublin (with the sole exception of the "Atlantic Corridor" mooted in Transport 21, the Government's capital investment framework for transport development)? There, they will feed into the congested M50, which will carry even heavier volumes of traffic after its €1 billion upgrade is completed in 2010.
What other country in Europe would have four motorways - the M1, M2, M3 and proposed Outer Orbital Ring road (an M50 bypass, in effect) - running virtually parallel within a corridor just 30km wide? The answer is none, mainly because planning for motorways is done more rationally elsewhere. The NDP never explicitly stated that the Government had opted for greenfield motorways, running parallel to the old national routes; this only emerged later. But had the Cabinet sub-committee examined a map of Ireland closely, it could have planned a quite different motorway network.
FOR EXAMPLE, AS former IFA president Joe Rea suggested in 2001, both Limerick and Cork could have been served by one motorway routed via north Tipperary running northeastwards to Dublin. Alternatively, a Cork-Dublin motorway could have been routed east to serve Waterford on the way.
Either of these options would have been much cheaper, and would have done more to promote regional development by providing a high-quality route between two of the smaller cities. But nobody who made the fateful decision to go for a radial motorway network ever thought so laterally.
As James Nix and I showed in our book, Chaos at the Crossroads, ministers had no real evidence on which to base this decision. It was grounded on the dubious assumption that the best way to grow regional cities at a faster rate than Dublin is to ensure better access to and from Dublin.
Radial motorways will simply reinforce Ireland's east coast-loaded regional imbalance. In Germany, by contrast, road planners have prevented the development of a "hub and spoke" motorway network because they realise that its centralising effects would be almost impossible to counter.Entirely new greenfield motorways, consuming thousands of acres of farmland, were chosen here because it would have been too controversial to compulsorily
acquire and demolish hundreds of one-off houses strung out along existing national routes, so that they could be widened.
In May 2002, Noel Dempsey warned that up to 1,500 homes would have to be demolished to improve existing national routes along the lines proposed by the NRA's Road Needs Study. "What we're trying to do is to get value for money by long-term planning", he said at the time.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S planning for motorways takes no account of wider environmental implications, notably the car-dependent sprawl they would inevitably promote and the rise in road transport's carbon dioxide emissions, which are up by 144 per cent - the highest for any sector.
Just this week, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen announced an allocation of €1.53 billion for NRA projects in 2007, which works out at €4 million-plus per day. The effect of all this spending on roads will lock us into car dependency at a time when global oil production is about to peak.
It is also a myth that the motorways are needed to cater for long-distance traffic. Roads may account for 96 per cent of all passenger traffic in the State, but the overwhelming majority of these trips are relatively short hops, typically for commuting, rather than long journeys from city to city. This was confirmed by a survey carried out by Scetauroute, a French toll consulting company, for the NRA's National Road Needs Study; it found that the number of vehicles travelling the full distance of a national route was low; the highest was just 1,700 per day between Dublin and Cork.
Yet, over the past seven years, massive investment in new roads outstripped public transport by a ratio of four to one. Indeed, some of the rail projects - such as four-tracking the Kildare line to separate commuter and mainline services - were dusted down to reappear in Transport 21.
On the last page of the NDP, an appendix conceded that "some unsustainable patterns of development" could emerge within its framework, as a result of "the pace of current economic development, unforeseen interaction between measures, or [ other] unanticipated consequences".
That's the classic get-out clause by a laissez-faire Government whose greatest single legacy is car-dependent sprawl.
Monday, 22 January 2007
IRELAND LAST EU STATE NOT TO RATIFY AARHUS CONVENTION
As of 15 January, Ireland has become the only EU state not to ratify the Aarhus Convention.
The Aarhus convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters is the world's most far-reaching treaty on environmental rights.
It seeks to promote greater transparency and accountability among government bodies by
a. guaranteeing public rights of access to environmental information
b. providing for public involvement in environmental decision-making
c. requiring the establishment of procedures enabling the public to challenge environmental decisions.
It creates a means by which citizens from across the entire region can enforce their rights to protect and enhance the environment.
The Convention was adopted in Aarhus, Denmark, in June 1998 and signed by 39 European and Central Asian countries and the European Community. It entered into force in October 2001. Its Parties now include most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia and nearly all EU member States.
Ireland is now the sole European Union country that has not ratified the Convention.
The two relevant EU Directives have also not been fully implemented by Ireland.
A spokesman commented that 'eastern European countries with no democratic tradition have embraced environmental justice more readily than Ireland.'
The Aarhus convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters is the world's most far-reaching treaty on environmental rights.
It seeks to promote greater transparency and accountability among government bodies by
a. guaranteeing public rights of access to environmental information
b. providing for public involvement in environmental decision-making
c. requiring the establishment of procedures enabling the public to challenge environmental decisions.
It creates a means by which citizens from across the entire region can enforce their rights to protect and enhance the environment.
The Convention was adopted in Aarhus, Denmark, in June 1998 and signed by 39 European and Central Asian countries and the European Community. It entered into force in October 2001. Its Parties now include most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia and nearly all EU member States.
Ireland is now the sole European Union country that has not ratified the Convention.
The two relevant EU Directives have also not been fully implemented by Ireland.
A spokesman commented that 'eastern European countries with no democratic tradition have embraced environmental justice more readily than Ireland.'
Sunday, 21 January 2007
Integrated tickets at last?
Ken Griffin in the Sunday Business Post tell us that the two state-owned transport companies look set to bring in new smartcard systems that passengers will not be able to use for both bus and rail services.
Two state-owned transport companies look set to bring in new smartcard systems that passengers will not be able to use for both bus and rail services.
This is despite an integration scheme for Dublin, which was first announced in 1999.
Dublin Bus and Iarnrod Eireann will introduce their own electronic smartcards with the consent of the Department of Transport.
The department declined to say when integrated ticketing, which will allow passengers to use the same ticket on Dublin Bus, the Dart and Luas, would be introduced, even though it spent €1.5 million on the project last year.
The total cost of the project so far stands at €11 million.
Dublin Bus has already tendered for its scheme, which will cost €400,000 to introduce. It will see the replacement of its current magnetic tickets, which have been in use for almost 20 years.
A company spokeswoman said it had secured the approval of the state’s integrated ticketing project board for the scheme. The board, which was established by the government last August, is the body now responsible for introducing the project.
‘‘This is an essential interim phase in the development of the full scheme. Ultimately the cards will be replaced by the final scheme card,” said the spokeswoman.
The department confirmed that Iarnrod Eireann is set to introduce its own smartcard, which will not be compatible with integrated ticketing.
‘‘An interim smartcard system for a limited number of stations in the greater Dublin area and limited to a small number of products is planned,” said a spokeswoman for the department.
She said this approach had been used by many other cities, where smartcard schemes were rolled out and then integrated.
‘‘The approach allows customers and staff to familiarise themselves with the new technology gradually as the concept is rolled out,” she said.
However, Fine Gael’s transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell claimed that the introduction of the different smartcard schemes was down to the unwillingness of public transport providers to take part in integrated ticketing.
‘‘It’s really bizarre. State agencies have sought to subvert the will of the people. The government told them to participate but they have worked against it,” she said.
Mitchell said integrated ticketing was ‘‘dead in the water unless someone takes charge and bangs some heads together.
‘‘If we are ever to get the full benefit of the huge investment in public transport, we must have an integrated ticketing system but I don’t think there is any real plan in place.”
Two state-owned transport companies look set to bring in new smartcard systems that passengers will not be able to use for both bus and rail services.
This is despite an integration scheme for Dublin, which was first announced in 1999.
Dublin Bus and Iarnrod Eireann will introduce their own electronic smartcards with the consent of the Department of Transport.
The department declined to say when integrated ticketing, which will allow passengers to use the same ticket on Dublin Bus, the Dart and Luas, would be introduced, even though it spent €1.5 million on the project last year.
The total cost of the project so far stands at €11 million.
Dublin Bus has already tendered for its scheme, which will cost €400,000 to introduce. It will see the replacement of its current magnetic tickets, which have been in use for almost 20 years.
A company spokeswoman said it had secured the approval of the state’s integrated ticketing project board for the scheme. The board, which was established by the government last August, is the body now responsible for introducing the project.
‘‘This is an essential interim phase in the development of the full scheme. Ultimately the cards will be replaced by the final scheme card,” said the spokeswoman.
The department confirmed that Iarnrod Eireann is set to introduce its own smartcard, which will not be compatible with integrated ticketing.
‘‘An interim smartcard system for a limited number of stations in the greater Dublin area and limited to a small number of products is planned,” said a spokeswoman for the department.
She said this approach had been used by many other cities, where smartcard schemes were rolled out and then integrated.
‘‘The approach allows customers and staff to familiarise themselves with the new technology gradually as the concept is rolled out,” she said.
However, Fine Gael’s transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell claimed that the introduction of the different smartcard schemes was down to the unwillingness of public transport providers to take part in integrated ticketing.
‘‘It’s really bizarre. State agencies have sought to subvert the will of the people. The government told them to participate but they have worked against it,” she said.
Mitchell said integrated ticketing was ‘‘dead in the water unless someone takes charge and bangs some heads together.
‘‘If we are ever to get the full benefit of the huge investment in public transport, we must have an integrated ticketing system but I don’t think there is any real plan in place.”
Expansion of Blanchardstown Shopping Centre - More Traffic Chaos?
Neil Callanan writing in the Sunday Business Post tells us of how one of the biggest shopping centres in the country will be significantly expanded in a €250 million investment.
Shops, offices, restaurants, apartments and leisure facilities are to be built at Blanchardstown Town Centre in west Dublin.
The investment is in addition to €100 million being spent by Green Property on a new fashion retail park, multi-storey car park, hotel and apartments. The centre will increase in size by 50,000 square metres - almost 50 per cent.
The company’s development director, Paul Culhane, said the company, which is worth about €1.25 billion, was planning to expand substantially.
‘'We’re looking for opportunities and we have the capacity to do another Blanchardstown town centre-type scheme,” he said.
Culhane said the company would make acquisitions in Britain and Ireland.
‘‘We closed two deals in Britain before Christmas and are currently looking at two more,” Culhane said. ‘‘We hope to have five to six deals there completed by year end.”
Green Property has bought a seven-acre office park in the south-east of England at Weybridge, Surrey, in a joint venture with private clients of Anglo Irish Bank.
The company has also bought a building on Grafton Street off Bond Street, London, which it plans to convert into offices and apartments.
He said the company was looking at site purchases in Ireland and was interested in talking to potential joint venture partners with underdeveloped sites.
Culhane said the company was concentrating on office, retail and industrial developments.
Shops, offices, restaurants, apartments and leisure facilities are to be built at Blanchardstown Town Centre in west Dublin.
The investment is in addition to €100 million being spent by Green Property on a new fashion retail park, multi-storey car park, hotel and apartments. The centre will increase in size by 50,000 square metres - almost 50 per cent.
The company’s development director, Paul Culhane, said the company, which is worth about €1.25 billion, was planning to expand substantially.
‘'We’re looking for opportunities and we have the capacity to do another Blanchardstown town centre-type scheme,” he said.
Culhane said the company would make acquisitions in Britain and Ireland.
‘‘We closed two deals in Britain before Christmas and are currently looking at two more,” Culhane said. ‘‘We hope to have five to six deals there completed by year end.”
Green Property has bought a seven-acre office park in the south-east of England at Weybridge, Surrey, in a joint venture with private clients of Anglo Irish Bank.
The company has also bought a building on Grafton Street off Bond Street, London, which it plans to convert into offices and apartments.
He said the company was looking at site purchases in Ireland and was interested in talking to potential joint venture partners with underdeveloped sites.
Culhane said the company was concentrating on office, retail and industrial developments.
Friday, 19 January 2007
Windfarm proposal for Ballina
The Western People tell us that a windfarm is in the pipelines for Ballina. A planning application was submitted to the Council at the end of last year to construct a 29.9mw farm consisting of 13 turbines with a 64 metre hub height at Carrowleagh, Ballina.
Permission is also sought for access roads to each turbine in addition to upgrade of existing roads, substation building and temporary contractors compound.
Applicants Joseph, Martin and Michael Loftus, with an address in Charlestown, can expect a decision from planners on the project at the end of February.
Permission is also sought for access roads to each turbine in addition to upgrade of existing roads, substation building and temporary contractors compound.
Applicants Joseph, Martin and Michael Loftus, with an address in Charlestown, can expect a decision from planners on the project at the end of February.
Cork villa proposed for global list of at-risk sites
John Downes in The Irish Times writes that a Co Cork villa dating from 1784 which is in a state of significant disrepair has been nominated by the Irish Georgian Society (IGS) for inclusion on a list of the world's 100 most endangered sites.
Vernon Mount in Douglas, Co Cork was proposed for the 2008 world monuments watchlist, which is compiled by the New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF).
According to IGS deputy director Donough Cahill, it is hoped that inclusion on the list will give the building a "fresh chance" by raising its profile internationally. It could also attract funding for necessary conservation work on the building, he said.
The society said that despite Vernon Mount's beauty, significance and status as a protected structure, it stood empty and in a "desperate" state of neglect. "Window panes are smashed throughout the house, there is a large hole in the roof with slipped slates visible in many places, and the gutters and down pipes, where they exist, are largely broken and ineffective," the society said.
"It is clear that this neglect will allow the free access of rainwater, which causes considerable concern for the house and, in particular, for the decorative interiors and paintings within."
Legal notices issued by Cork County Council requiring repair works and access for local authority officials have not yet been complied with, according to the IGS. However, a spokesman for the owners of Vernon Mount, VM Restoration Ltd, which unsuccessfully sought to redevelop the property in 1997, said it had been in a state of disrepair for many years before the company's involvement with the property. He said there had been ongoing maintenance works on the house over the years, and the company was attempting to repair the roof, but had been hampered by poor weather conditions and health and safety issues.
"The company is doing a huge amount of work behind the scenes," he said. "I would hope that [ nomination for the list] would bring something positive to it. If it were to serve to focus the county council on coming up with a constructive solution, it could be of benefit." VM Restoration is owned by US-based Irish businessman Jonathan Moss. Vernon Mount was built in 1784 as a suburban villa for Sir Henry Browne Hayes, sheriff of Cork. The IGS considers it to be one of the finest neo-classical houses in Ireland. It is distinguished for its facade design, the sophistication of its planning and its decorative interiors.
"Of additional great interest in the house are fixed paintings depicting classical mythological figures by the accomplished 18th century Cork artist, Nathaniel Grogan," it said. Grogan's oil on canvas paintings are mounted on the ceiling of the ground-floor drawing room and on doors and niches in the first-floor vestibule.
The WMF is a private, non-profit organisation. Its watchlist is seen as a global "call to action" for sites in need of immediate intervention.
Vernon Mount in Douglas, Co Cork was proposed for the 2008 world monuments watchlist, which is compiled by the New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF).
According to IGS deputy director Donough Cahill, it is hoped that inclusion on the list will give the building a "fresh chance" by raising its profile internationally. It could also attract funding for necessary conservation work on the building, he said.
The society said that despite Vernon Mount's beauty, significance and status as a protected structure, it stood empty and in a "desperate" state of neglect. "Window panes are smashed throughout the house, there is a large hole in the roof with slipped slates visible in many places, and the gutters and down pipes, where they exist, are largely broken and ineffective," the society said.
"It is clear that this neglect will allow the free access of rainwater, which causes considerable concern for the house and, in particular, for the decorative interiors and paintings within."
Legal notices issued by Cork County Council requiring repair works and access for local authority officials have not yet been complied with, according to the IGS. However, a spokesman for the owners of Vernon Mount, VM Restoration Ltd, which unsuccessfully sought to redevelop the property in 1997, said it had been in a state of disrepair for many years before the company's involvement with the property. He said there had been ongoing maintenance works on the house over the years, and the company was attempting to repair the roof, but had been hampered by poor weather conditions and health and safety issues.
"The company is doing a huge amount of work behind the scenes," he said. "I would hope that [ nomination for the list] would bring something positive to it. If it were to serve to focus the county council on coming up with a constructive solution, it could be of benefit." VM Restoration is owned by US-based Irish businessman Jonathan Moss. Vernon Mount was built in 1784 as a suburban villa for Sir Henry Browne Hayes, sheriff of Cork. The IGS considers it to be one of the finest neo-classical houses in Ireland. It is distinguished for its facade design, the sophistication of its planning and its decorative interiors.
"Of additional great interest in the house are fixed paintings depicting classical mythological figures by the accomplished 18th century Cork artist, Nathaniel Grogan," it said. Grogan's oil on canvas paintings are mounted on the ceiling of the ground-floor drawing room and on doors and niches in the first-floor vestibule.
The WMF is a private, non-profit organisation. Its watchlist is seen as a global "call to action" for sites in need of immediate intervention.
Pearse Farrell takes on Ballina
Phoenix Magazine writes about how ERSTWHILE developer Pearse Farrell – better known for his skills as a liquidator – is not getting one inch of slack from residents of Ballina, whom he infuriated back in 2005 with his original plan for a 24-room hotel on the site of the old Ice House, which is a protected structure. Farrell is now seeking to add four “spa suites” and one bedroom, a contentious request considering that this will increase the development by 50 sq m. The Concerned Quay Residents’ Group has fired in an angry appeal to An Bord Pleanala, calling Farrell’s application “preposterous” given the “massive overdevelopment” on the site and one which will worsen the inadequate car parking facilities. Bord Pleanála inspector Emer Doyle agreed with the residents on the original application in November 2005 and also found it to be a material contravention of local planning guidelines. Moreso, Doyle believed the traffic from the hotel would “endanger public safety”. But happily for Farrell, Doyle’s bosses overruled her and gave his hotel the green light. The bolshy residents, fronted by Fianna Fáil councillor Willie Nolan, have threatened to take the case all the way to the European courts. Nolan isn’t the only Soldier of Destiny rowing in behind the residents – Mayo candidate Dara Calleary also criticised the development following storm damage in December which caused newlyerected hoarding to collapse, blocking road access for hours. It will be recalled that project architect Joe Kennedy rushed through the original plans for the hotel to meet a December 2004 tax incentive deadline, a
Planning hearing over Ikea welcomed
Paul Melia in the Indo' tells us that AN BORD Pleanala is to hold a public hearing on plans to open an Ikea store in Dublin.
The move comes after six parties objected to Fingal County Council granting planning permission for the 30,000 sq m store last October, with 14 of the 32 planning conditions relating to transport and traffic and concerns the store would cause congestion in the Ballymun area. The hearing is expected in March.
"I welcome the oral hearing as it will allow a public forum where the planning and development issues involved can be addressed," Transport spokesman Eamon Ryan TD - one of the objectors - said.
Traffic
"Our concern all along has not been the introduction of an Ikea store, but the traffic and gridlock that has developed on the back of bad planning policies.
"A hearing will allow Ikea to make its case and it's difficult to see how they will answer the criticisms raised by the NRA that this project will bring further traffic to the already congested M50 motorway," he said. Other objectors to the planning permission include Treasury Holdings and the National Roads Authority. The case was due to be decided by early March, but will be deferred pending the public hearing.
The move comes after six parties objected to Fingal County Council granting planning permission for the 30,000 sq m store last October, with 14 of the 32 planning conditions relating to transport and traffic and concerns the store would cause congestion in the Ballymun area. The hearing is expected in March.
"I welcome the oral hearing as it will allow a public forum where the planning and development issues involved can be addressed," Transport spokesman Eamon Ryan TD - one of the objectors - said.
Traffic
"Our concern all along has not been the introduction of an Ikea store, but the traffic and gridlock that has developed on the back of bad planning policies.
"A hearing will allow Ikea to make its case and it's difficult to see how they will answer the criticisms raised by the NRA that this project will bring further traffic to the already congested M50 motorway," he said. Other objectors to the planning permission include Treasury Holdings and the National Roads Authority. The case was due to be decided by early March, but will be deferred pending the public hearing.
Shell denies it let pipeline protesters languish in prison
The Irish Times writes that Shell E&P Ireland has rejected claims that it allowed five Rossport men to languish in prison for several weeks in 2005 after the company had agreed to cease work on its controversial onshore gas pipeline pending the outcome of a safety review by the Minister for the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Counsel for Shell Patrick Hanratty told the High Court yesterday such a suggestion was "grossly unfair". Shell had nothing to do with the amount of time the men spent in prison or the fact they were there at all, he said.
Mr Hanratty said the Minister had said that he was commissioning a safety review in July 2005, but Shell did not not know what form that report would take until the following September, when it applied to have the injunction lifted.
He was responding to submissions by Lord Brennan QC, counsel for two opponents of the pipeline, Brendan James Philbin and Breege McGarry, who told the court on Tuesday that documents had revealed that Shell had agreed with the Minister in early July 2005 to stop work on the pipeline pending compliance issues and the outcome of the safety review.
Lord Brennan said it was only in September 2005 that the company applied to the High Court to have the five men released from prison, citing the suspension of work and the safety review as the basis for its application. The men had spent 94 days in prison before they were freed.
Mr Hanratty also rejected Lord Brennan's argument that Shell should pay on a solicitor-client basis (the highest level of legal costs) those costs to date by four defendants, including three of the men known as the Rossport Five, in relation to proceedings brought against them by Shell. There was "not one shred of evidence" of misconduct on the part of Shell.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy yesterday reserved judgment on the application.
Counsel for Shell Patrick Hanratty told the High Court yesterday such a suggestion was "grossly unfair". Shell had nothing to do with the amount of time the men spent in prison or the fact they were there at all, he said.
Mr Hanratty said the Minister had said that he was commissioning a safety review in July 2005, but Shell did not not know what form that report would take until the following September, when it applied to have the injunction lifted.
He was responding to submissions by Lord Brennan QC, counsel for two opponents of the pipeline, Brendan James Philbin and Breege McGarry, who told the court on Tuesday that documents had revealed that Shell had agreed with the Minister in early July 2005 to stop work on the pipeline pending compliance issues and the outcome of the safety review.
Lord Brennan said it was only in September 2005 that the company applied to the High Court to have the five men released from prison, citing the suspension of work and the safety review as the basis for its application. The men had spent 94 days in prison before they were freed.
Mr Hanratty also rejected Lord Brennan's argument that Shell should pay on a solicitor-client basis (the highest level of legal costs) those costs to date by four defendants, including three of the men known as the Rossport Five, in relation to proceedings brought against them by Shell. There was "not one shred of evidence" of misconduct on the part of Shell.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy yesterday reserved judgment on the application.
M3 toll firm to make €590m
Paul Melia tells us that Commuters from Meath to Dublin would each pay €2,000 per year
THE operator of the proposed M3 motorway linking Dublin to north Meath is expected to take in almost €590m in tolls over a 30-year period.
The is €13m more than the estimated €577m cost of building the 47km motorway, even though the company will not be expected to meet the full cost of construction.
Yesterday, an oral hearing into the proposed toll scheme was told that commuters travelling from Meath to Dublin would each pay over €2,000 a year in tolls, assuming they use the motorway.
Drivers using the full length of carriageway would pay a total of €2.60 at two toll booths, and the National Roads Authority expects 72,000 motorists a year to be paying tolls by 2024, of which 13,000 users will pay at both tolls.
The NRA said that based on tolls decided in 2000 - where a car using both tolls would pay a total of €1.75 - the toll revenue per year would be €13.2m.
However, given that the proposed charge when the motorway opens is €2.60 to use both toll booths, the likely operator - the Eurolink consortium - stands to take in some €586m during the 30-year concessionary period. The construction figure is not yet available as contracts must still be signed, but the consortium will bear some of the construction costs, with the taxpayer paying the rest.
Eurolink stand to make considerable profits during the 30-year arrangement.
Speaking at the oral hearing yesterday, the head of Public Private Partnerships and Tolling at the NRA, Gerry Murphy, said the proposed tolls
would be the lowest charge on the national roads network. Charges were "significantly below" levels that would maximise revenues, he said.
"A toll-charge sensitivity analysis indicated that a 20pc higher car charge at the southern plaza and at certain interchange ramps would increase revenues by the order of 25pc," he said.
"The NRA proposed instead to apply lower toll charges in order to reduce the diversionary effect.
Charges
"The charges proposed are less than the charges adopted by the NRA in toll schemes for the Waterford bypass, the Fermoy bypass, the Limerick tunnel, the M1 motorway at Drogheda and the Galway-Ballinasloe scheme."
There were angry scenes at yesterday's hearing as objectors to the tolling system - who include members of Meath Co Council - said the road would impose an unfair burden on commuters. The other objectors include members of An Taisce, local residents and conservation objectors to the motorway, which will run beside the Hill of Tara.
These groups said the tolls would result in drivers avoiding the motorway and lead to congestion on the existing N3.
There was also criticism that the hearing into the tolling scheme was only taking place yesterday, five years after the motorway was announced. The NRA said this was because of legal challenges to the motorway, which had to be concluded first.
"There should, of course, be no tolls," said Councillor John Barry of Meath Co Council. "Why, on a motorway from Dublin to Newry, is there only one toll? Why are two tolls proposed? The people of Kells will travel on the old road, as will people coming from Cavan."
Councillor Philip Cantwell said the toll was a "financial gathering exercise, pure and simple", and it was "bleeding taxpayers of their wages".
Counsel for the NRA, Dermot McGuinness, said an alternative untolled route would be available.
"People will be free to use the N3 as it exists. There will be considerable degree of toll-free access."
Inspector Dom Hegarty will send his report to the NRA board. He can recommend that there be no toll, in which case the NRA would have to pay the operator the cash equivalent of the toll every year.
The Irish Indo' has them anwering objections:
Objection:
Tolls will place an 'unacceptable' financial burden on people living in Meath and commuting to Dublin.
Response:
The National Roads Authority says motorists will save time and benefit economically. Drivers can also use the untolled N3.
Objection:
Scheme is already funded by the EU and National Development Plan.
Response:
The NRA says just €2.9m has been provided by the EU, and the NDP states the need for private finance to supplement exchequer investment.
Objection:
Delays are likely to occur at toll plazas.
Response:
NRA says the plazas are designed so tolling will take a maximum of 30 seconds.
Objection:
Tolling discriminates against Meath residents compared with people commuting into Dublin from other counties, and tolling will hinder local development.
Response:
NRA says economic development will be curtailed without the motorway.
Objection:
Tolling will divert traffic onto local roads.
Response:
NRA agrees but says overall volumes will be reduced.
Objection:
Meath county council will be obliged to maintain existing N3 once M3 opens.
Response:
NRA says the council will receive commercial rates based on the annual toll revenues collected
THE operator of the proposed M3 motorway linking Dublin to north Meath is expected to take in almost €590m in tolls over a 30-year period.
The is €13m more than the estimated €577m cost of building the 47km motorway, even though the company will not be expected to meet the full cost of construction.
Yesterday, an oral hearing into the proposed toll scheme was told that commuters travelling from Meath to Dublin would each pay over €2,000 a year in tolls, assuming they use the motorway.
Drivers using the full length of carriageway would pay a total of €2.60 at two toll booths, and the National Roads Authority expects 72,000 motorists a year to be paying tolls by 2024, of which 13,000 users will pay at both tolls.
The NRA said that based on tolls decided in 2000 - where a car using both tolls would pay a total of €1.75 - the toll revenue per year would be €13.2m.
However, given that the proposed charge when the motorway opens is €2.60 to use both toll booths, the likely operator - the Eurolink consortium - stands to take in some €586m during the 30-year concessionary period. The construction figure is not yet available as contracts must still be signed, but the consortium will bear some of the construction costs, with the taxpayer paying the rest.
Eurolink stand to make considerable profits during the 30-year arrangement.
Speaking at the oral hearing yesterday, the head of Public Private Partnerships and Tolling at the NRA, Gerry Murphy, said the proposed tolls
would be the lowest charge on the national roads network. Charges were "significantly below" levels that would maximise revenues, he said.
"A toll-charge sensitivity analysis indicated that a 20pc higher car charge at the southern plaza and at certain interchange ramps would increase revenues by the order of 25pc," he said.
"The NRA proposed instead to apply lower toll charges in order to reduce the diversionary effect.
Charges
"The charges proposed are less than the charges adopted by the NRA in toll schemes for the Waterford bypass, the Fermoy bypass, the Limerick tunnel, the M1 motorway at Drogheda and the Galway-Ballinasloe scheme."
There were angry scenes at yesterday's hearing as objectors to the tolling system - who include members of Meath Co Council - said the road would impose an unfair burden on commuters. The other objectors include members of An Taisce, local residents and conservation objectors to the motorway, which will run beside the Hill of Tara.
These groups said the tolls would result in drivers avoiding the motorway and lead to congestion on the existing N3.
There was also criticism that the hearing into the tolling scheme was only taking place yesterday, five years after the motorway was announced. The NRA said this was because of legal challenges to the motorway, which had to be concluded first.
"There should, of course, be no tolls," said Councillor John Barry of Meath Co Council. "Why, on a motorway from Dublin to Newry, is there only one toll? Why are two tolls proposed? The people of Kells will travel on the old road, as will people coming from Cavan."
Councillor Philip Cantwell said the toll was a "financial gathering exercise, pure and simple", and it was "bleeding taxpayers of their wages".
Counsel for the NRA, Dermot McGuinness, said an alternative untolled route would be available.
"People will be free to use the N3 as it exists. There will be considerable degree of toll-free access."
Inspector Dom Hegarty will send his report to the NRA board. He can recommend that there be no toll, in which case the NRA would have to pay the operator the cash equivalent of the toll every year.
The Irish Indo' has them anwering objections:
Objection:
Tolls will place an 'unacceptable' financial burden on people living in Meath and commuting to Dublin.
Response:
The National Roads Authority says motorists will save time and benefit economically. Drivers can also use the untolled N3.
Objection:
Scheme is already funded by the EU and National Development Plan.
Response:
The NRA says just €2.9m has been provided by the EU, and the NDP states the need for private finance to supplement exchequer investment.
Objection:
Delays are likely to occur at toll plazas.
Response:
NRA says the plazas are designed so tolling will take a maximum of 30 seconds.
Objection:
Tolling discriminates against Meath residents compared with people commuting into Dublin from other counties, and tolling will hinder local development.
Response:
NRA says economic development will be curtailed without the motorway.
Objection:
Tolling will divert traffic onto local roads.
Response:
NRA agrees but says overall volumes will be reduced.
Objection:
Meath county council will be obliged to maintain existing N3 once M3 opens.
Response:
NRA says the council will receive commercial rates based on the annual toll revenues collected
NRA denies that hearing into plan totoll M3 is a 'farce'
Elaine Keogh in the Irish Times tells us:
The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday told the hearing into objections to its proposal to toll the M3 motorway that it expected to sign a contract for the public-private partnership (PPP) in the coming weeks.
The NRA denied this made the hearing a "farce" or a "camouflage".
It also said the charges proposed for the two toll plazas along the 47km motorway "have not been set at levels that would maximise revenue".
The road will cost €680 million and link Clonee on the Dublin/Meath border to Kells.
A car will pay a toll of €1.30, which is the "lowest planned car toll on the national roads network," said Gerry Murphy, the head of public-private partnerships and tolling with the NRA.
Meath County Council objected to the tolling, and Cllr John Farrelly said he believed 70 per cent of the 16,000 people who commuted daily to Dublin from Kells would face an annual bill of up to €2,112 if they used the motorway. They would, therefore, continue to use the N3.
He asked the inspector chairing the hearing, Dom Hegarty, if the holding of the hearing was a "camouflage" as he believed the decision had been made to sign the contract for the PPP in the next three weeks.
Mr Murphy said it would be signed within the next two months, possibly one month.
He said it was a flexible contract which gave the NRA the option of deciding not to toll the scheme or to remove the tolls later.
A number of protesters, including members of Tara Watch, an umbrella group for organisations concerned about the possible impact of the M3 on the Hill of Tara, were in the audience and made statements.
Tara Watch said the hearing was a "farce" and should give people the right to reject it. However it appeared the contract was going to be signed anyway.
During the hearing one woman heckled the inspector and the NRA team, alleging they had not done their job properly.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday told the hearing into objections to its proposal to toll the M3 motorway that it expected to sign a contract for the public-private partnership (PPP) in the coming weeks.
The NRA denied this made the hearing a "farce" or a "camouflage".
It also said the charges proposed for the two toll plazas along the 47km motorway "have not been set at levels that would maximise revenue".
The road will cost €680 million and link Clonee on the Dublin/Meath border to Kells.
A car will pay a toll of €1.30, which is the "lowest planned car toll on the national roads network," said Gerry Murphy, the head of public-private partnerships and tolling with the NRA.
Meath County Council objected to the tolling, and Cllr John Farrelly said he believed 70 per cent of the 16,000 people who commuted daily to Dublin from Kells would face an annual bill of up to €2,112 if they used the motorway. They would, therefore, continue to use the N3.
He asked the inspector chairing the hearing, Dom Hegarty, if the holding of the hearing was a "camouflage" as he believed the decision had been made to sign the contract for the PPP in the next three weeks.
Mr Murphy said it would be signed within the next two months, possibly one month.
He said it was a flexible contract which gave the NRA the option of deciding not to toll the scheme or to remove the tolls later.
A number of protesters, including members of Tara Watch, an umbrella group for organisations concerned about the possible impact of the M3 on the Hill of Tara, were in the audience and made statements.
Tara Watch said the hearing was a "farce" and should give people the right to reject it. However it appeared the contract was going to be signed anyway.
During the hearing one woman heckled the inspector and the NRA team, alleging they had not done their job properly.
Thomond Park Re-development - Council give green light
I haven't had time to get this up yet. But here's what The Irish Times told us:
The €48 million redevelopment plan for Limerick's rugby ground, Thomond Park, has been given the green light Members of Limerick City Council last night voted unanimously to approve the rezoning of property beside the existing ground. All 13 councillors who attended a special meeting in City Hall voted in favour of the proposals, which will see houses on the Knocklisheen Road side of the stadium rezoned to accommodate the project. Only one person objected to the rezoning aspect of the project, which involves more than doubling the capacity at Thomond Park to 29,000. Gerard Kiely, who lives near Thomond Park, at Hassetts Cross, claimed the light in his apartment, which only has two front windows, would be "severely restricted" if he is to be overshadowed by the proposed new stand. Mr Kiely, a taxi driver who works mostly at night, also cited increased noise levels and parking difficulties in his objection. At last night's council meeting, Limerick city councillors insisted that the plans for Thomond Park were supported by 99.99 per cent of Limerick people.
RTE tells us that fans will benefit from the ten-year ticketing scheme. Fifteen hundred tickets for the new East Stand will be sold under the scheme on a first-come, first-served basis at a cost of €5,000 each. Munster have undertaken to play all their home Heineken Cup Pool matches at Thomond for ten years from the opening of the stadium, which is scheduled for the autumn of next year.
The €48 million redevelopment plan for Limerick's rugby ground, Thomond Park, has been given the green light Members of Limerick City Council last night voted unanimously to approve the rezoning of property beside the existing ground. All 13 councillors who attended a special meeting in City Hall voted in favour of the proposals, which will see houses on the Knocklisheen Road side of the stadium rezoned to accommodate the project. Only one person objected to the rezoning aspect of the project, which involves more than doubling the capacity at Thomond Park to 29,000. Gerard Kiely, who lives near Thomond Park, at Hassetts Cross, claimed the light in his apartment, which only has two front windows, would be "severely restricted" if he is to be overshadowed by the proposed new stand. Mr Kiely, a taxi driver who works mostly at night, also cited increased noise levels and parking difficulties in his objection. At last night's council meeting, Limerick city councillors insisted that the plans for Thomond Park were supported by 99.99 per cent of Limerick people.
RTE tells us that fans will benefit from the ten-year ticketing scheme. Fifteen hundred tickets for the new East Stand will be sold under the scheme on a first-come, first-served basis at a cost of €5,000 each. Munster have undertaken to play all their home Heineken Cup Pool matches at Thomond for ten years from the opening of the stadium, which is scheduled for the autumn of next year.
Dublin 1660 - 1860 - The Shaping of a City
I received an email from someone who said they had heard you could buy a new version of Maurice Craig's 'Dublin 1660 - 1860 - The Shaping of a City'. The answer is yes, it has been re-published and is generally available. Dublin 1660 - 1860 by Maurice Craig is the second title in the Liberties Revival series. It charts the evolution of Dublin into the city we know. The book which is highly illustrated with several plate sections, also features a foreword by Mark Girouard.
Here's a review from Liberties Press, Ltd.
The city of Georgian facades and broad-avenued streets that we know as Dublin today was not always so. In Dublin 1660.1860,Maurice Craig explores the city.s golden era of architecture and its growth from a relatively unimportant settlement of nine thousand souls to, as Craig puts it himself, .the Augustan capital of a Gaelic nation.. He offers lively descriptions of many well-known Dublin locales and investigates the lobbying and political efforts involved in this growth process and examines in detail this aspect of the life of the city. As commentator and writer Mark Girouard observes in his foreword to the book, .much work has been done since by other historians, and by Maurice Craig himself, on individual aspects of Dublin.s buildings and architects, but as a masterly and enthralling general picture, nothing has replaced it.. Overall, the book is a colourful and witty survey that is certain to fund new readers as well as appealing to those who have been calling for some time for the book to be reissued.
For those of you who know nothing of Crai, here's a quick review:
Maurice Craig was born in Belfast in 1919 and educated at Castle Park, Dalkey and Shrewsbury School before going on to Magdalene College, Cambridge and Trinity College, Dublin. He has written on subjects as diverse as Irish bookbindings, biography, poetry and topography but is best-known for his books on architectural subjects. His seminal Dublin 1660.1860 appeared in 1952 and was followed by further ground-breaking works, including Classic Irish Houses of the Middle Size (which was also recently reissued) and The Architecture of Ireland from the Earliest Times to 1880. Maurice's interest in and understanding of architecture comes through clearly in his photography. Since first taking up the camera and pen in the 1940s, Maurice has recorded buildings of all types and periods, exploiting to the full his uncanny ability to highlight the key features of a building or neighborhood.
Here's a review from Liberties Press, Ltd.
The city of Georgian facades and broad-avenued streets that we know as Dublin today was not always so. In Dublin 1660.1860,Maurice Craig explores the city.s golden era of architecture and its growth from a relatively unimportant settlement of nine thousand souls to, as Craig puts it himself, .the Augustan capital of a Gaelic nation.. He offers lively descriptions of many well-known Dublin locales and investigates the lobbying and political efforts involved in this growth process and examines in detail this aspect of the life of the city. As commentator and writer Mark Girouard observes in his foreword to the book, .much work has been done since by other historians, and by Maurice Craig himself, on individual aspects of Dublin.s buildings and architects, but as a masterly and enthralling general picture, nothing has replaced it.. Overall, the book is a colourful and witty survey that is certain to fund new readers as well as appealing to those who have been calling for some time for the book to be reissued.
For those of you who know nothing of Crai, here's a quick review:
Maurice Craig was born in Belfast in 1919 and educated at Castle Park, Dalkey and Shrewsbury School before going on to Magdalene College, Cambridge and Trinity College, Dublin. He has written on subjects as diverse as Irish bookbindings, biography, poetry and topography but is best-known for his books on architectural subjects. His seminal Dublin 1660.1860 appeared in 1952 and was followed by further ground-breaking works, including Classic Irish Houses of the Middle Size (which was also recently reissued) and The Architecture of Ireland from the Earliest Times to 1880. Maurice's interest in and understanding of architecture comes through clearly in his photography. Since first taking up the camera and pen in the 1940s, Maurice has recorded buildings of all types and periods, exploiting to the full his uncanny ability to highlight the key features of a building or neighborhood.
Roads, roads and more roads ...
Forget the need for public transport, here's more spending on roads ...
Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (18th January '07) announced details of the 2007 grants to local authorities for non-national roads. The Minister said that he was delighted to announce €607.525 million for the non-national roads network – the highest ever level of funding available. He said that it also represented a substantial increase of 9%, or an increase of over €50 million, on last year's record allocation which topped the half billion euro mark for the first time ever.
Double 1997 Investment
Minister Roche said "The 2007 allocation is well over double the 1997 State grant allocation for non-national roads and four and a half times the 1994 allocation. This year's allocation of over €600 million shows this Government's continuing commitment to improving our non-national roads network, which is critical from economic and social perspectives."
Importance of Regional and Local Roads
Pointing out that regional and local roads constitute 94% of the overall network, carrying 60% of all road traffic, the Minister highlighted the economic role they serve in the Irish context – often the sole means of access for local economic activity.
Non-National Roads: Major Success Story of National Development Plan
The Minister said that the non-national roads measure was one of the major success stories of the last National Development Plan and continues to be one of the best performing measures under both the South East and BMW Regional Operational Programmes.
Expenditure Ahead of Target
Expenditure in both regions was well ahead of target for the period of the plan. Expenditure in the BMW region was €1.304 billion compared to a target of €1.08 billion – that is €224 million or over 20% ahead of target. Expenditure in the SE region was €1.837 billion compared to a target of €1.35 billion – that is €487 million or 36% ahead of target.
Total expenditure in the two regions in the 2000 - 2006 period was, therefore, €3.141 billion against a target of €2.43 billion – in other words, a level of investment that was €711 million or almost 30% ahead of target.
Next NDP 2007-2013
The Minister said he looked forward to the announcement of details of the 2007 to 2013 National Development Plan next week, which will once again demonstrate the Government's commitment to improving and maintaining this vital infrastructure.
Restoration
Minister Roche continued, "The Restoration Programme continues to be a central part of the Non-National Roads Investment Programme. The results of the 2005 Pavement Condition Study and Review of Pavement Management Systems have shown that there has been a very large growth in traffic volumes and the number of heavy goods vehicles on our roads over the last 10 years."
The Minister added, "The overall conclusion of the 2005 study was that the existing Restoration Programme requires re-focusing to increase the relative level of funding to counties that have the greatest identified pavement strengthening needs. That is necessary if counties having the highest proportion of deficient roads are to have their needs addressed in a reasonable timescale. Accordingly, this year I am continuing the process, which I commenced in 2005, of re-focusing priority investment under the programme to areas of most need. This year, I am allocating a sum of almost €225 million for the Restoration Improvement Programme. This is an increase of almost €20 million, or 9.6%, on the 2006 allocation. This very substantial increase will allow for an increased allocation to every single County Council in 2007 over its 2006 Restoration Improvement grant allocation. It also means that continuing progress can be made in allocating funds to address the deficiencies identified in the Pavement Condition Study."
Restoration Maintenance grants are also being increased to €81 million this year. This represents an increase of €6 million, or 8%, on the 2006 allocation. The Minister said, "This increase is essential to preserve the investment by my Department under the Restoration Programme for non-national roads since 1995. All County Councils will benefit equally from this increase."
€46.35m for continuing initiative on Strategic Non National Roads
The Minister also announced grants in 2007 for the provision of large schemes that make a significant contribution towards the National Spatial Strategy. He said, "Non-national roads are strategically important – locally, regionally and nationally. They are a key component in our national infrastructure. As such, they play a crucial part in delivering the vision of the National Spatial Strategy for sustainable, more balanced development of our country." He continued, "I'm particularly pleased to announce the provision of over €46 million in grants for New Strategic Non-National Roads Schemes this year." 24 projects are receiving allocations under this scheme in 2007, including the Waterford Airport Road, the Moyross Access Road, the Clonmore Link Road in Mullingar and the Western Distributor Road in Sligo town.
Moyross Access Road
The Minister was particularly pleased to allocate a grant of €500,000 to Limerick City Council for the design of the Moyross Access Road. He said, "This proposed new road will bring significant benefit to Moyross by opening up the estate for social, community and economic development and I look forward to working with Limerick in advancing this work as quickly as possible."
Road Safety
Referring to the proposed new Road Safety Strategy for 2007 to 2011, the Minister announced that he was more than doubling the funds for the Low Cost Safety scheme of grants. Under this scheme, grants are provided for improvements at locations that show possible accident contributory factors or an accident pattern that may respond to low cost road measures. In 2007, works will be carried out at over 300 locations.
20% Increase in Funds for Local Improvement Schemes
A total of €30 million has been set aside this year for the Local Improvements Scheme. Under this scheme, grants are made available to County Councils for the carrying out of road works on private roads. Works carried out provide improved access for people in isolated and depopulated areas. "Bearing in mind that the 2006 allocation was double the previous year's allocation, I am sure that County Councils and local communities will welcome this further increase for the Local Improvements Scheme", said the Minister. Details of the scheme will be announced at a later date.
Other Key Aspects
Other key aspects of the 2007 allocations are:
§ Over €96 million for specific non-national road projects which promote employment and economic activity.
§ Almost €34 million for projects which will assist housing, commercial and industrial development. Among the existing schemes which will benefit in 2007 are the Oranhill Distributor Road in Galway, the Naas Ring Road, Wicklow Town Relief and Port Access Road, the R158 Trim to Kilcock Road and the Corbally Link Road in Limerick.
§ Discretionary Maintenance and Improvement Grants of €29.56 million and almost €25 million respectively to County Councils.
§ A total sum of €16 million in Block Grants, as well as €17.2 million in Special Block Grants for Carriageway and Footpath Repairs, to City, Borough and Town Councils.
§ Grants totalling €7 million to continue progress on the regional roads signposting programme, which commenced in 2003.
§ €1.714 million for the Non-National Roads Training Programme.
§ €2.215 million to Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford City Councils in Regional Traffic Management Grants.
§ Almost €2m has also been set aside for the provision and improvement of footpaths in former Town Commissioner areas. This is a continuation of the new grant category introduced in 2005, and the 2007 allocation is double the initial 2006 allocation.
Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (18th January '07) announced details of the 2007 grants to local authorities for non-national roads. The Minister said that he was delighted to announce €607.525 million for the non-national roads network – the highest ever level of funding available. He said that it also represented a substantial increase of 9%, or an increase of over €50 million, on last year's record allocation which topped the half billion euro mark for the first time ever.
Double 1997 Investment
Minister Roche said "The 2007 allocation is well over double the 1997 State grant allocation for non-national roads and four and a half times the 1994 allocation. This year's allocation of over €600 million shows this Government's continuing commitment to improving our non-national roads network, which is critical from economic and social perspectives."
Importance of Regional and Local Roads
Pointing out that regional and local roads constitute 94% of the overall network, carrying 60% of all road traffic, the Minister highlighted the economic role they serve in the Irish context – often the sole means of access for local economic activity.
Non-National Roads: Major Success Story of National Development Plan
The Minister said that the non-national roads measure was one of the major success stories of the last National Development Plan and continues to be one of the best performing measures under both the South East and BMW Regional Operational Programmes.
Expenditure Ahead of Target
Expenditure in both regions was well ahead of target for the period of the plan. Expenditure in the BMW region was €1.304 billion compared to a target of €1.08 billion – that is €224 million or over 20% ahead of target. Expenditure in the SE region was €1.837 billion compared to a target of €1.35 billion – that is €487 million or 36% ahead of target.
Total expenditure in the two regions in the 2000 - 2006 period was, therefore, €3.141 billion against a target of €2.43 billion – in other words, a level of investment that was €711 million or almost 30% ahead of target.
Next NDP 2007-2013
The Minister said he looked forward to the announcement of details of the 2007 to 2013 National Development Plan next week, which will once again demonstrate the Government's commitment to improving and maintaining this vital infrastructure.
Restoration
Minister Roche continued, "The Restoration Programme continues to be a central part of the Non-National Roads Investment Programme. The results of the 2005 Pavement Condition Study and Review of Pavement Management Systems have shown that there has been a very large growth in traffic volumes and the number of heavy goods vehicles on our roads over the last 10 years."
The Minister added, "The overall conclusion of the 2005 study was that the existing Restoration Programme requires re-focusing to increase the relative level of funding to counties that have the greatest identified pavement strengthening needs. That is necessary if counties having the highest proportion of deficient roads are to have their needs addressed in a reasonable timescale. Accordingly, this year I am continuing the process, which I commenced in 2005, of re-focusing priority investment under the programme to areas of most need. This year, I am allocating a sum of almost €225 million for the Restoration Improvement Programme. This is an increase of almost €20 million, or 9.6%, on the 2006 allocation. This very substantial increase will allow for an increased allocation to every single County Council in 2007 over its 2006 Restoration Improvement grant allocation. It also means that continuing progress can be made in allocating funds to address the deficiencies identified in the Pavement Condition Study."
Restoration Maintenance grants are also being increased to €81 million this year. This represents an increase of €6 million, or 8%, on the 2006 allocation. The Minister said, "This increase is essential to preserve the investment by my Department under the Restoration Programme for non-national roads since 1995. All County Councils will benefit equally from this increase."
€46.35m for continuing initiative on Strategic Non National Roads
The Minister also announced grants in 2007 for the provision of large schemes that make a significant contribution towards the National Spatial Strategy. He said, "Non-national roads are strategically important – locally, regionally and nationally. They are a key component in our national infrastructure. As such, they play a crucial part in delivering the vision of the National Spatial Strategy for sustainable, more balanced development of our country." He continued, "I'm particularly pleased to announce the provision of over €46 million in grants for New Strategic Non-National Roads Schemes this year." 24 projects are receiving allocations under this scheme in 2007, including the Waterford Airport Road, the Moyross Access Road, the Clonmore Link Road in Mullingar and the Western Distributor Road in Sligo town.
Moyross Access Road
The Minister was particularly pleased to allocate a grant of €500,000 to Limerick City Council for the design of the Moyross Access Road. He said, "This proposed new road will bring significant benefit to Moyross by opening up the estate for social, community and economic development and I look forward to working with Limerick in advancing this work as quickly as possible."
Road Safety
Referring to the proposed new Road Safety Strategy for 2007 to 2011, the Minister announced that he was more than doubling the funds for the Low Cost Safety scheme of grants. Under this scheme, grants are provided for improvements at locations that show possible accident contributory factors or an accident pattern that may respond to low cost road measures. In 2007, works will be carried out at over 300 locations.
20% Increase in Funds for Local Improvement Schemes
A total of €30 million has been set aside this year for the Local Improvements Scheme. Under this scheme, grants are made available to County Councils for the carrying out of road works on private roads. Works carried out provide improved access for people in isolated and depopulated areas. "Bearing in mind that the 2006 allocation was double the previous year's allocation, I am sure that County Councils and local communities will welcome this further increase for the Local Improvements Scheme", said the Minister. Details of the scheme will be announced at a later date.
Other Key Aspects
Other key aspects of the 2007 allocations are:
§ Over €96 million for specific non-national road projects which promote employment and economic activity.
§ Almost €34 million for projects which will assist housing, commercial and industrial development. Among the existing schemes which will benefit in 2007 are the Oranhill Distributor Road in Galway, the Naas Ring Road, Wicklow Town Relief and Port Access Road, the R158 Trim to Kilcock Road and the Corbally Link Road in Limerick.
§ Discretionary Maintenance and Improvement Grants of €29.56 million and almost €25 million respectively to County Councils.
§ A total sum of €16 million in Block Grants, as well as €17.2 million in Special Block Grants for Carriageway and Footpath Repairs, to City, Borough and Town Councils.
§ Grants totalling €7 million to continue progress on the regional roads signposting programme, which commenced in 2003.
§ €1.714 million for the Non-National Roads Training Programme.
§ €2.215 million to Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford City Councils in Regional Traffic Management Grants.
§ Almost €2m has also been set aside for the provision and improvement of footpaths in former Town Commissioner areas. This is a continuation of the new grant category introduced in 2005, and the 2007 allocation is double the initial 2006 allocation.
Battlefield planning
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., today announced that his Department is undertaking a major new study on the key battlefields of Irish history.
The Minister said "The public has long been fascinated by tales of martial valour, dramatic success and ignominious defeat on the battlefield. This major new initiative would research the key battlefield sites in Irish history on Irish soil, their location, extent and historical and archaeological backgrounds. Where they survive battlefields may contain important topographical and archaeological evidence that can increase our knowledge and understanding of momentous events in Irish history." Minister Roche has invited a panel of recognised experts in the fields of military history, archaeology and mapping to steer the project. The project will be overseen by his Chief Archaeologist and the in-house experts of the National Monuments Service over a two-year period. The eventual aim of the project would be to assist in identifying the appropriate statutory protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930 – 2004 that should be extended to battlefield sites within the ongoing consolidation and modernisation of this legislative code.
"England has a register of the major battlefields on its territories and Scotland is currently compiling a similar inventory. Extensive research has been undertaken on battlefield sites and their conservation especially in the USA on Civil War sites and in northern Europe on World War I sites in particular. Surviving Irish battlefields may contain important topographical and archaeological evidence that can increase our knowledge and understanding of momentous events in Irish history. They also function as places of education and recreation" the Minster said. In Ireland, only the Battle of the Boyne site managed by the Office of Public Works has received such attention, being placed in context within a secure research and management framework. The National Monuments Service now seeks to acquire detailed and relevant information on all major battlefields sites in the State with a view to establishing clear criteria for their protection under the National Monuments Acts, to determining their extent, and for the purpose of making recommendations within the planning system with regard to development in these areas.
In conclusion Minister Roche said the project would be steered by a panel of experts appointed by him including archaeologists, historians, ex-military personnel etc. The nominees will not only provide the best expertise available but are both academically and geographically representative of the various national and educational institutions. A list of the nominees invited to sit on the panel is attached.
Given the undoubted interest in this topic and its historic resonance and relevance within the All-Island dimension the Minister is inviting a nominee from Northern Ireland to sit on the panel also. "The success of the current "Soldiers and Chiefs" exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland is clear testament to the public's abiding interest in Irish battles and warriors and there is a significant educational and recreational aspect to this project as well as the further strengthening of protection for significant aspects of our heritage" said Minister Roche.
The Minister said "The public has long been fascinated by tales of martial valour, dramatic success and ignominious defeat on the battlefield. This major new initiative would research the key battlefield sites in Irish history on Irish soil, their location, extent and historical and archaeological backgrounds. Where they survive battlefields may contain important topographical and archaeological evidence that can increase our knowledge and understanding of momentous events in Irish history." Minister Roche has invited a panel of recognised experts in the fields of military history, archaeology and mapping to steer the project. The project will be overseen by his Chief Archaeologist and the in-house experts of the National Monuments Service over a two-year period. The eventual aim of the project would be to assist in identifying the appropriate statutory protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930 – 2004 that should be extended to battlefield sites within the ongoing consolidation and modernisation of this legislative code.
"England has a register of the major battlefields on its territories and Scotland is currently compiling a similar inventory. Extensive research has been undertaken on battlefield sites and their conservation especially in the USA on Civil War sites and in northern Europe on World War I sites in particular. Surviving Irish battlefields may contain important topographical and archaeological evidence that can increase our knowledge and understanding of momentous events in Irish history. They also function as places of education and recreation" the Minster said. In Ireland, only the Battle of the Boyne site managed by the Office of Public Works has received such attention, being placed in context within a secure research and management framework. The National Monuments Service now seeks to acquire detailed and relevant information on all major battlefields sites in the State with a view to establishing clear criteria for their protection under the National Monuments Acts, to determining their extent, and for the purpose of making recommendations within the planning system with regard to development in these areas.
In conclusion Minister Roche said the project would be steered by a panel of experts appointed by him including archaeologists, historians, ex-military personnel etc. The nominees will not only provide the best expertise available but are both academically and geographically representative of the various national and educational institutions. A list of the nominees invited to sit on the panel is attached.
Given the undoubted interest in this topic and its historic resonance and relevance within the All-Island dimension the Minister is inviting a nominee from Northern Ireland to sit on the panel also. "The success of the current "Soldiers and Chiefs" exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland is clear testament to the public's abiding interest in Irish battles and warriors and there is a significant educational and recreational aspect to this project as well as the further strengthening of protection for significant aspects of our heritage" said Minister Roche.
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Researching the obvious: Current trends in house building are at variance with the objectives of the NSS and RPGs
The Society of Chartered Surveyors has decided to wade in again to planning and development debate. Again with a study that does not quite seem to provide the necessary evidence. They tell us what we already know: again. That many of the current trends in house building are at variance with the objectives of the National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines will not come as a surprise to a single planner in the country. This time the answer, we are told, is that we need another planning Quango. Brilliant, another body at planning policy meetings, that’ll solve the problems … The idea of the Government, together with the various Local Authorities in the Greater Dublin Area setting up with immediate effect a separate body with complete and autonomous control over planning and development in the Dublin region is silly. What we need is to give teeth to the existing regional structures.
Also, again unsurprisingly, we are told that, rather than there being one ‘housing market’, there are now, in fact, a number of different markets caused by a growing segmentation, or ‘fragmentation’, of the housing stock which has an impact on future price trends. The SCS Housing Study 2007 also finds that it is, and will continue to be, necessary to maintain the increased housing supply levels in Dublin. This will allow choice of housing location preferences to be available to purchasers. So, another industry group says we need more housing! And that demand for it will remain until at least 2009 (due to current population growth and migration trends – of course). This industry groups further in the press release also tells us that there is a lack of suitably zoned land is, and will increasingly become, a problem and then, ironically, in the next sentence, tell us that Dublin urban sprawl is continuing, with the commuter belt now stretching out to 100 kilometres from the capital into outer Leinster and south Ulster.
The SCS Housing Study 2007, commissioned and published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors, has with this study, again, failed to deliver the main findings of their work in a clear way, but has chosen to use the opportunity to pull out the old Quango chestnut again. This is simply a poor press release which is a shame as some of the findings should be read.
Also, again unsurprisingly, we are told that, rather than there being one ‘housing market’, there are now, in fact, a number of different markets caused by a growing segmentation, or ‘fragmentation’, of the housing stock which has an impact on future price trends. The SCS Housing Study 2007 also finds that it is, and will continue to be, necessary to maintain the increased housing supply levels in Dublin. This will allow choice of housing location preferences to be available to purchasers. So, another industry group says we need more housing! And that demand for it will remain until at least 2009 (due to current population growth and migration trends – of course). This industry groups further in the press release also tells us that there is a lack of suitably zoned land is, and will increasingly become, a problem and then, ironically, in the next sentence, tell us that Dublin urban sprawl is continuing, with the commuter belt now stretching out to 100 kilometres from the capital into outer Leinster and south Ulster.
The SCS Housing Study 2007, commissioned and published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors, has with this study, again, failed to deliver the main findings of their work in a clear way, but has chosen to use the opportunity to pull out the old Quango chestnut again. This is simply a poor press release which is a shame as some of the findings should be read.
Tuesday, 16 January 2007
Killala hotel gets green light
The Western People tells us that Phow plans for the construction of an 82-bedroom hotel in the North Mayo town of Killala have been given the go-ahead.
Towers Hotel, which is part of a €30m development for Killala, is expected to open within the next 18 months after An Bord Pleanála gave the green light to the project at Townplots West in the North Mayo town.
Crossmolina developer, Richard Coggins, secured planning from Mayo County Council in April of last year subject to lengthy conditions but Mary Kelly of Green-park, Killala brought the development before the planning appeals board, thus halting construction at the time.
The board rejected its Inspector’s recommendation to deny permission, instead giving the go ahead for the two-storey hotel, which is set to provide 80 jobs.
The 6,257 square metres hotel will consist of 82 bedrooms, reception, conference room, lounge bar, function room and electric/plant room. The development also consists of the construction of access road, car park for 180 cars, coach parking and demolition of existing dwelling house and derelict sheds.
The board’s report pointed out that replies from the applicant and their agent were taken into account before considering that the conditions imposed would deal adequately with the inspector’s concerns.
The board was adamant that the development would not injure the amenities of the area or property in the vicinity and it would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.
It was also pointed out that the hotel would not be prejudicial to public health and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
However, the board did include twelve conditions for the applicant. Mr Coggins must pay a financial contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area and another payment in respect of footpaths and lighting.
No advertisement or advertisement structure shall be erected or displayed on the building or within the curtilage of the site, public lighting shall be provided and extra landscaping shall be included, according to the conditions.
A hotel is badly needed in the Killala area and news that An Bord Pleanála gave the green light for the development is to be welcomed, according to Killala-based Fine Gael Councillor Jarlath Munnelly.
“There’s no hotel in the area and there’s plenty of room for a quality hotel in the North Mayo area.
“As long as any development is quality and will enhance the brand of the town I welcome it.”
Chairman of the Council for the West, Sean Hannick is also in favour of the project, insisting that every town needs a hotel.
“It’s an essential community facility. It will have a knock-on effect on other businesses and it will help facilitate the Faldo project when that gets under way. It ties in well for the town.”
Towers Hotel, which is part of a €30m development for Killala, is expected to open within the next 18 months after An Bord Pleanála gave the green light to the project at Townplots West in the North Mayo town.
Crossmolina developer, Richard Coggins, secured planning from Mayo County Council in April of last year subject to lengthy conditions but Mary Kelly of Green-park, Killala brought the development before the planning appeals board, thus halting construction at the time.
The board rejected its Inspector’s recommendation to deny permission, instead giving the go ahead for the two-storey hotel, which is set to provide 80 jobs.
The 6,257 square metres hotel will consist of 82 bedrooms, reception, conference room, lounge bar, function room and electric/plant room. The development also consists of the construction of access road, car park for 180 cars, coach parking and demolition of existing dwelling house and derelict sheds.
The board’s report pointed out that replies from the applicant and their agent were taken into account before considering that the conditions imposed would deal adequately with the inspector’s concerns.
The board was adamant that the development would not injure the amenities of the area or property in the vicinity and it would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.
It was also pointed out that the hotel would not be prejudicial to public health and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
However, the board did include twelve conditions for the applicant. Mr Coggins must pay a financial contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area and another payment in respect of footpaths and lighting.
No advertisement or advertisement structure shall be erected or displayed on the building or within the curtilage of the site, public lighting shall be provided and extra landscaping shall be included, according to the conditions.
A hotel is badly needed in the Killala area and news that An Bord Pleanála gave the green light for the development is to be welcomed, according to Killala-based Fine Gael Councillor Jarlath Munnelly.
“There’s no hotel in the area and there’s plenty of room for a quality hotel in the North Mayo area.
“As long as any development is quality and will enhance the brand of the town I welcome it.”
Chairman of the Council for the West, Sean Hannick is also in favour of the project, insisting that every town needs a hotel.
“It’s an essential community facility. It will have a knock-on effect on other businesses and it will help facilitate the Faldo project when that gets under way. It ties in well for the town.”
Scenic area's sewage plant causes protest
Anita Guidera in the Westyern People writes that a coastal community has stepped up its campaign to prevent a sewage plant being located close to houses, beaches and a popular scenic walk.
As part of Donegal County Council's plan for the Moville/Greencastle sewage scheme, a holding tank for raw sewage is to be situated within metres of the holiday home of former SDLP leader and Nobel Prize winner John Hume.
The location of the controversial scheme - close to the banks of Lough Foyle and midway between the seaside towns of Moville and Greencastle on the eastern coast of the Inishowen peninsula - has caused outrage among locals.
The site earmarked for the plant in the townland of Carnagarve is within 170 metres of a gaelscoil and Gaelic football pitch and near to about 100 houses.
And 400 metres away on Lafferty's Lane, raw sewage will be pumped from an estimated 60 houses to a vented holding tank beside a beach and picnic area and a number of private homes, including one owned by the Hume family.
Although the Humes are not involved in the campaign, John Hume has publicly expressed his "serious concerns" about the plans.
"Surely for a man who has given so much for the peace process, it could not be considered proper repayment to locate a raw sewage tank 15 metres from his front door," said Enda Craig, spokesperson for the Campaign for a Clean Estuary group.
Last Saturday, up to 70 people took to the streets of Moville for the first of a series of protests in the run-up to the general election.
"This has become an election issue for this community. People are feeling abandoned and betrayed by their elected representatives," Mr Craig said. "It is a cheap and nasty solution to a problem which has been ongoing for 30 years."
The protesters argue that the plant, which will pump effluent into Lough Foyle, close to popular bathing coves and a County Council-developed ‘Sli na Slainte' walk-way and picnic area, will destroy the area's most valuable asset.
"This beautiful shore is one of the few natural assets we have. Nobody will want to swim here or use the walk, with sewage spraying off the rocks," Mr Craig said.
Mr Craig claimed that the selection process for the site was without any consultation with local residents.
Donegal County Council maintains that "considerable time, effort and expense had been put into public consultation" and that the site at Carnagarve represented the "optimum solution from an environmental, technical and financial viewpoint".
As part of Donegal County Council's plan for the Moville/Greencastle sewage scheme, a holding tank for raw sewage is to be situated within metres of the holiday home of former SDLP leader and Nobel Prize winner John Hume.
The location of the controversial scheme - close to the banks of Lough Foyle and midway between the seaside towns of Moville and Greencastle on the eastern coast of the Inishowen peninsula - has caused outrage among locals.
The site earmarked for the plant in the townland of Carnagarve is within 170 metres of a gaelscoil and Gaelic football pitch and near to about 100 houses.
And 400 metres away on Lafferty's Lane, raw sewage will be pumped from an estimated 60 houses to a vented holding tank beside a beach and picnic area and a number of private homes, including one owned by the Hume family.
Although the Humes are not involved in the campaign, John Hume has publicly expressed his "serious concerns" about the plans.
"Surely for a man who has given so much for the peace process, it could not be considered proper repayment to locate a raw sewage tank 15 metres from his front door," said Enda Craig, spokesperson for the Campaign for a Clean Estuary group.
Last Saturday, up to 70 people took to the streets of Moville for the first of a series of protests in the run-up to the general election.
"This has become an election issue for this community. People are feeling abandoned and betrayed by their elected representatives," Mr Craig said. "It is a cheap and nasty solution to a problem which has been ongoing for 30 years."
The protesters argue that the plant, which will pump effluent into Lough Foyle, close to popular bathing coves and a County Council-developed ‘Sli na Slainte' walk-way and picnic area, will destroy the area's most valuable asset.
"This beautiful shore is one of the few natural assets we have. Nobody will want to swim here or use the walk, with sewage spraying off the rocks," Mr Craig said.
Mr Craig claimed that the selection process for the site was without any consultation with local residents.
Donegal County Council maintains that "considerable time, effort and expense had been put into public consultation" and that the site at Carnagarve represented the "optimum solution from an environmental, technical and financial viewpoint".
Carroll fights Dublin City Council over affordable housing
This article by Shane Ross in the Sunday Indo' has been on my desk for a couple of days. This is my first chance to put it up:
A ROW has broken out between controversial builder Liam Carroll of Zoe Developments and Dublin City Council over a multimillion-euro development near the IFSC.
Mr Carroll, a veteran of many property battles, is resisting plans from the council to take the normal 20 per cent requirement for affordable housing destined for local people.
Two apartment blocks built by his company (now renamed Danninger) are involved. Under the scheme Carroll is obliged to surrender units for social housing, but is entitled to compensation.
The two blocks, one in the north docklands and the other in the north inner city, contain flats worth in the region of €400,000. Carroll's company is disputing the number of flats it is obliged to provide for affordable housing under the act. The council is seeking 30 units in one project and 16 in the other.
Mr Carroll owns a massive landbank of 40 acres in the docks area, so any decision has huge financial implications for his company, Dublin City Council and local residents. If the row is not settled this week, it is likely to end up in arbitration or even in court.
Local TD Tony Gregory last night protested strongly against Mr Carroll's action. "Mr Carroll's resistance to handing over the units - which are already allocated to local people - is causing great hardship for those who have been waiting for months to move in," said the TD.
A ROW has broken out between controversial builder Liam Carroll of Zoe Developments and Dublin City Council over a multimillion-euro development near the IFSC.
Mr Carroll, a veteran of many property battles, is resisting plans from the council to take the normal 20 per cent requirement for affordable housing destined for local people.
Two apartment blocks built by his company (now renamed Danninger) are involved. Under the scheme Carroll is obliged to surrender units for social housing, but is entitled to compensation.
The two blocks, one in the north docklands and the other in the north inner city, contain flats worth in the region of €400,000. Carroll's company is disputing the number of flats it is obliged to provide for affordable housing under the act. The council is seeking 30 units in one project and 16 in the other.
Mr Carroll owns a massive landbank of 40 acres in the docks area, so any decision has huge financial implications for his company, Dublin City Council and local residents. If the row is not settled this week, it is likely to end up in arbitration or even in court.
Local TD Tony Gregory last night protested strongly against Mr Carroll's action. "Mr Carroll's resistance to handing over the units - which are already allocated to local people - is causing great hardship for those who have been waiting for months to move in," said the TD.
Corrib gas - what's going on?
Dr Mark Garavan, a lecturer at GMIT in Castlebar, the spokesperson for the Shell to Sea group wrote this article for the Western People.
The time has come for the people of Mayo to ask themselves what is going on with the Corrib Gas project, writes Dr Mark Garavan.
FOR OVER six years the real issues regarding the Corrib gas project have been consistently obscured or deliberately ignored. The most recent obstacle being raised to prevent the issues being finally addressed is fatigue. We are told that the Corrib conflict has become boring, is repetitive and that it is time for everyone to move on. It is as if the unfortunate participants in this sorry saga are there to provide a spectacle of entertainment and that if there are no new plot twists they should pack up and go home.
But what precisely does this mean? Those who must live beside Shell and Statoil’s proposed project have no choice about where they live. Contrary to the carefully contrived public relations spin the issues that have given rise to the Corrib gas conflict remain. Despite the last dreadful six years, the project proposed in 2000 remains substantially the same project being proposed in 2007. There is still a processing plant at Bellanaboy and still a production pipeline routed close to people’s homes in the village of Rossport. The only significant changes that have occurred are that the original pipeline route might be tweaked; that excavated peat is being dumped out-side Bangor rather than Bellanaboy; and that gas will be released raw into the atmosphere at Bellanaboy rather than being flared.
The core problem with the Corrib gas project remains the decision to locate the processing plant nine kilo-meters inland. Why is this being opposed? Let me outline a number of brief reasons.
First, the plant is being constructed on a bog. To build it 500,000 tonnes of wet Atlantic peat must be removed. This is an extraordinarily risky procedure, one never before attempted on this scale. The risk of peat run-off, aluminium build-up, increase in peat instability in a wide area and general water contamination is high. This is a serious matter given that Carrowmore Lake, the source of most of the drinking water for Erris, is just two miles away from the site.
Second, gas processing involves a number of hazardous activities. In the event of a fire or explosion, the area is poorly served by necessary support infrastructure such as medical facilities, fire fighting capacity and accessible roads. Yet the plant is being proposed for a populated area with a number of houses some hundreds of yards from it. In addition, the inland location of the plant necessitates the routing of a production pipeline also through populated areas which brings in its wake additional risks.
Third, the processing gives rise to a number of chemical by-products. Discharges will occur to both air and water. There will be a high-pressure flare stack some 40 metres high, two low pressure chimneys and the developer will ‘cold vent’ methane to the air. All of this will degrade the environmental quality of the area and give rise to ongoing local anxiety about health.
Fourth, the insertion of this huge plant into an entirely rural and nonindustrialised area will change the character of the area and transform it from a location of intimacy and familiarity to one that would be alien to many of its inhabitants. The physical building itself will cover twenty-two acres of ground and will operate 24/7 with attendant noise and lighting.
Finally, it is clear that Shell’s determination to secure the Bellanaboy site is driven by their expectation of developing further gas wells in the future. This was acknowledged by them at the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing. The 400 acres available at Bellanaboy permits them to build additional processing capacity in the future.
These issues are not invented or contrived. They are genuine concerns whether you agree with the detail or not. What therefore should those who hold these concerns do? Stay quiet? Remain indifferent? Avert their eyes? Instead, from the outset those who have campaigned under the umbrella of Shell to Sea have approached this conflict in a positive manner. We have proposed that the gas can be processed offshore and that this would effectively resolve the difficulties. What is so radical and unreasonable as that? Not only have we from the outset defined clearly what the problem is we have equally detailed a viable solution.
Surely the time has come for the people of Mayo to ask themselves what is really going on with this project. Who is really benefiting? What are the much-lauded benefits that justify this project being forced through?
Is it security of supply? No, because Bord Gas makes it quite clear that most Irish gas comes from the North Sea and that there is no medium term threat to the continuity of those supplies. Is it lower cost? No, the price of gas is determined by global market forces and Corrib will be purchased at full market price. Are there significant financial benefits to the State? Again no. No royalties are being extracted, no equity share taken, no windfall tax levied.
All exploration and development costs can be written off against tax at 100% from year one. Thus very little financial benefit will arise. Might there be jobs from the project? Minimal, other than in the short-term construction of the plant. Once the plant is operational only fifty jobs will be needed. The companies are not obliged to employ Irish work-ers on their exploration rigs nor do they have to source their supplies from Ireland. Is it gas for Mayo? No, gas is already going to be provided to a number of towns prior to the possible development of the Corrib well. The development of Corrib and whether Mayo should receive gas or not are two separate matters.
The real beneficiaries are Norway (because of Statoil’s involvement), Scotland (where the bulk of the industry’s supplies are sourced) and the shareholders of Shell and Marathon. Any other presentation of the reality is self-serving. It is clear that for the New Year we need to pause, take stock and agree a proper development that meets with local consent and delivers real national and local benefits. Why should the people of Mayo not deserve and receive the best?
The time has come for the people of Mayo to ask themselves what is going on with the Corrib Gas project, writes Dr Mark Garavan.
FOR OVER six years the real issues regarding the Corrib gas project have been consistently obscured or deliberately ignored. The most recent obstacle being raised to prevent the issues being finally addressed is fatigue. We are told that the Corrib conflict has become boring, is repetitive and that it is time for everyone to move on. It is as if the unfortunate participants in this sorry saga are there to provide a spectacle of entertainment and that if there are no new plot twists they should pack up and go home.
But what precisely does this mean? Those who must live beside Shell and Statoil’s proposed project have no choice about where they live. Contrary to the carefully contrived public relations spin the issues that have given rise to the Corrib gas conflict remain. Despite the last dreadful six years, the project proposed in 2000 remains substantially the same project being proposed in 2007. There is still a processing plant at Bellanaboy and still a production pipeline routed close to people’s homes in the village of Rossport. The only significant changes that have occurred are that the original pipeline route might be tweaked; that excavated peat is being dumped out-side Bangor rather than Bellanaboy; and that gas will be released raw into the atmosphere at Bellanaboy rather than being flared.
The core problem with the Corrib gas project remains the decision to locate the processing plant nine kilo-meters inland. Why is this being opposed? Let me outline a number of brief reasons.
First, the plant is being constructed on a bog. To build it 500,000 tonnes of wet Atlantic peat must be removed. This is an extraordinarily risky procedure, one never before attempted on this scale. The risk of peat run-off, aluminium build-up, increase in peat instability in a wide area and general water contamination is high. This is a serious matter given that Carrowmore Lake, the source of most of the drinking water for Erris, is just two miles away from the site.
Second, gas processing involves a number of hazardous activities. In the event of a fire or explosion, the area is poorly served by necessary support infrastructure such as medical facilities, fire fighting capacity and accessible roads. Yet the plant is being proposed for a populated area with a number of houses some hundreds of yards from it. In addition, the inland location of the plant necessitates the routing of a production pipeline also through populated areas which brings in its wake additional risks.
Third, the processing gives rise to a number of chemical by-products. Discharges will occur to both air and water. There will be a high-pressure flare stack some 40 metres high, two low pressure chimneys and the developer will ‘cold vent’ methane to the air. All of this will degrade the environmental quality of the area and give rise to ongoing local anxiety about health.
Fourth, the insertion of this huge plant into an entirely rural and nonindustrialised area will change the character of the area and transform it from a location of intimacy and familiarity to one that would be alien to many of its inhabitants. The physical building itself will cover twenty-two acres of ground and will operate 24/7 with attendant noise and lighting.
Finally, it is clear that Shell’s determination to secure the Bellanaboy site is driven by their expectation of developing further gas wells in the future. This was acknowledged by them at the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing. The 400 acres available at Bellanaboy permits them to build additional processing capacity in the future.
These issues are not invented or contrived. They are genuine concerns whether you agree with the detail or not. What therefore should those who hold these concerns do? Stay quiet? Remain indifferent? Avert their eyes? Instead, from the outset those who have campaigned under the umbrella of Shell to Sea have approached this conflict in a positive manner. We have proposed that the gas can be processed offshore and that this would effectively resolve the difficulties. What is so radical and unreasonable as that? Not only have we from the outset defined clearly what the problem is we have equally detailed a viable solution.
Surely the time has come for the people of Mayo to ask themselves what is really going on with this project. Who is really benefiting? What are the much-lauded benefits that justify this project being forced through?
Is it security of supply? No, because Bord Gas makes it quite clear that most Irish gas comes from the North Sea and that there is no medium term threat to the continuity of those supplies. Is it lower cost? No, the price of gas is determined by global market forces and Corrib will be purchased at full market price. Are there significant financial benefits to the State? Again no. No royalties are being extracted, no equity share taken, no windfall tax levied.
All exploration and development costs can be written off against tax at 100% from year one. Thus very little financial benefit will arise. Might there be jobs from the project? Minimal, other than in the short-term construction of the plant. Once the plant is operational only fifty jobs will be needed. The companies are not obliged to employ Irish work-ers on their exploration rigs nor do they have to source their supplies from Ireland. Is it gas for Mayo? No, gas is already going to be provided to a number of towns prior to the possible development of the Corrib well. The development of Corrib and whether Mayo should receive gas or not are two separate matters.
The real beneficiaries are Norway (because of Statoil’s involvement), Scotland (where the bulk of the industry’s supplies are sourced) and the shareholders of Shell and Marathon. Any other presentation of the reality is self-serving. It is clear that for the New Year we need to pause, take stock and agree a proper development that meets with local consent and delivers real national and local benefits. Why should the people of Mayo not deserve and receive the best?
Naming and shaming those convicted of planning breaches
Paul Cullen writign in The Irish Times tells us that Dublin City Council has become the first local authority to "name and shame" people convicted of planning breaches.
The council yesterday published the names of six property owners against whom District Court convictions were obtained under the planning Acts. A number of other convictions are under appeal to the Circuit Court.
It is council policy to take enforcement action in all cases of unauthorised development and to prosecute breaches of the planning Acts, according to Brian Hanney of the council's planning enforcement branch.
Last year the council received 1,200 complaints about alleged planning breaches. It referred 140 cases to a solicitor for enforcement.
The council also pursues the costs of issuing enforcement orders and subsequent court proceedings.
Last year €123,000 was collected in costs and fines, equivalent to about €1,000 a case, Mr Hanney said.
The main types of breach occurred when people exceeded the limits for exempted development or deviated from specified planning permission.
Failure to adhere to the working hours permitted for a development is an increasing cause of complaint.
When a local authority receives a complaint about alleged unauthorised development, it sends out a letter to the property owner or developer. After four weeks an enforcement officer visits the site to determine its status. If the development is exempted (ie it doesn't need planning permission), the file is closed.
If, however, a breach is discovered, the authority can issue an enforcement notice, and is entitled to recoup the costs of doing this.
Owners have the option of seeking retention permission but this cannot be used as a defence in the event of court proceedings. However, Dublin City Council grants retention permission in more than 85 per cent of cases.
Last year the council issued 370 enforcement notices. If the problem is not remedied within a stated period, the matter goes to court.
A staff of 25 work in the planning enforcement section, of whom 10 are enforcement officers. Running costs are over €2.6 million a year.
Paul Cullen
© 2007 The Irish Times
The council yesterday published the names of six property owners against whom District Court convictions were obtained under the planning Acts. A number of other convictions are under appeal to the Circuit Court.
It is council policy to take enforcement action in all cases of unauthorised development and to prosecute breaches of the planning Acts, according to Brian Hanney of the council's planning enforcement branch.
Last year the council received 1,200 complaints about alleged planning breaches. It referred 140 cases to a solicitor for enforcement.
The council also pursues the costs of issuing enforcement orders and subsequent court proceedings.
Last year €123,000 was collected in costs and fines, equivalent to about €1,000 a case, Mr Hanney said.
The main types of breach occurred when people exceeded the limits for exempted development or deviated from specified planning permission.
Failure to adhere to the working hours permitted for a development is an increasing cause of complaint.
When a local authority receives a complaint about alleged unauthorised development, it sends out a letter to the property owner or developer. After four weeks an enforcement officer visits the site to determine its status. If the development is exempted (ie it doesn't need planning permission), the file is closed.
If, however, a breach is discovered, the authority can issue an enforcement notice, and is entitled to recoup the costs of doing this.
Owners have the option of seeking retention permission but this cannot be used as a defence in the event of court proceedings. However, Dublin City Council grants retention permission in more than 85 per cent of cases.
Last year the council issued 370 enforcement notices. If the problem is not remedied within a stated period, the matter goes to court.
A staff of 25 work in the planning enforcement section, of whom 10 are enforcement officers. Running costs are over €2.6 million a year.
Paul Cullen
© 2007 The Irish Times
M3 protect continues
Paul Melia of the Irish Independent gives another view:
IT's probably 1,500 years old, and it has survived Viking raids and the ravages of time, but in just a few years it will be buried under tonnes of concrete.
Archaeologists excavating the route of the M3 motorway from Dublin to Navan have unearthed a 6th century souterrain, or underground passage, in near-perfect condition at Roestown, Co Meath.
The souterrain, which was used to store food and valuables and as a place of refuge, will not be preserved for future generations and as a tourist site.
Instead its location and condition will be recorded before it is capped and the motorway built over it.
It is just one of dozens of sites of archaeological interest in the Tara Skryne valley - where Ireland's High Kings were based, according to tradition - that will be treated similarly, to allow construction of the road.
Since last June, a group of protesters has camped on the Hill of Tara in an attempt to save the Valley of the Kings from being bisected by the road.
While hard-pressed commuters want the new road, those against it question why the motorway has to be built through the middle of the country's most important archaeological site.
The National Museum has also expressed concerns about the routing of the motorway.
Since June 21, a fire has continuously burned at the Tara Solidarity camp, tended by the thousands of protesters who have made the trip in an attempt to stop the motorway from going ahead.
The protesters include conservationists, local people and archaeologists, united in their intention to make the road an election issue and have the motorway rerouted.
"We're hoping to get it to the top of the agenda locally and nationally," Michael Canney said yesterday. "We're getting a fund together, and there will be a lot of political work done in the next three months. The protests will continue right throughout the election."
Heather Buchanan, the Navan-based chairwoman of the Save Tara Skryne Valley campaign, said "One of our concerns is that the National Roads Authority is employing archaeologists who only have a year to do their work."
One of the protesters, Debbie Reilly from Navan, said yesterday: "I'm an artist and I've camped on the hill since I was a child. I'd draw on the riverbank, and for me this is the source of my inspiration. This road will be so intrusive, there will be a rift in the valley.
"In Navan, there's a tradition to get a car on your 18th birthday because the buses are so poor. It's not difficult to see this road will not solve the commuter problems."
IT's probably 1,500 years old, and it has survived Viking raids and the ravages of time, but in just a few years it will be buried under tonnes of concrete.
Archaeologists excavating the route of the M3 motorway from Dublin to Navan have unearthed a 6th century souterrain, or underground passage, in near-perfect condition at Roestown, Co Meath.
The souterrain, which was used to store food and valuables and as a place of refuge, will not be preserved for future generations and as a tourist site.
Instead its location and condition will be recorded before it is capped and the motorway built over it.
It is just one of dozens of sites of archaeological interest in the Tara Skryne valley - where Ireland's High Kings were based, according to tradition - that will be treated similarly, to allow construction of the road.
Since last June, a group of protesters has camped on the Hill of Tara in an attempt to save the Valley of the Kings from being bisected by the road.
While hard-pressed commuters want the new road, those against it question why the motorway has to be built through the middle of the country's most important archaeological site.
The National Museum has also expressed concerns about the routing of the motorway.
Since June 21, a fire has continuously burned at the Tara Solidarity camp, tended by the thousands of protesters who have made the trip in an attempt to stop the motorway from going ahead.
The protesters include conservationists, local people and archaeologists, united in their intention to make the road an election issue and have the motorway rerouted.
"We're hoping to get it to the top of the agenda locally and nationally," Michael Canney said yesterday. "We're getting a fund together, and there will be a lot of political work done in the next three months. The protests will continue right throughout the election."
Heather Buchanan, the Navan-based chairwoman of the Save Tara Skryne Valley campaign, said "One of our concerns is that the National Roads Authority is employing archaeologists who only have a year to do their work."
One of the protesters, Debbie Reilly from Navan, said yesterday: "I'm an artist and I've camped on the hill since I was a child. I'd draw on the riverbank, and for me this is the source of my inspiration. This road will be so intrusive, there will be a rift in the valley.
"In Navan, there's a tradition to get a car on your 18th birthday because the buses are so poor. It's not difficult to see this road will not solve the commuter problems."
Is Tara's archaeology being damaged?
Frank McDonald of The Irish Times keeps us all informed on Tara:
The National Roads Authority (NRA) has denied that directions by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to protect archaeology along the M3 motorway route are being "openly flouted" by works now under way.
Celtic scholar Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, of the Save Tara campaign, has written to Mr Roche and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern complaining that damage had been done to Rath Lugh, a designated national monument.
"The tree felling and use of heavy digging machinery at Lismullin and at the base of Rath Lugh - one of Tara's outlying defensive fortifications - is not being carried out in accordance with the Minister's directions."
Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said standards of best archaeological practice were not being observed and that the directions issued by Mr Roche in May 2005 regarding the treatment of archaeological sites "are being openly flouted".
But Mary Deevy, project archaeologist with the NRA, insisted that a site in a Save Tara photograph was part of an esker ridge - "two fields away from Rath Lugh" - which was used for private small-scale gravel quarrying.
She had walked from Lismullin to Rath Lugh earlier this month with Heather King, a senior archaeologist from the department, "who confirmed that no damage had been done to archaeological sites" in the area.
Asked if the Minister's directions were being flouted, Ms Deevy said: "Absolutely not". She added that the contractors involved in the work were fully informed on archaeological sites "and know very well what sites to avoid".
Mr Roche had specified that the removal of forestry and topsoil at Lismullin and Ardsallagh was to be "carried out under archaeological supervision" and all construction topsoil stripping was to be archaeologically monitored.
"There is no archaeological supervision of forestry clearance at Lismullin," Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said. "Neither is there any archaeological monitoring of large-scale earthmoving from the base of the Rath Lugh escarpment.
"Such actions completely undermine Rath Lugh and the assurances given by the Minister in relation to this, one of our nation's most sensitive archaeological and historical landscapes," her statement said.
She explained that Rath Lugh "stands as a sentry over the Gabhra Valley guarding the northern and north-western approaches to the Hill [ of Tara] and overlooks other nearby recorded archaeological monuments".
Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said stratified archaeological sediments were visible in photographs of damage done to what she claimed was Rath Lugh. "If there were archaeological supervision such works would have been brought to a halt."
She also queried why such work had started under cover of darkness when an archaeologist would be unlikely to see freshly disturbed archaeological strata.
Although the Minister had said that his directions were "both comprehensive and onerous" and would "protect heritage" sites along the M3, Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said that his expressed wishes "are being 'comprehensively' ignored".
The National Roads Authority (NRA) has denied that directions by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to protect archaeology along the M3 motorway route are being "openly flouted" by works now under way.
Celtic scholar Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, of the Save Tara campaign, has written to Mr Roche and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern complaining that damage had been done to Rath Lugh, a designated national monument.
"The tree felling and use of heavy digging machinery at Lismullin and at the base of Rath Lugh - one of Tara's outlying defensive fortifications - is not being carried out in accordance with the Minister's directions."
Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said standards of best archaeological practice were not being observed and that the directions issued by Mr Roche in May 2005 regarding the treatment of archaeological sites "are being openly flouted".
But Mary Deevy, project archaeologist with the NRA, insisted that a site in a Save Tara photograph was part of an esker ridge - "two fields away from Rath Lugh" - which was used for private small-scale gravel quarrying.
She had walked from Lismullin to Rath Lugh earlier this month with Heather King, a senior archaeologist from the department, "who confirmed that no damage had been done to archaeological sites" in the area.
Asked if the Minister's directions were being flouted, Ms Deevy said: "Absolutely not". She added that the contractors involved in the work were fully informed on archaeological sites "and know very well what sites to avoid".
Mr Roche had specified that the removal of forestry and topsoil at Lismullin and Ardsallagh was to be "carried out under archaeological supervision" and all construction topsoil stripping was to be archaeologically monitored.
"There is no archaeological supervision of forestry clearance at Lismullin," Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said. "Neither is there any archaeological monitoring of large-scale earthmoving from the base of the Rath Lugh escarpment.
"Such actions completely undermine Rath Lugh and the assurances given by the Minister in relation to this, one of our nation's most sensitive archaeological and historical landscapes," her statement said.
She explained that Rath Lugh "stands as a sentry over the Gabhra Valley guarding the northern and north-western approaches to the Hill [ of Tara] and overlooks other nearby recorded archaeological monuments".
Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said stratified archaeological sediments were visible in photographs of damage done to what she claimed was Rath Lugh. "If there were archaeological supervision such works would have been brought to a halt."
She also queried why such work had started under cover of darkness when an archaeologist would be unlikely to see freshly disturbed archaeological strata.
Although the Minister had said that his directions were "both comprehensive and onerous" and would "protect heritage" sites along the M3, Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said that his expressed wishes "are being 'comprehensively' ignored".
Monday, 15 January 2007
Dempsey pledges Government commitment to renewables
Noel Dempsey T.D., the Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources has announced that a significant milestone on the road to building a sustainable energy future for Ireland has been reached with over 1,000MW of renewable electricity-generating capacity now connected to the Grid.
This consists of 740MW of wind capacity, 236MW of hydro capacity and over 35MW of biomass capacity.
"We have more than doubled the renewable generating capacity in the past two years and we are now well on target towards having 15% of the electricity we consume coming from renewable sources by 2010 - and I am confident and more determined than ever that we can reach the 30% renewable target contained in the Government's Green Paper on Energy" - commented the Minister on learning of the news.
"We have some of the richest potential renewable energy resources in Europe - wind, ocean and bio-energy - and, if we are to meet our Kyoto obligations and reduce our dependence on fuel imports, we must maximise the contribution made by these resources. Today's good news is a direct result of this Government's commitment to developing these green energy resources. Only late last year, a further 55 new renewable-powered electricity generating plants were approved for support under the new REFIT programme by Government" - he continued.
"We are also promoting the use of renewable technologies at an individual level. We have committed a further €20 million over the next three years to expanding the Greener Homes scheme - so popular among householders, that well over 10,000 have applied to date - and we will soon be rolling out a programme to grant-aid solar and heat pump technologies in clubs and community halls around the country. It is these concrete actions by the Government - which, combined with the willingness of people to make changes at an individual level - that I believe will mean we can make Ireland the Renewable Energy Island" - concluded Minister Dempsey.
This consists of 740MW of wind capacity, 236MW of hydro capacity and over 35MW of biomass capacity.
"We have more than doubled the renewable generating capacity in the past two years and we are now well on target towards having 15% of the electricity we consume coming from renewable sources by 2010 - and I am confident and more determined than ever that we can reach the 30% renewable target contained in the Government's Green Paper on Energy" - commented the Minister on learning of the news.
"We have some of the richest potential renewable energy resources in Europe - wind, ocean and bio-energy - and, if we are to meet our Kyoto obligations and reduce our dependence on fuel imports, we must maximise the contribution made by these resources. Today's good news is a direct result of this Government's commitment to developing these green energy resources. Only late last year, a further 55 new renewable-powered electricity generating plants were approved for support under the new REFIT programme by Government" - he continued.
"We are also promoting the use of renewable technologies at an individual level. We have committed a further €20 million over the next three years to expanding the Greener Homes scheme - so popular among householders, that well over 10,000 have applied to date - and we will soon be rolling out a programme to grant-aid solar and heat pump technologies in clubs and community halls around the country. It is these concrete actions by the Government - which, combined with the willingness of people to make changes at an individual level - that I believe will mean we can make Ireland the Renewable Energy Island" - concluded Minister Dempsey.
Review of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2003
In accordance with Section 11(1) of the Planning & Development Act 2000, Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council hereby give notice that they intend to review the current Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2003 and to prepare a new development plan.
Submissions or observations regarding the review of the existing development plan should be made in writing to the County Council at the address shown below by the 9th February 2007. All written observations and submissions lodged by the closing date will be taken into consideration prior to the preparation of the Draft Ennis and Environs Development Plan.
Copies of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2003 and its variations can be inspected during normal office hours at the Planning Office, Ennis Town Council, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis and at the Planning Office, Clare County Council, Unit 1, Westgate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis.
An issues paper to facilitate the submission of representations and observations is available from the Planning Department, Clare County Council, Unit 1, Westgate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare. Tel. No. 065 6846452 email: plannoff@clarecoco.ie and from the Planning Department, Ennis Town Council, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, Co. Clare Tel. No. 065 6846243, email: planning@ennistowncouncil.ie
Submissions or observations regarding the review of the existing development plan should be made in writing to the County Council at the address shown below by the 9th February 2007. All written observations and submissions lodged by the closing date will be taken into consideration prior to the preparation of the Draft Ennis and Environs Development Plan.
Copies of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2003 and its variations can be inspected during normal office hours at the Planning Office, Ennis Town Council, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis and at the Planning Office, Clare County Council, Unit 1, Westgate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis.
An issues paper to facilitate the submission of representations and observations is available from the Planning Department, Clare County Council, Unit 1, Westgate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare. Tel. No. 065 6846452 email: plannoff@clarecoco.ie and from the Planning Department, Ennis Town Council, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, Co. Clare Tel. No. 065 6846243, email: planning@ennistowncouncil.ie
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO NEWBRIDGE LOCAL AREA
By Order of the High Court made on the 21st February 2006, in proceedings entitled Newbridge Community Development Limited –v- Kildare County Council, Judicial Review Record No. 254JR/2004, the High Court quashed the following part of clause 2.6.2. of the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 as adopted by Kildare County Council on the 29th September 2003 :-
“The amenity strip along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning.”
The High Court also ordered Kildare County Council to propose and advertise, in accordance with the provisions of Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 –2004, an amendment to Clauses 2.6.2 and 4.1.4. of the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 with the consequential amendments to the map forming part of the Plan.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 – 2004 that Kildare County Council proposes to make an amendment to the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 as follows:
The existing terms of Clause 2.6.2 of the Plan consequent upon the said High Court Order provide as follows:
Clause 2.6.2 “No development will be permitted on either bank within 80m of the River Liffey. Development along the river should front onto the river so as to ensure the passive supervision of the proposed linear park.”
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 2.6.2 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
“The amenity strip and the area where development will not be permitted along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning. The area between the 50m strip and the adjacent lands zoned New Residential to be zoned New Residential. “
The existing terms of the Clause 4.1.4 of the Plan provide as follows:
Clause 4.1.4. No development will be permitted within 80m of the banks of the River Liffey in order to facilitate the creation of a riverside linear park.
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 4.1.4 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
Along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin, the area where no development will be permitted shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey.
The proposed amendments together with the map relating to the proposed amendments may be inspected for a period of 6 weeks between 14/12/06 and 25/01/07
“The amenity strip along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning.”
The High Court also ordered Kildare County Council to propose and advertise, in accordance with the provisions of Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 –2004, an amendment to Clauses 2.6.2 and 4.1.4. of the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 with the consequential amendments to the map forming part of the Plan.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 – 2004 that Kildare County Council proposes to make an amendment to the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 as follows:
The existing terms of Clause 2.6.2 of the Plan consequent upon the said High Court Order provide as follows:
Clause 2.6.2 “No development will be permitted on either bank within 80m of the River Liffey. Development along the river should front onto the river so as to ensure the passive supervision of the proposed linear park.”
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 2.6.2 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
“The amenity strip and the area where development will not be permitted along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning. The area between the 50m strip and the adjacent lands zoned New Residential to be zoned New Residential. “
The existing terms of the Clause 4.1.4 of the Plan provide as follows:
Clause 4.1.4. No development will be permitted within 80m of the banks of the River Liffey in order to facilitate the creation of a riverside linear park.
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 4.1.4 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
Along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin, the area where no development will be permitted shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey.
The proposed amendments together with the map relating to the proposed amendments may be inspected for a period of 6 weeks between 14/12/06 and 25/01/07
Draft Local Area Plan for Lands at Hacketstown, Skerries.
Fingal County Council has prepared a Draft Local Area Plan for Lands at Hacketstown, Skerries.
The lands were zoned ‘RS1’ for development the 2005-20011 Fingal Development Plan:
RS1: “To provide for new residential communities in accordance with approved local area plans and subject to the provision of the necessary social and physical infrastructure.”
The Draft Local Area Plan will be available for public inspection from Wednesday, 6th December, 2006 – Wednesday, 17th January 2007
The lands were zoned ‘RS1’ for development the 2005-20011 Fingal Development Plan:
RS1: “To provide for new residential communities in accordance with approved local area plans and subject to the provision of the necessary social and physical infrastructure.”
The Draft Local Area Plan will be available for public inspection from Wednesday, 6th December, 2006 – Wednesday, 17th January 2007
LANDS AT OLD GOLF LINKS, MALAHIDE - RE-ZONED?
It is proposed to rezone the lands from:
‘OS’: ‘To preserve and provide for open space and recreational amenities’ to
‘RS’: ‘To provide for residential development and to protect and improve residential amenity’
It is also proposed to include local objective:- ‘To facilitate the development of 3 No. houses on these lands’
The reason for the proposed variation is to provide for the development of 3 No. houses on these lands.
Objections or representations, with respect to the draft of the proposed Variation made in writing to Fingal County Council within the said period Wednesday 3rd January, 2007 to 5.00 pm Wednesday 31st January, 2007 will be taken into consideration by the Council before the making of the Variation of the Development Plan.
Such representations or objections should be addressed to: Senior Executive Officer, Planning Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin. Alternatively, they can be emailed to devplan@fingalcoco.ie.
‘OS’: ‘To preserve and provide for open space and recreational amenities’ to
‘RS’: ‘To provide for residential development and to protect and improve residential amenity’
It is also proposed to include local objective:- ‘To facilitate the development of 3 No. houses on these lands’
The reason for the proposed variation is to provide for the development of 3 No. houses on these lands.
Objections or representations, with respect to the draft of the proposed Variation made in writing to Fingal County Council within the said period Wednesday 3rd January, 2007 to 5.00 pm Wednesday 31st January, 2007 will be taken into consideration by the Council before the making of the Variation of the Development Plan.
Such representations or objections should be addressed to: Senior Executive Officer, Planning Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin. Alternatively, they can be emailed to devplan@fingalcoco.ie.
A Special Planning Control Scheme has been prepared for the Grafton Street and Environs Architectural Conservation Area
a Special Planning Control Scheme has been prepared for the Grafton Street and Environs Architectural Conservation Area in accordance with Section 84 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The physical area covered by the Special Planning Control Scheme is defined as follows: The whole of Grafton Street, from its junction with College Green to the north, extending southwards to the junction with St. Stephens Green. The area extends to the east along St Stephens Green North as far as Dawson Street and to the west along South King Street as far as the Gaiety Theatre. The exact boundaries of the Area of Special Planning Control are delineated on the map accompanying the public display.
The statutory display of the Special Planning Control Scheme will be on view to the public from Wednesday 10th January, 2007 to Wednesday 7th March, 2007 both dates inclusive (excluding public holidays) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. at the offices of Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Ground Floor, Block 4, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.
The statutory display of the Special Planning Control Scheme will be on view to the public from Wednesday 10th January, 2007 to Wednesday 7th March, 2007 both dates inclusive (excluding public holidays) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. at the offices of Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Ground Floor, Block 4, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.
Variations to the Dublin City Council Development Plan
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTS 2000-2006 (SECTION 13)
NOTICE OF PROPOSED DRAFT VARIATIONS OF
THE DUBLIN CITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2005-2011
(VARIATION NO’s 15 & 16)
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 13 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2006 that Dublin City Council, being the Planning Authority for Dublin City, has prepared the proposed two (2) Draft Variations of the Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 in respect of the following:
Variation No. 15
(a)It is proposed to vary the Dublin City Development Plan 2005 - 2011 by
designating the South City Retail Quarter as an Architectural Conservation Area. The proposed draft variation arises from Objective H7 in the Dublin City Development Plan “to identify and designate at least eight architectural conservation areas during the currency of the Plan”.
The proposed architectural conservation area breaks into two areas, the first extending east of Grafton Street to Dawson Street and from a line just south of Nassau Street to St. Stephen’s Green, the second extending from Georges Street South to Clarendon Street, and College Green/Exchequer Street to Stephen’s Street.
The exact boundaries of the proposed Architectural Conservation Area are delineated on the map accompanying the public display.
Variation No. 16
(b)It is proposed to vary the Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 by expanding and modifying the policies relating to city centre retail uses.
The proposed draft variation arises from the Retail Core Framework Plan. Policies S3 and S10 would be modified to introduce the concept of the ‘retail core Framework Plan’, the Category 1 and 2 Shopping Street Designations would be altered in order to improve the level of control of central city land uses, and the category 2 Designation would be expanded to include William Street South, which previously did not have any designation, in order to give it the same level of control as that pertaining on the adjoining streets.
A copy of the proposed Draft Variations will be available for inspection at the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 from Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) between the hours of 09.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from Wednesday, 10th January, 2007 to Tuesday, 6th February, 2007 (both dates inclusive).
Details are also available on the City Council’s website at www.dublincity.ie.
Written submissions or observations in relation to the proposed Draft Variation made to the Planning Authority within the above said period will be taken into consideration before the making of a decision on the Draft Variations. Such submissions or observations should be addressed to:
Tom Vaughan, Planning Department, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 or via email to planning@dublincity.ie
NOTICE OF PROPOSED DRAFT VARIATIONS OF
THE DUBLIN CITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2005-2011
(VARIATION NO’s 15 & 16)
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 13 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2006 that Dublin City Council, being the Planning Authority for Dublin City, has prepared the proposed two (2) Draft Variations of the Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 in respect of the following:
Variation No. 15
(a)It is proposed to vary the Dublin City Development Plan 2005 - 2011 by
designating the South City Retail Quarter as an Architectural Conservation Area. The proposed draft variation arises from Objective H7 in the Dublin City Development Plan “to identify and designate at least eight architectural conservation areas during the currency of the Plan”.
The proposed architectural conservation area breaks into two areas, the first extending east of Grafton Street to Dawson Street and from a line just south of Nassau Street to St. Stephen’s Green, the second extending from Georges Street South to Clarendon Street, and College Green/Exchequer Street to Stephen’s Street.
The exact boundaries of the proposed Architectural Conservation Area are delineated on the map accompanying the public display.
Variation No. 16
(b)It is proposed to vary the Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 by expanding and modifying the policies relating to city centre retail uses.
The proposed draft variation arises from the Retail Core Framework Plan. Policies S3 and S10 would be modified to introduce the concept of the ‘retail core Framework Plan’, the Category 1 and 2 Shopping Street Designations would be altered in order to improve the level of control of central city land uses, and the category 2 Designation would be expanded to include William Street South, which previously did not have any designation, in order to give it the same level of control as that pertaining on the adjoining streets.
A copy of the proposed Draft Variations will be available for inspection at the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 from Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) between the hours of 09.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from Wednesday, 10th January, 2007 to Tuesday, 6th February, 2007 (both dates inclusive).
Details are also available on the City Council’s website at www.dublincity.ie.
Written submissions or observations in relation to the proposed Draft Variation made to the Planning Authority within the above said period will be taken into consideration before the making of a decision on the Draft Variations. Such submissions or observations should be addressed to:
Tom Vaughan, Planning Department, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 or via email to planning@dublincity.ie
Development Strategy & Urban Design Framework Plan for Dundalk Town Centre, Co Louth
Those interested in tendering for this work should note that the closing date is 2nd of February. Here's what the purpose of this Development Strategy & Urban Design Framework Plan for Dundalk Town Centre, Co Louth is meant to be:
The principle purpose of the Development Strategy and the Urban Design Framework Plan is to generate a strategic vision for the future sustainable development of Dundalk which promotes the regeneration, improvement and redevelopment, where appropriate, of the historic town centre as well as providing an urban design framework plan for the existing town centre and town centre expansion area which promotes development of the town whilst respecting historic patterns, scale and character of the existing townscape. In providing an overall design framework to guide future development in a planned and co-coordinated manner it is envisaged that the Strategy will also incorporate a shop front design guide which will encourage the provision of high quality and, where appropriate, creatively designed and/or architecturally/historically appropriate shop fronts. The Development Strategy and the Urban Design Framework Plan should also consider how other peripheral town centre areas may integrate and contribute towards the proposed strategy.
The principle purpose of the Development Strategy and the Urban Design Framework Plan is to generate a strategic vision for the future sustainable development of Dundalk which promotes the regeneration, improvement and redevelopment, where appropriate, of the historic town centre as well as providing an urban design framework plan for the existing town centre and town centre expansion area which promotes development of the town whilst respecting historic patterns, scale and character of the existing townscape. In providing an overall design framework to guide future development in a planned and co-coordinated manner it is envisaged that the Strategy will also incorporate a shop front design guide which will encourage the provision of high quality and, where appropriate, creatively designed and/or architecturally/historically appropriate shop fronts. The Development Strategy and the Urban Design Framework Plan should also consider how other peripheral town centre areas may integrate and contribute towards the proposed strategy.
Local Area Plan for Rathkeale
The Council of the County of Limerick has prepared a Proposed Local Area Plan for Rathkeale. Those interested still have a chance to comment up to 19th of February. Here's the advert':
Planning and Development Act, 2000 - 2006
Notice of having prepared a
Proposed Local Area Plan for Rathkeale
NOTICE is hereby given that the Council of the County of Limerick has, in pursuance of the provisions of the above Act, prepared a Proposed Local Area Plan for Rathkeale.
A copy of the Proposed Rathkeale Local Area Plan may be inspected at the County Hall, Dooradoyle, County Limerick each day (exclusive of public holidays) from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm, and at the Area Office in Rathkeale from 9.30 am to 4.30pm. A copy of the Proposed Plan may also be inspected at Rathkeale Community Centre, Rathkeale Health Centre, Rathkeale Post Office, Rathkeale Garda Station and the Public Libraries in Dooradoyle and the Granary, Michael Street, Limerick during opening hours. The Proposed Plan will also be available on Limerick County Council’s web site at www.lcc.ie/Planning/Local_Area_Plans/Proposed+Local+Area+Plans/.
The Proposed Plan will be on display from 6th January 2007 to 19th February 2007 inclusive.
As part of this process a public information evening has been organised for Wednesday 24th January 2007 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm in the Rathkeale House Hotel, Rathkeale and you are invited to attend and become involved in the Local Area Plan for your area.
The Plan may also be purchased for the price of €12.00 from the Council Offices or the Rathkeale Area Office.
Any objections or representations with respect to the Proposed Local Area Plan for Rathkeale, made in writing, to the Forward Planning Section, Planning and Development Dept, Limerick County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick and received before 3.30pm on 19th February 2007 will be taken into consideration before the Local Area Plan is made.
Planning and Development Act, 2000 - 2006
Notice of having prepared a
Proposed Local Area Plan for Rathkeale
NOTICE is hereby given that the Council of the County of Limerick has, in pursuance of the provisions of the above Act, prepared a Proposed Local Area Plan for Rathkeale.
A copy of the Proposed Rathkeale Local Area Plan may be inspected at the County Hall, Dooradoyle, County Limerick each day (exclusive of public holidays) from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm, and at the Area Office in Rathkeale from 9.30 am to 4.30pm. A copy of the Proposed Plan may also be inspected at Rathkeale Community Centre, Rathkeale Health Centre, Rathkeale Post Office, Rathkeale Garda Station and the Public Libraries in Dooradoyle and the Granary, Michael Street, Limerick during opening hours. The Proposed Plan will also be available on Limerick County Council’s web site at www.lcc.ie/Planning/Local_Area_Plans/Proposed+Local+Area+Plans/.
The Proposed Plan will be on display from 6th January 2007 to 19th February 2007 inclusive.
As part of this process a public information evening has been organised for Wednesday 24th January 2007 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm in the Rathkeale House Hotel, Rathkeale and you are invited to attend and become involved in the Local Area Plan for your area.
The Plan may also be purchased for the price of €12.00 from the Council Offices or the Rathkeale Area Office.
Any objections or representations with respect to the Proposed Local Area Plan for Rathkeale, made in writing, to the Forward Planning Section, Planning and Development Dept, Limerick County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick and received before 3.30pm on 19th February 2007 will be taken into consideration before the Local Area Plan is made.
Proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan
The phone caller in mentioned in the last post also asked me about the Proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan. This is available for inspection until 30 January 2007. A public open day will be held in respect of the proposed Draft Local Area Plan, during which representatives from the Council will be available to answer queries and accept written submissions between 10h00 to 14h00 and 17h00 to 21h00 on 25 January 2007 at the Kiltiernan Country Market Hall, Enniskerry Road, Kiltiernan, Dublin 18. Here's the advert':
Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council
Proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 20(3) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and Amendment Act 2002, that Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council, being the Planning Authority for the County proposes to make a Local Area Plan for Kiltiernan / Glenamuck. A copy of the proposed Draft Local Area Plan will be available for inspection from Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) from Tuesday 12 December 2006 to 30 January 2007 inclusive at the following locations: -
Public Concourse, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire (09h00 - 17h00)
Council Offices, Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum (09h30 - 12h30 & 13h30 - 16h30)
All branches of Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown libraries during library opening hours.
The proposed Draft Local Area Plan may also be viewed on the County Council’s website.
Proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan (Link opens in new window)
Submissions and observations in respect of the proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan may be made in writing and marked for the attention of the Director of Services, Economic Development and Planning Department, Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
Submissions and observations may also be made by e-mail to : kglap@dlrcoco.ie and should state your name, address and where relevant, the body represented.
All submissions and observations in respect of the proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan made in writing to Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown within the above time period will be taken into consideration by the Council in deciding upon the proposed Local Area Plan.
Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council
Proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 20(3) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and Amendment Act 2002, that Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council, being the Planning Authority for the County proposes to make a Local Area Plan for Kiltiernan / Glenamuck. A copy of the proposed Draft Local Area Plan will be available for inspection from Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) from Tuesday 12 December 2006 to 30 January 2007 inclusive at the following locations: -
Public Concourse, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire (09h00 - 17h00)
Council Offices, Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum (09h30 - 12h30 & 13h30 - 16h30)
All branches of Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown libraries during library opening hours.
The proposed Draft Local Area Plan may also be viewed on the County Council’s website.
Proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan (Link opens in new window)
Submissions and observations in respect of the proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan may be made in writing and marked for the attention of the Director of Services, Economic Development and Planning Department, Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
Submissions and observations may also be made by e-mail to : kglap@dlrcoco.ie and should state your name, address and where relevant, the body represented.
All submissions and observations in respect of the proposed Draft Kiltiernan / Glenamuck Local Area Plan made in writing to Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown within the above time period will be taken into consideration by the Council in deciding upon the proposed Local Area Plan.
Variation of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan
I had a phone call today asking when the closing date is for submissions on Variation No. 6 of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan, 2004-2010. The answer is until Monday 22nd January, 2007.
Here's the original advert':
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2000 (Section 13)
Proposed Variation of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
County Development Plan 2004-2010 (Variation No. 6)
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 13 (2) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, that Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, being the Planning Authority of the County of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, has prepared a draft of proposed Variation No. 6 of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan, 2004-2010 in respect of the following:-
It is proposed to designate the following Conservation Areas as Architectural Conservation Areas:-
(Click on the links to see PDF versions of maps which show the proposed Architectural Conservation Areas - All of the links will open in a new window)
A. Clarinda Park North, East, West/Corrig Road. (PDF File - 578 Kb)
B. Royal Terrace North, East, West/Royal Terrace Lane/Myrtle Avenue. (PDF File - 423 Kb)
C. Crosthwaite Park South, East, West. (PDF File - 489 Kb)
D. Pembroke Cottages, Main Street, Dundrum and Ballinteer Road, Dundrum. (PDF File - 404 Kb)
E. Pembroke Cottages, Booterstown Avenue. (PDF File - 300 Kb)
The reason for the Variation is to protect the special character of these places and areas in accordance with Section 10.3.1 Policy AC1: Architectural Conservation Areas of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2004-2010 and Part IV, Chapter 2 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000.
The exact boundaries of the proposed Architectural Conservation Areas are delineated on the five maps accompanying the public display.
Details of the proposed variation may be inspected at the following locations:-
Planning Department Council Offices Library
County Hall Dundrum Office Park All branches of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown libraries
Dun Laoghaire Dundrum
(between 9.00 and 17.00) (from 9.30 to 12.30 and 13.30 to 16.30) (During Library Opening hours)
Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) from Monday, 18th December, 2006 to Monday 22nd January, 2007 (inclusive). A copy of the proposed Variation may also be viewed on the County Council's web-site at www.dlrcoco.ie (Click on the links A-E above)
Written submissions or observations with respect to the proposed Variation made to the Planning Authority within the said period will be taken into consideration before the making of the Variation. Such submissions or observations should be addressed to:-
Michael Gough,
Director of Services,
Economic Development and Planning Department,
County Hall,
Marine Road,
Dun Laoghaire.
Or by e-mail to planning@dlrcoco.ie
Here's the original advert':
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2000 (Section 13)
Proposed Variation of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
County Development Plan 2004-2010 (Variation No. 6)
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 13 (2) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, that Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, being the Planning Authority of the County of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, has prepared a draft of proposed Variation No. 6 of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan, 2004-2010 in respect of the following:-
It is proposed to designate the following Conservation Areas as Architectural Conservation Areas:-
(Click on the links to see PDF versions of maps which show the proposed Architectural Conservation Areas - All of the links will open in a new window)
A. Clarinda Park North, East, West/Corrig Road. (PDF File - 578 Kb)
B. Royal Terrace North, East, West/Royal Terrace Lane/Myrtle Avenue. (PDF File - 423 Kb)
C. Crosthwaite Park South, East, West. (PDF File - 489 Kb)
D. Pembroke Cottages, Main Street, Dundrum and Ballinteer Road, Dundrum. (PDF File - 404 Kb)
E. Pembroke Cottages, Booterstown Avenue. (PDF File - 300 Kb)
The reason for the Variation is to protect the special character of these places and areas in accordance with Section 10.3.1 Policy AC1: Architectural Conservation Areas of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2004-2010 and Part IV, Chapter 2 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000.
The exact boundaries of the proposed Architectural Conservation Areas are delineated on the five maps accompanying the public display.
Details of the proposed variation may be inspected at the following locations:-
Planning Department Council Offices Library
County Hall Dundrum Office Park All branches of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown libraries
Dun Laoghaire Dundrum
(between 9.00 and 17.00) (from 9.30 to 12.30 and 13.30 to 16.30) (During Library Opening hours)
Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) from Monday, 18th December, 2006 to Monday 22nd January, 2007 (inclusive). A copy of the proposed Variation may also be viewed on the County Council's web-site at www.dlrcoco.ie (Click on the links A-E above)
Written submissions or observations with respect to the proposed Variation made to the Planning Authority within the said period will be taken into consideration before the making of the Variation. Such submissions or observations should be addressed to:-
Michael Gough,
Director of Services,
Economic Development and Planning Department,
County Hall,
Marine Road,
Dun Laoghaire.
Or by e-mail to planning@dlrcoco.ie
BIODIVERSITY PROTEST OVER IRISH FORESTRY
The environmental group Friends of the Irish Environment [FIE] will greet the Minister for the Environment with a Sitka spruce log when he arrives to launch the new national Biodiversity Public Awareness Campaign.
The log is being brought to Customs House by six environmentalists wearing green hard hats and reflective vests. FIE claims that there is no requirement to use any native species in the national afforestation programme, 'Growing for the Future'.
'Sitka spruce remains by far the most planted species, and it is not native and not a hardwood. It is a fast growing poor quality timber that is not suitable for the construction industry and is not recommended for solid fuel wood burning stoves and boilers. To be economic it requires large blocks of clearfell that are entirely destructive of the environment and landscape.'
The group also cites the European Environmental Agency [EEA] analysis which showed that 84% of Irish forestry 1990 - 2000 was planted on peatlands.
'Planting on our peatlands irreparably destroys these rare habitats and greatly diminishes our native biodiversity - the opposite of what the Government claims it is doing for national biodiversity'. More than 100,000 hectares of peatlands were destroyed in this way in those 10 years alone, according to the EEA. FIE claims the Government disputes the figures only because it uses an inappropriate definition for peat soils. 'If the Forest Service used the definition of peat soils the farmers must use under the Nitrates Regulations, the figures match', FIE says:
'It has been clearly proved by Irish scientists that planting in many areas has led to acidification, with the death of streams and rivers. While since 2000 the worst of these areas are now no-go for initial afforestation, they are being replanted with the same damaging species. More than 10,000 hectares of Ireland is being replanted every year, and not a single native species or broadleaf tree is required', FIE alleges.
'Only minor schemes like the Native Woodland Scheme and the new Forestry Environmental Protection Scheme require native species. The national afforestation programme requires 10% broadleaves only "if sites permit"- and they do not have to be native.
In fact the current broadleaf requirement of 10% damages Irish biodiversity as planting non-native broadleaves weakens our genetic base. The national target of 30% broadleaves is a potential threat to native biodiversity as trees from non-native sources have not adapted to conditions here in Ireland and will interbreed with our better adapted genetic stock.
'The national afforestation programme has been and continues to be reliant on Sitka spruce which must be clearfelled to be economic. Clearfelling in peaty soils has now been linked to deteriorating water quality through the release of massive amounts of phosphates, much of it applied at the headlands of our most important rivers to try and make the trees grow. Instead of making the trees grow, the phosphates feed the algae in the rivers and the biodiversity crashes.
'The afforestation programme target has just been confirmed under the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013 as 20,000 hectares a year until 2036 - the most massive land use change in Irish history. Yet not one hectare has to be planted with native species under the current regulations.'
The group has called on the Minister to address the situation.
The log is being brought to Customs House by six environmentalists wearing green hard hats and reflective vests. FIE claims that there is no requirement to use any native species in the national afforestation programme, 'Growing for the Future'.
'Sitka spruce remains by far the most planted species, and it is not native and not a hardwood. It is a fast growing poor quality timber that is not suitable for the construction industry and is not recommended for solid fuel wood burning stoves and boilers. To be economic it requires large blocks of clearfell that are entirely destructive of the environment and landscape.'
The group also cites the European Environmental Agency [EEA] analysis which showed that 84% of Irish forestry 1990 - 2000 was planted on peatlands.
'Planting on our peatlands irreparably destroys these rare habitats and greatly diminishes our native biodiversity - the opposite of what the Government claims it is doing for national biodiversity'. More than 100,000 hectares of peatlands were destroyed in this way in those 10 years alone, according to the EEA. FIE claims the Government disputes the figures only because it uses an inappropriate definition for peat soils. 'If the Forest Service used the definition of peat soils the farmers must use under the Nitrates Regulations, the figures match', FIE says:
'It has been clearly proved by Irish scientists that planting in many areas has led to acidification, with the death of streams and rivers. While since 2000 the worst of these areas are now no-go for initial afforestation, they are being replanted with the same damaging species. More than 10,000 hectares of Ireland is being replanted every year, and not a single native species or broadleaf tree is required', FIE alleges.
'Only minor schemes like the Native Woodland Scheme and the new Forestry Environmental Protection Scheme require native species. The national afforestation programme requires 10% broadleaves only "if sites permit"- and they do not have to be native.
In fact the current broadleaf requirement of 10% damages Irish biodiversity as planting non-native broadleaves weakens our genetic base. The national target of 30% broadleaves is a potential threat to native biodiversity as trees from non-native sources have not adapted to conditions here in Ireland and will interbreed with our better adapted genetic stock.
'The national afforestation programme has been and continues to be reliant on Sitka spruce which must be clearfelled to be economic. Clearfelling in peaty soils has now been linked to deteriorating water quality through the release of massive amounts of phosphates, much of it applied at the headlands of our most important rivers to try and make the trees grow. Instead of making the trees grow, the phosphates feed the algae in the rivers and the biodiversity crashes.
'The afforestation programme target has just been confirmed under the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013 as 20,000 hectares a year until 2036 - the most massive land use change in Irish history. Yet not one hectare has to be planted with native species under the current regulations.'
The group has called on the Minister to address the situation.
Query from Sligo
Hi Brendan
I read your blog and decided to take you up on your offer of advice.
I live in a rural area of North Sligo and all of the surrounding land is
zoned as agricultural in the village mini-Plan. However, the County Council
proposes rezoning some of this land as suitable for housing which would mean
the end of the "green belt" between the houses where I live and the village
of Grange.
This is my question: Is rezoning a matter for the County Council only
or is there an appeal to An Bord Planála?
The council staff have clearly held discussions with the "developers" behind this move so I do not have
much faith in that body.
Thanks
Hi,
Feel free to give me a call. In the meantime, I'll answer your query. Re-zoning comes under what are called 'resered functions', functions reserved to the Council. This means that re-zoning decisions can only be made by Councillors. The County Manager and professional planners comments in various ways stipulated under the Planning Acts, but in the end, re-zoning decisions (good and bad) are made by Councillors. Why planners get the blame I do not know. An Bord Pleanala has no role in re-zoning whatsoever. When re-zoning sometimes appears to get out of control, the Minister will occasionally write a letter, as he did with Laois Co. Co., during the passage of its last Development Plan, but this occurs seldom and appears to make little difference.
What you can do is make your own submission to the Council to register your opposition to the proposed re-zoning.
On the question of Council staff meeting with developers, this is standard and necessary. There are plenty of complaints that Councils are not pro-active enough in planning for areas, without such consultations, there'd be little or no planning at all. Planners do not develop anything, we rely on developers for this (public and private) and we discuss sites all the time. Some go ahead, some don't. The ones which are shot down - the really, really bad ones - never get mentioned in the press. These consultations are a necessary part of planning. Regarding the nature and outcome of this consultation, I cannot comment.
Hope that helps,
Brendan
I read your blog and decided to take you up on your offer of advice.
I live in a rural area of North Sligo and all of the surrounding land is
zoned as agricultural in the village mini-Plan. However, the County Council
proposes rezoning some of this land as suitable for housing which would mean
the end of the "green belt" between the houses where I live and the village
of Grange.
This is my question: Is rezoning a matter for the County Council only
or is there an appeal to An Bord Planála?
The council staff have clearly held discussions with the "developers" behind this move so I do not have
much faith in that body.
Thanks
Hi,
Feel free to give me a call. In the meantime, I'll answer your query. Re-zoning comes under what are called 'resered functions', functions reserved to the Council. This means that re-zoning decisions can only be made by Councillors. The County Manager and professional planners comments in various ways stipulated under the Planning Acts, but in the end, re-zoning decisions (good and bad) are made by Councillors. Why planners get the blame I do not know. An Bord Pleanala has no role in re-zoning whatsoever. When re-zoning sometimes appears to get out of control, the Minister will occasionally write a letter, as he did with Laois Co. Co., during the passage of its last Development Plan, but this occurs seldom and appears to make little difference.
What you can do is make your own submission to the Council to register your opposition to the proposed re-zoning.
On the question of Council staff meeting with developers, this is standard and necessary. There are plenty of complaints that Councils are not pro-active enough in planning for areas, without such consultations, there'd be little or no planning at all. Planners do not develop anything, we rely on developers for this (public and private) and we discuss sites all the time. Some go ahead, some don't. The ones which are shot down - the really, really bad ones - never get mentioned in the press. These consultations are a necessary part of planning. Regarding the nature and outcome of this consultation, I cannot comment.
Hope that helps,
Brendan
Sunday, 14 January 2007
Not published yet, but there are already complaints about the cost of the new NDP
Cliff taylor in the Sunday Business Post writes:
A major government economic plan, to be published next week, will outline proposals to spend more than €175 billion over the next seven years.
The money will be spent on roads, public transport, research, training and a range of social programmes. Among the key commitments will be 100,000 new social and affordable homes and 50,000 new childcare places.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen will outline the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 on Tuesday, January 23, in the most far ranging economic programme ever outlined by an Irish government.
The largest single amount of money - likely to exceed €50 billion - will go towards economic infrastructure such as roads and public transport, energy and broadband.
Further significant amounts will be spent on enterprise and science, training and social infrastructure, including social and affordable houses and new prisons and courthouses.
Previous programmes have only dealt with investment spending, but for the first time the new NDP will include a seven-year programme for day-to-day spending in key social areas such as childcare services, support for older people and the disabled and programmes to promote immigrant integration.
These will be required to improve services and deal with a population that is likely to rise to more than five million over the next decade. The government hopes the plan, coming months before the election, will give the coalition an extra boost before polling day.
Total state investment spending under the programme will come to more than €75 billion.
Together with substantial investment by state bodies such as the ESB and the private sector and some €50 billion in day-to-day spending on total programmes, this will bring total spending on all elements of the plan to more than €175 billion, outlining significant amounts of the state spending programme for the next seven years. This represents a major departure from the current method of allocating money on a year-to-year basis in each budget.
The plan will say that funding the programme will depend on a continuation of strong economic growth, which it expects will run at 4 per cent plus on average each year.
As well as carrying through the €34 billion Transport 21 plan published last year, the government will present the document as addressing key ‘‘quality-of-life’’ issues.
It will promise to accelerate investment in schools, particularly in fast-growing areas where there is a shortage of places and to tackle youth disadvantage.
For the elderly it will outline a multi-year programme to increase supports for those staying at home as well as investing in nursing home facilities. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that investments under previous plans have generated a strong return.
However, the government is choosing to ignore advice from the ESRI that it should cut back on investment spending over the next couple of years, particularly in areas such as social housing, as it could get better value when growth rates cool.
Among the key targets of the plan will be a major training programme for those in work overseen by FAS and heavy investment in third level education facilities.
A major government economic plan, to be published next week, will outline proposals to spend more than €175 billion over the next seven years.
The money will be spent on roads, public transport, research, training and a range of social programmes. Among the key commitments will be 100,000 new social and affordable homes and 50,000 new childcare places.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen will outline the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 on Tuesday, January 23, in the most far ranging economic programme ever outlined by an Irish government.
The largest single amount of money - likely to exceed €50 billion - will go towards economic infrastructure such as roads and public transport, energy and broadband.
Further significant amounts will be spent on enterprise and science, training and social infrastructure, including social and affordable houses and new prisons and courthouses.
Previous programmes have only dealt with investment spending, but for the first time the new NDP will include a seven-year programme for day-to-day spending in key social areas such as childcare services, support for older people and the disabled and programmes to promote immigrant integration.
These will be required to improve services and deal with a population that is likely to rise to more than five million over the next decade. The government hopes the plan, coming months before the election, will give the coalition an extra boost before polling day.
Total state investment spending under the programme will come to more than €75 billion.
Together with substantial investment by state bodies such as the ESB and the private sector and some €50 billion in day-to-day spending on total programmes, this will bring total spending on all elements of the plan to more than €175 billion, outlining significant amounts of the state spending programme for the next seven years. This represents a major departure from the current method of allocating money on a year-to-year basis in each budget.
The plan will say that funding the programme will depend on a continuation of strong economic growth, which it expects will run at 4 per cent plus on average each year.
As well as carrying through the €34 billion Transport 21 plan published last year, the government will present the document as addressing key ‘‘quality-of-life’’ issues.
It will promise to accelerate investment in schools, particularly in fast-growing areas where there is a shortage of places and to tackle youth disadvantage.
For the elderly it will outline a multi-year programme to increase supports for those staying at home as well as investing in nursing home facilities. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that investments under previous plans have generated a strong return.
However, the government is choosing to ignore advice from the ESRI that it should cut back on investment spending over the next couple of years, particularly in areas such as social housing, as it could get better value when growth rates cool.
Among the key targets of the plan will be a major training programme for those in work overseen by FAS and heavy investment in third level education facilities.
News on Ireland's first eco-village
A story in the Sunday Times today on Cloughjordan, the eco-village in Co. Tipperary. Colin Coyle writes:
IT’S not easy being green. Residents of Ireland’s first eco-village in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, have been told by the local council they must pay €160,000 to meet their social and affordable housing requirements.
Being a not-for-profit co-operative, the group was hoping to be exempt from a provision that requires developers to hand over 20% of new estates for affordable housing or make a hefty financial contribution instead.
“Our vision is to create a truly social and affordable community, so it’s disappointing that we’re being treated the same as any speculative developer,” said Miriam Kelly, a spokesperson for The Village.
North Tipperary council has ruled, however, that Ireland’s first sustainable village falls within the remit of the planning and development act. “We welcome the scheme, but there is no exemption in the act for this kind of development. Our hands are tied,” said Paddy Heffernan, its director of housing.
The council could have insisted on taking a portion of the village’s building land for affordable housing, but decided that would undermine the project’s communal ethos.
Loosely modelled on the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland and the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, the 67-acre scheme will have 132 houses built by individual members, who will have to adhere to a green masterplan drawn up by Solearth Ecological Architecture, a Dublin firm.
All houses will be built from energy-efficient materials. There will be a communal orchard, organic farm, woodland, market square and enterprise centre, and each household will have an allotment.
When the first planning application for the village was lodged in 2004, prices ranged from €8,000 for a plot suitable for a family-sized apartment to €65,000 for a larger site. Costs have been creeping steadily upwards since.
Kelly said: “The planning process dragged on for almost two years and building costs have also risen in the intervening period. The €160,000 will have to be added on to the asking prices.”
The scheme was scheduled for completion in summer 2006 but the date has now been revised to summer next year. Contractors are expected to begin work in April.
The fledgling community has ruled out challenging the €160,000 bill in court as it would delay the project further.
Jim Casey, a local Fianna Fail councillor, said the planning and development act should be amended to encourage similar schemes. “This is the country’s first eco-development, so we should set a precedent that will encourage, rather than penalise, these schemes,” he said.
Some housing bodies are exempted from the act, according to Bernard Thompson, the general secretary of the National Association of Building Co-operatives. “There is a specific exemption for co-ops but it’s restricted to certain approved organisations. The fear is that if it’s extended to one group of self-builders, what’s stopping other people setting themselves up as a community group and arguing that they should be exempt too?” he said.
Since its inception in 2000, the act has been criticised for being too easy to evade. In 2002, it was amended to allow developers to wriggle out of their social housing commitments by making a financial contribution to the council instead.
Eamon Gilmore, the Labour spokesman on the environment, said: “Of the 90,000 new residential units completed last year, only 1,000 were built under the provisions of part five of the planning act. That provision was supposed to make sure that developers provided up to 20% of any development for social and affordable housing, but the government bottled it when they allowed builders buy their way out of their obligations.”
Ciaran Cuffe, a spokesman for the Green party, said the dilution of the act in 2002 had cost the country about 14,000 affordable homes..
The Department of the Environment said that it was a matter for each council to interpret the act.
IT’S not easy being green. Residents of Ireland’s first eco-village in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, have been told by the local council they must pay €160,000 to meet their social and affordable housing requirements.
Being a not-for-profit co-operative, the group was hoping to be exempt from a provision that requires developers to hand over 20% of new estates for affordable housing or make a hefty financial contribution instead.
“Our vision is to create a truly social and affordable community, so it’s disappointing that we’re being treated the same as any speculative developer,” said Miriam Kelly, a spokesperson for The Village.
North Tipperary council has ruled, however, that Ireland’s first sustainable village falls within the remit of the planning and development act. “We welcome the scheme, but there is no exemption in the act for this kind of development. Our hands are tied,” said Paddy Heffernan, its director of housing.
The council could have insisted on taking a portion of the village’s building land for affordable housing, but decided that would undermine the project’s communal ethos.
Loosely modelled on the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland and the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, the 67-acre scheme will have 132 houses built by individual members, who will have to adhere to a green masterplan drawn up by Solearth Ecological Architecture, a Dublin firm.
All houses will be built from energy-efficient materials. There will be a communal orchard, organic farm, woodland, market square and enterprise centre, and each household will have an allotment.
When the first planning application for the village was lodged in 2004, prices ranged from €8,000 for a plot suitable for a family-sized apartment to €65,000 for a larger site. Costs have been creeping steadily upwards since.
Kelly said: “The planning process dragged on for almost two years and building costs have also risen in the intervening period. The €160,000 will have to be added on to the asking prices.”
The scheme was scheduled for completion in summer 2006 but the date has now been revised to summer next year. Contractors are expected to begin work in April.
The fledgling community has ruled out challenging the €160,000 bill in court as it would delay the project further.
Jim Casey, a local Fianna Fail councillor, said the planning and development act should be amended to encourage similar schemes. “This is the country’s first eco-development, so we should set a precedent that will encourage, rather than penalise, these schemes,” he said.
Some housing bodies are exempted from the act, according to Bernard Thompson, the general secretary of the National Association of Building Co-operatives. “There is a specific exemption for co-ops but it’s restricted to certain approved organisations. The fear is that if it’s extended to one group of self-builders, what’s stopping other people setting themselves up as a community group and arguing that they should be exempt too?” he said.
Since its inception in 2000, the act has been criticised for being too easy to evade. In 2002, it was amended to allow developers to wriggle out of their social housing commitments by making a financial contribution to the council instead.
Eamon Gilmore, the Labour spokesman on the environment, said: “Of the 90,000 new residential units completed last year, only 1,000 were built under the provisions of part five of the planning act. That provision was supposed to make sure that developers provided up to 20% of any development for social and affordable housing, but the government bottled it when they allowed builders buy their way out of their obligations.”
Ciaran Cuffe, a spokesman for the Green party, said the dilution of the act in 2002 had cost the country about 14,000 affordable homes..
The Department of the Environment said that it was a matter for each council to interpret the act.
Will South Dublin allow Liffey Valley shopping centre to double in size
Story in the Business and Money section of The Sunday Times by Mark Paul on the possible expansion of Liffey Valley shopping centre.
THE property tycoon Owen O’Callaghan is in talks with South Dublin county council to double the size of Dublin’s Liffey Valley shopping centre. It brings the total of new shopping centre space planned for the greater Dublin area to 4m sq ft. O’Callaghan hopes to receive planning permission before the end of the year. The Cork-based developer wants to build a €500m extension to the centre with work to begin on the 180-acre site in 2008.
Liffey Valley is already one of the biggest shopping centres in Dublin, with retail floor space of about 320,000 sq ft. O’Callaghan said he hopes to add at least the same amount of shopping space again and is working on a masterplan for the site with council officials.
“We hope to reach a deal with the council in 2007 and if we do, then work will begin after Christmas,” he said. “The discussions are going well but it is still too early to say what the outcome might be. But we are hopeful we will get the go-ahead for the scale of development we want.”
The Liffey Valley expansion will form part of an explosion of retail space in the Dublin area. Expansions are planned at the Arnotts development in the city centre, Stillorgan shopping centre, the second phase of Dundrum shopping centre and up to 1m sq ft of new shops at The Square in Tallaght.
Liffey Valley was built at Quarryvale, in west Dublin, in the mid-1990s and originally had its size capped.
However, the land was re-zoned for a new “town centre” development by the council in 2004, paving the way for the latest planned expansion.
Treasury Holdings, owned by Johnny Ronan and Richard Barrett, has also been seeking permission for a similar-sized development on nearby land at Balgaddy, but its plans have been shot down by An Bord Pleanala. O’Callaghan had objected to the Treasury plan.
O’Callaghan owns the Liffey Valley centre through a company called Barkhill, which is a joint venture with Grosvenor Holdings, a property company owned by the Duke of Westminster.
Recently filed accounts show that Barkhill sold buildings on the site for €17.3m last year and it transferred development land to one of its own subsidiaries for a further €14m, making a pre-tax profit of €2.5m.
O’Callaghan also owns the €500m Mahon Point shopping centre, which opened in 2005, and the Merchants Quay centre in Cork.
Cork city council granted permission for this Academy Street project last month.
THE property tycoon Owen O’Callaghan is in talks with South Dublin county council to double the size of Dublin’s Liffey Valley shopping centre. It brings the total of new shopping centre space planned for the greater Dublin area to 4m sq ft. O’Callaghan hopes to receive planning permission before the end of the year. The Cork-based developer wants to build a €500m extension to the centre with work to begin on the 180-acre site in 2008.
Liffey Valley is already one of the biggest shopping centres in Dublin, with retail floor space of about 320,000 sq ft. O’Callaghan said he hopes to add at least the same amount of shopping space again and is working on a masterplan for the site with council officials.
“We hope to reach a deal with the council in 2007 and if we do, then work will begin after Christmas,” he said. “The discussions are going well but it is still too early to say what the outcome might be. But we are hopeful we will get the go-ahead for the scale of development we want.”
The Liffey Valley expansion will form part of an explosion of retail space in the Dublin area. Expansions are planned at the Arnotts development in the city centre, Stillorgan shopping centre, the second phase of Dundrum shopping centre and up to 1m sq ft of new shops at The Square in Tallaght.
Liffey Valley was built at Quarryvale, in west Dublin, in the mid-1990s and originally had its size capped.
However, the land was re-zoned for a new “town centre” development by the council in 2004, paving the way for the latest planned expansion.
Treasury Holdings, owned by Johnny Ronan and Richard Barrett, has also been seeking permission for a similar-sized development on nearby land at Balgaddy, but its plans have been shot down by An Bord Pleanala. O’Callaghan had objected to the Treasury plan.
O’Callaghan owns the Liffey Valley centre through a company called Barkhill, which is a joint venture with Grosvenor Holdings, a property company owned by the Duke of Westminster.
Recently filed accounts show that Barkhill sold buildings on the site for €17.3m last year and it transferred development land to one of its own subsidiaries for a further €14m, making a pre-tax profit of €2.5m.
O’Callaghan also owns the €500m Mahon Point shopping centre, which opened in 2005, and the Merchants Quay centre in Cork.
Cork city council granted permission for this Academy Street project last month.
Draft Local Area Plan for Tramore
Closing date for this is 9th February, 2007.
Here's what the Waterford Today thinks:
The recently-published Draft Local Area Plan for Tramore has many positive elements in pointing the way for the development of the county’s most populous town, states Deputy Mayor, Joe Conway.
It is a comprehensive statement of the Council’s ideas about how Tramore can grow in scope to become an even better place to live. It does not confine itself to building developments and population expansion alone – although these two elements necessarily feature prominently.
From a quality-of-life perspective, I am particularly gratified to see that there are commitments to providing a new Public Park around the area of the boating lake, and the commissioning of a new playground for the Riverstown community. These are two areas that I have lobbied hard for over the past number of years, and it is immensely satisfying to see a commitment to complete these two projects within the lifetime of the plan. I will spare no effort to see that this schema is upheld.
The Riverstown area community richly deserve this commitment and it ties in succinctly with the Council’s policy to provide quality play structures for our young people. The regret is that, through years of neglect, this has not happened sooner – but every sinew will be tautened by me to ensure delivery of this commitment.
We have had a serious deficit of open-purpose Park in Tramore for countless years now. I have been lobbying constantly with the Council to have this addressed, and now at last we have got this promise – not that it ought to happen, but that it will happen. Those who have visited the Vendée area of France will know what a beautiful feature of their coastal towns are their sea-adjacent parks, where one can stroll amidst lush greenery and have the chorus of the sea in the background. Such will be the legacy of our generation to those who come after us in Tramore.
Not everything in the Draft Plan meets with my approval. The failure to address adequately the question of a proper public transport service from outlying new areas to the Centre gives cause for concern, as it signals an acceptance that the car will continue to be king. This has serious implications for the town, and the environment.
The 15% minimum of site area for open space is, in my opinion, inadequate and will give rise to densities that the Council itself is already using as a refusal criterion for planning applications. I believe, further, that the provision to accept contributions from developers - in lieu of Open Space - begets a culture of horse-trading that can have a deleterious effect on the quality-of-life of future residents.
Fundamentally, and in the final analysis, the Draft Local Area Plan gives every person in Tramore the right to have his or her say in shaping the growth of the town. I would exhort everybody to be aware of the Plan and its provisions, and to make observations – whether of a positive or negative content. The plan can be viewed in the Library, in the Civic Offices (Tankfield) or on the Council’s website, and observations are being accepted through 9th February, 2007.
Here's what the Waterford Today thinks:
The recently-published Draft Local Area Plan for Tramore has many positive elements in pointing the way for the development of the county’s most populous town, states Deputy Mayor, Joe Conway.
It is a comprehensive statement of the Council’s ideas about how Tramore can grow in scope to become an even better place to live. It does not confine itself to building developments and population expansion alone – although these two elements necessarily feature prominently.
From a quality-of-life perspective, I am particularly gratified to see that there are commitments to providing a new Public Park around the area of the boating lake, and the commissioning of a new playground for the Riverstown community. These are two areas that I have lobbied hard for over the past number of years, and it is immensely satisfying to see a commitment to complete these two projects within the lifetime of the plan. I will spare no effort to see that this schema is upheld.
The Riverstown area community richly deserve this commitment and it ties in succinctly with the Council’s policy to provide quality play structures for our young people. The regret is that, through years of neglect, this has not happened sooner – but every sinew will be tautened by me to ensure delivery of this commitment.
We have had a serious deficit of open-purpose Park in Tramore for countless years now. I have been lobbying constantly with the Council to have this addressed, and now at last we have got this promise – not that it ought to happen, but that it will happen. Those who have visited the Vendée area of France will know what a beautiful feature of their coastal towns are their sea-adjacent parks, where one can stroll amidst lush greenery and have the chorus of the sea in the background. Such will be the legacy of our generation to those who come after us in Tramore.
Not everything in the Draft Plan meets with my approval. The failure to address adequately the question of a proper public transport service from outlying new areas to the Centre gives cause for concern, as it signals an acceptance that the car will continue to be king. This has serious implications for the town, and the environment.
The 15% minimum of site area for open space is, in my opinion, inadequate and will give rise to densities that the Council itself is already using as a refusal criterion for planning applications. I believe, further, that the provision to accept contributions from developers - in lieu of Open Space - begets a culture of horse-trading that can have a deleterious effect on the quality-of-life of future residents.
Fundamentally, and in the final analysis, the Draft Local Area Plan gives every person in Tramore the right to have his or her say in shaping the growth of the town. I would exhort everybody to be aware of the Plan and its provisions, and to make observations – whether of a positive or negative content. The plan can be viewed in the Library, in the Civic Offices (Tankfield) or on the Council’s website, and observations are being accepted through 9th February, 2007.
Planning Law Issues in Conveyancing Transactions
This course is being run by the Law Society of Ireland on 24/01/2007, 3pm to 5pm at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone and costs €110 (see: http://www.lawsociety.ie/). The topics to be covered are:
The object of this seminar is to consider the planning law issues which regularly impact on conveyancing transactions and to review recent developments. The overall emphasis will be on practicality and the seminar will address the problems and pitfalls likely to be encountered by practitioners. This seminar will also consider current and best conveyancing practice in this context.
The matters to be addressed at the seminar are as follows:
Judicial Review
“Substantial interest” and “substantial grounds”
Participation in the planning process
Will leave be granted if there is an alternative remedy?
Limitation on the right to appeal: a point of law of exceptional public importance
Judicial Review in respect of part only of a decision
Enforcement
Warning letters and enforcement notices
Is it necessary for a local authority to issue a warning letter before serving an enforcement notice?
Recent decisions relating to enforcement procedures:
Bill Lawlor v Dundalk Town Council and
Marshall v Arklow Town Council
Fast-track planning
Developments by local authorities and state authorities
Caution in relation to proposals for further fast-track planning
Development Contributions
How are they calculated?
Is the system as transparent as is claimed?
Default permissions
Time limits
Time limits in which a planning authority must make its decision
Time limits for lodging appeals with An Board Pleanala
Time limits in which an Board Pleanala must make its decision on appeal
Time limits in which each local authority must make a new development plan
Time limits for claims for compensation
Time limits affecting special contributions
Time limits for the duration or life of a planning permission
Enforcement of criminal proceedings
Is it a criminal offence not to comply with the conditions of a properly drawn Enforcement Notice?
What is a properly drawn Enforcement Notice?
Social and affordable housing
ontributions payable for permissions which would have withered under Planning and Development Act, 2000
What is Social Housing?
What is Affordable Housing?
Claw-back provisions
Practical points arising from common conditions in planning permissions
Importance of ensuring compliance with pre-development conditions before signing contract
Planning checklist for conveyancers
Refusals for past failures
Taking in charge of estates
The object of this seminar is to consider the planning law issues which regularly impact on conveyancing transactions and to review recent developments. The overall emphasis will be on practicality and the seminar will address the problems and pitfalls likely to be encountered by practitioners. This seminar will also consider current and best conveyancing practice in this context.
The matters to be addressed at the seminar are as follows:
Judicial Review
“Substantial interest” and “substantial grounds”
Participation in the planning process
Will leave be granted if there is an alternative remedy?
Limitation on the right to appeal: a point of law of exceptional public importance
Judicial Review in respect of part only of a decision
Enforcement
Warning letters and enforcement notices
Is it necessary for a local authority to issue a warning letter before serving an enforcement notice?
Recent decisions relating to enforcement procedures:
Bill Lawlor v Dundalk Town Council and
Marshall v Arklow Town Council
Fast-track planning
Developments by local authorities and state authorities
Caution in relation to proposals for further fast-track planning
Development Contributions
How are they calculated?
Is the system as transparent as is claimed?
Default permissions
Time limits
Time limits in which a planning authority must make its decision
Time limits for lodging appeals with An Board Pleanala
Time limits in which an Board Pleanala must make its decision on appeal
Time limits in which each local authority must make a new development plan
Time limits for claims for compensation
Time limits affecting special contributions
Time limits for the duration or life of a planning permission
Enforcement of criminal proceedings
Is it a criminal offence not to comply with the conditions of a properly drawn Enforcement Notice?
What is a properly drawn Enforcement Notice?
Social and affordable housing
ontributions payable for permissions which would have withered under Planning and Development Act, 2000
What is Social Housing?
What is Affordable Housing?
Claw-back provisions
Practical points arising from common conditions in planning permissions
Importance of ensuring compliance with pre-development conditions before signing contract
Planning checklist for conveyancers
Refusals for past failures
Taking in charge of estates
Material Contravention in Longford
I had a call today about a development in Longford Town which requires material contravention of the existing Development Plan for Longford Town Council. They were looking for the details. Here they are:
Notice of Proposed Material Contravention of Longford Town Council Development Plan, 2004 - 2010 Planning and Development Act, 2000 Material Contravention of Development Plan for Longford Town Council, 2004 - 2010 Planning Application Ref. No. PL 06/56 Application for demolition of existing factory unit and construction of proposed new residential development contained in 3 blocks: Block A will consist of 4 two storey 3 bedroom houses; Block B will consist of 5 three storey 4 bedroom townhouses; and Block C will consist of 6 three storey 4 bedroom town houses (total no. of residential units 15 within the proposed development) and all associated site works, at Glack, Longford. By KUBE Developments Ltd. Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 34(6) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, that Longford Town Council intends to consider deciding to grant a permission (subject to conditions) for the proposed residential development at Glack, Longford. The development would contravene materially the following objective of the Development Plan: Zoning Objective 3.1.4 (Primarily Industrial / Commercial) of the Longford Town Council Development Plan 2004 - 2010, which reads as follows: 3.1.4 Primarily Industrial / Commercial • To primarily provide for industrial and commercial / retail / office development This dual zoning is weighted towards industrial development with commercial development also acceptable. Larger scale retail developments will be considered in light of the retail strategy as set out in this plan and the findings of the retail strategy once completed and adopted. Hi-tech business / office and light industrial developments are considered appropriate within this zoning. Particulars of the development may be inspected at the offices of Longford Town Council, Market Square, Longford, during normal office hours (Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm) from Tuesday, January 9th 2007. Any submission or observation as regards the making of a decision to grant permission, received not later than 4 weeks after the 9th January, 2007 will be duly considered by the Planning Authority. Signed Dan Rooney Town Clerk 9th January, 2007
Notice of Proposed Material Contravention of Longford Town Council Development Plan, 2004 - 2010 Planning and Development Act, 2000 Material Contravention of Development Plan for Longford Town Council, 2004 - 2010 Planning Application Ref. No. PL 06/56 Application for demolition of existing factory unit and construction of proposed new residential development contained in 3 blocks: Block A will consist of 4 two storey 3 bedroom houses; Block B will consist of 5 three storey 4 bedroom townhouses; and Block C will consist of 6 three storey 4 bedroom town houses (total no. of residential units 15 within the proposed development) and all associated site works, at Glack, Longford. By KUBE Developments Ltd. Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 34(6) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, that Longford Town Council intends to consider deciding to grant a permission (subject to conditions) for the proposed residential development at Glack, Longford. The development would contravene materially the following objective of the Development Plan: Zoning Objective 3.1.4 (Primarily Industrial / Commercial) of the Longford Town Council Development Plan 2004 - 2010, which reads as follows: 3.1.4 Primarily Industrial / Commercial • To primarily provide for industrial and commercial / retail / office development This dual zoning is weighted towards industrial development with commercial development also acceptable. Larger scale retail developments will be considered in light of the retail strategy as set out in this plan and the findings of the retail strategy once completed and adopted. Hi-tech business / office and light industrial developments are considered appropriate within this zoning. Particulars of the development may be inspected at the offices of Longford Town Council, Market Square, Longford, during normal office hours (Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm) from Tuesday, January 9th 2007. Any submission or observation as regards the making of a decision to grant permission, received not later than 4 weeks after the 9th January, 2007 will be duly considered by the Planning Authority. Signed Dan Rooney Town Clerk 9th January, 2007
Sustainable Urban Drainage System - SUDS
This emailer asks about SUDS for a school project he is doing, I am no expert on this, so I have pulled out an excellent article by Padraig Doyle, Brian Hennelly and Don McEntee which I read in Construct Ireland very useful. I don't have a link for this, so I have typed out the original. Here's the article:
SuDS are defined by CIRIA as “a sequence of management practices and control structures designed to drain surface water in a more sustainable fashion than some conventional techniques”1. The term SuDS is used here rather than SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems), as these techniques are as applicable to rural settings as they are to urban areas.
Using SuDS techniques, water is either infiltrated or conveyed more slowly to water courses via ponds, swales, filter drains or other installations to try and closely mimic natural catchment drainage behaviour. Run-off is frequently delayed in natural ponds or hollows. In addition to delaying the rate of runoff, there is more likelihood in the natural situation that pollutants will be filtered through soils or broken down by bacteria. By mimicking this SuDS attenuates stormwater runoff and improves environmental performance.
Stormwater Control
The need for control of stormwater runoff has long been recognised in Dublin. Rainfall on a greenfield site is either absorbed into the ground or runs off slowly to the nearest watercourse. When these sites are built on, much of the area becomes impermeable with runoff being piped to the nearest watercourse or storm drain. Thus both the volume and rate of runoff can dramatically increase, which may lead to flooding or increased overflows from combined sewers, neither of which is acceptable. This is of particular concern in Dublin, where many of the densely built up areas are at the downstream end of rivers and drainage systems and there is increased pressure to allow upstream developments.
In recognition of this problem, Dublin City Council introduced its Stormwater Management Policy in 19982 limiting runoff from developed sites to pre-development levels. This policy is now generally accepted by developers and is also being implemented in a number of surrounding counties.
Most developers have met their obligations under this policy by installing devices to control runoff and underground concrete tanks to store excess water. This leads to problems with future maintenance and building these tanks also has cost implications for developers. On bigger sites, the volumes required can be equivalent to a number of olympic sized swimming pools.
Developers are now looking at alternatives to underground tanks. Storage ponds, infiltration devices and permeable pavements are all being considered. The local authorities are very keen to encourage this trend as these devices can all have significant environmental benefits and this is increasingly being recognised as an area where improvement is badly needed. So far, any improvements in water quality, as a result of these ponds, have been more by accident than design. Permeable pavements have been used in a small number of cases though Dublin City Council’s Roads Section is still reluctant to accept these in areas that will be taken in charge, due to concerns over long term maintenance issues. There are tentative steps towards re-use of grey water but this is still in the very early stages.
Environmental Issues
Public interest in the quality of our surface water has never been higher, but there are significant problems to be addressed. While the Ringsend Waste Water Treatment Plant has made great strides to improve things, the water quality in the incoming rivers and the whole issue of Combined Storm Overflows (CSOs) also needs to be tackled. The EPA Water Quality Classification for the GDSDS area shows that 70% of water quality stations tested were polluted. The forthcoming Water Framework Directive will place even more pressure on local authorities to improve water quality.
Stormwater runoff from urban areas has impacts on surface water quality. Firstly, and most obviously, storm runoff can carry pollutants such as oil, anti-freeze, animal and human waste, decaying leaves, grass or other waste matter to our surface waters. This is particularly critical in the case of the first flush, where material may have decayed for several weeks in dry weather before being washed into the watercourse. This is particularly serious when the baseflow in the watercourse is low, which would also be consistent with a long dry period. Secondly, surface water in older areas frequently drains into combined sewers. These were designed to carry dry weather flow and smaller storm events but to overflow to watercourses during more severe storms. In practice, many combined sewers are now carrying considerably more load than they were designed for and overflow in relatively minor rainfall events. The overflow of, admittedly dilute, foul sewage to a watercourse has obvious pollution implications.
The use of SuDS can help address both of the above issues, providing a control on stormwater volume and quality. Volume control reduces the number and severity of overflows from combined sewers. SuDS also have a direct bearing on water quality by mimicking natural processes. Infiltration systems lead to pollutants being filtered out or broken down by bacteria. Swales encourage pollutants to settle out or be broken down naturally. Retention systems such as ponds also allow settlement and natural breakdown of pollutants via aquatic plants and other organisms.
Amenities
In addition to providing runoff and pollution control benefits, SuDS can provide amenities to local communities. Ponds can be visually attractive. Properly constructed wetlands will quickly be colonised by water birds and small animals. Indeed, it has been shown in Scotland that some SuDS features have higher conservation value than natural ponds. The ability to attract wildlife to an urban area is a benefit that should not be underestimated.
It could be argued that many of the green spaces traditionally provided in large housing estates are of little amenity value, require regular grass cutting and can be a focus for anti social behaviour. Surely replacing some of these with ponds or wetlands could be seen as a benefit to the local community?
Safety
One of the most popular forms of SuDS involves the use of ponds in either industrial or housing areas. A concern frequently expressed is that this leads to a newly created risk of drowning. The Irish tendency towards litigation makes local authorities all the more nervous in this regard. While these concerns cannot be dismissed out of hand, the risk of a child drowning in a properly constructed pond is considerably less than the risk of a household or traffic accident. Ponds can be designed with a relatively shallow perimeter so anyone venturing in would be cold, wet and covered in mud long before they were in danger of drowning. To operational staff, SuDS can actually reduce Health and Safety problems associated with working in sewers or underground tanks. While risk can never be completely eliminated, it can certainly be reduced to acceptable levels.
Site Suitability
Concerns are often expressed about filter drains or porous paving. It cannot be denied that a filter system will not work if the surrounding soils are impermeable clay. Similarly, infiltration systems may not be advisable close to sensitive aquifers. This still leaves a lot of areas where infiltration systems can be used for stormwater control and may even provide benefits such as ground water recharge. A proper design is required to ensure that the measures implemented are suitable for the given site, but the need for adequate design and planning should not make the implementation of SuDS any more onerous than conventional systems.
Maintenance Issues
Porous paving systems will need to be cleaned or possibly even replaced sooner than conventional pavements. Swales will require occasional grass cutting. Having said that, the need for gully or even pipe cleaning is eliminated. Ponds are considerably easier to clean and maintain than underground tanks. Infiltration systems have been used on road schemes for decades without significant maintenance problems. Research in the UK suggests that maintenance of SuDS systems is generally comparable or cheaper than maintenance of conventional drainage systems1.
Responsibility for long-term maintenance needs to be assigned. Local authorities are always reluctant to take on new maintenance responsibilities and developers may not be well placed to offer long term maintenance commitments. Residents groups or management companies could take responsibility but this may be problematic. Having said that, these problems are now being encountered with private estates built with conventional drainage methods. The issue of taking in charge is a serious one and needs to be addressed.
Housing Density
One of the most controversial issues encountered with SuDS installations is that they are perceived as requiring greater land take but this is not necessarily the case. Porous paving can be used instead of conventional car parking areas. The areas underneath porous pavements can be used as filter drains for roof drainage or conventional soak pits can be built.
It is undeniable that ponds or similar measures require some degree of land take. This partly explains why we have already seen ponds in business parks or industrial areas but that developers are reluctant to place them in housing developments. The area taken up by a pond could well be another block of apartments and local authorities are now as keen to endorse high densities as developers are. However, properly constructed SuDS systems can add to the amenity value of an area and even increase property values. Research in the US shows that builders can charge significant premiums for sites overlooking SuDS installations3. Even in Ireland, developers have been known to put in water features for landscaping purposes and fire fighting requirements without considering their possible water quality benefits. Water features can be more attractive than conventional green space. Local authorities should be ready to accept SuDS installations as part of a development's green space requirements if we are serious about improving our surface water quality.
Flooding
Concerns have been expressed about the ability of SuDS installations to deal with severe flooding events. It would not be practically possible to design a SuDS system to protect against every possible flood event but we don’t design conventional systems to do that in any case. SuDS systems are frequently built with overflows to deal with this issue. Failure of a SuDS system should be more gradual than failure of a conventional system in any case. The focus should thus be on flood routing to ensure that flooding is confined to green spaces or roads rather than properties.
Foundation Stability
The focus on infiltration of stormwater causes concern to some engineers. Road designers in particular are used to the concept of keeping ground water as far as possible from their road base. They are thus a little reticent about accepting swales or similar measures to deal with surface water. Yet filter drains have been used on roads projects for years without significant problems. What is important is that we ensure filter drains or soakways are far enough from foundations to ensure that stability issues won't arise. Again what we are really highlighting here is the need for proper engineering design. It has been suggested that SuDS may even benefit foundations in so far as SuDS offer a certain amount of groundwater recharge. Foundation damage due to ground shrinkage that is often blamed on trees. In reality soils are likely to dry out if we build on them thus eliminating the ability of the soil to regulate its moisture content.
Experience in Other Countries
People often express reluctance to shift to SuDS due to a lack of research or lack of understanding about their long-term behaviour. The long term nature of engineering work means that conservatism is natural. Nobody wants to risk unforeseen problems that may have long term implications.
In fact, SuDS have been in use worldwide for some considerable time. SuDS installations in Sweden go back 15 years and any teething problems have now been overcome there. The same has been recorded in the USA, where SuDS are also well established.
There have been some problems in the past with poorly constructed ponds or wetlands but knowledge in these areas has now increased. SuDS are now firmly established in Sweden, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and the UK, and particularly Scotland, for several years. In none of these countries have SuDS been considered to be unsuccessful.
The Future
The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study will be recommending that the use of SuDS be greatly increased in the region. These concepts will be incorporated in the New Development Policy and the Environmental Policy.
This is expected to offer considerable benefits in terms of stormwater control and prevention of flooding. In addition to this, SuDS will offer enhanced surface water quality. Indeed it has been suggested that Ireland may not be able to meet its obligations under the Water Framework Directive without widespread use of SuDS. Finally, SuDS will offer improved amenities, including the introduction of valuable wildlife habitats to areas where this would otherwise not occur.
SuDS will bring benefits to developers as well as to the public. Now that the need for stormwater control is accepted, these techniques can be adopted at little or no extra. SuDS offer developers more tools for meeting their stormwater control obligations in a way that can also enhance the quality and ultimately the price of developments.
There are reservations over the introduction of SuDS among developers and even the local authorities. We must recognise that people do have legitimate concerns, but all of these issues can be overcome. While we can expect an initial degree of scepticism it is hoped that the successful use of SuDS on a small number of sites will increase confidence in these measures and as experience grows, this process is likely to take on a momentum of its own. The benefits of using SuDS far outweigh the concerns people have and it is incumbent on all of us to strive to ensure their widespread acceptance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank Tom Leahy, Gerry Doherty and Fiona Campbell for their help in preparing this paper.
REFERENCES
“Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems – Best Practice Manual” - CIRIA, 2001.
“Stormwater Management Policy for Developers” – Dublin Corporation, 1998
“GDSDS – Environmental Management – Consultation Document” – Dublin Drainage Consultancy, 2003
SuDS are defined by CIRIA as “a sequence of management practices and control structures designed to drain surface water in a more sustainable fashion than some conventional techniques”1. The term SuDS is used here rather than SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems), as these techniques are as applicable to rural settings as they are to urban areas.
Using SuDS techniques, water is either infiltrated or conveyed more slowly to water courses via ponds, swales, filter drains or other installations to try and closely mimic natural catchment drainage behaviour. Run-off is frequently delayed in natural ponds or hollows. In addition to delaying the rate of runoff, there is more likelihood in the natural situation that pollutants will be filtered through soils or broken down by bacteria. By mimicking this SuDS attenuates stormwater runoff and improves environmental performance.
Stormwater Control
The need for control of stormwater runoff has long been recognised in Dublin. Rainfall on a greenfield site is either absorbed into the ground or runs off slowly to the nearest watercourse. When these sites are built on, much of the area becomes impermeable with runoff being piped to the nearest watercourse or storm drain. Thus both the volume and rate of runoff can dramatically increase, which may lead to flooding or increased overflows from combined sewers, neither of which is acceptable. This is of particular concern in Dublin, where many of the densely built up areas are at the downstream end of rivers and drainage systems and there is increased pressure to allow upstream developments.
In recognition of this problem, Dublin City Council introduced its Stormwater Management Policy in 19982 limiting runoff from developed sites to pre-development levels. This policy is now generally accepted by developers and is also being implemented in a number of surrounding counties.
Most developers have met their obligations under this policy by installing devices to control runoff and underground concrete tanks to store excess water. This leads to problems with future maintenance and building these tanks also has cost implications for developers. On bigger sites, the volumes required can be equivalent to a number of olympic sized swimming pools.
Developers are now looking at alternatives to underground tanks. Storage ponds, infiltration devices and permeable pavements are all being considered. The local authorities are very keen to encourage this trend as these devices can all have significant environmental benefits and this is increasingly being recognised as an area where improvement is badly needed. So far, any improvements in water quality, as a result of these ponds, have been more by accident than design. Permeable pavements have been used in a small number of cases though Dublin City Council’s Roads Section is still reluctant to accept these in areas that will be taken in charge, due to concerns over long term maintenance issues. There are tentative steps towards re-use of grey water but this is still in the very early stages.
Environmental Issues
Public interest in the quality of our surface water has never been higher, but there are significant problems to be addressed. While the Ringsend Waste Water Treatment Plant has made great strides to improve things, the water quality in the incoming rivers and the whole issue of Combined Storm Overflows (CSOs) also needs to be tackled. The EPA Water Quality Classification for the GDSDS area shows that 70% of water quality stations tested were polluted. The forthcoming Water Framework Directive will place even more pressure on local authorities to improve water quality.
Stormwater runoff from urban areas has impacts on surface water quality. Firstly, and most obviously, storm runoff can carry pollutants such as oil, anti-freeze, animal and human waste, decaying leaves, grass or other waste matter to our surface waters. This is particularly critical in the case of the first flush, where material may have decayed for several weeks in dry weather before being washed into the watercourse. This is particularly serious when the baseflow in the watercourse is low, which would also be consistent with a long dry period. Secondly, surface water in older areas frequently drains into combined sewers. These were designed to carry dry weather flow and smaller storm events but to overflow to watercourses during more severe storms. In practice, many combined sewers are now carrying considerably more load than they were designed for and overflow in relatively minor rainfall events. The overflow of, admittedly dilute, foul sewage to a watercourse has obvious pollution implications.
The use of SuDS can help address both of the above issues, providing a control on stormwater volume and quality. Volume control reduces the number and severity of overflows from combined sewers. SuDS also have a direct bearing on water quality by mimicking natural processes. Infiltration systems lead to pollutants being filtered out or broken down by bacteria. Swales encourage pollutants to settle out or be broken down naturally. Retention systems such as ponds also allow settlement and natural breakdown of pollutants via aquatic plants and other organisms.
Amenities
In addition to providing runoff and pollution control benefits, SuDS can provide amenities to local communities. Ponds can be visually attractive. Properly constructed wetlands will quickly be colonised by water birds and small animals. Indeed, it has been shown in Scotland that some SuDS features have higher conservation value than natural ponds. The ability to attract wildlife to an urban area is a benefit that should not be underestimated.
It could be argued that many of the green spaces traditionally provided in large housing estates are of little amenity value, require regular grass cutting and can be a focus for anti social behaviour. Surely replacing some of these with ponds or wetlands could be seen as a benefit to the local community?
Safety
One of the most popular forms of SuDS involves the use of ponds in either industrial or housing areas. A concern frequently expressed is that this leads to a newly created risk of drowning. The Irish tendency towards litigation makes local authorities all the more nervous in this regard. While these concerns cannot be dismissed out of hand, the risk of a child drowning in a properly constructed pond is considerably less than the risk of a household or traffic accident. Ponds can be designed with a relatively shallow perimeter so anyone venturing in would be cold, wet and covered in mud long before they were in danger of drowning. To operational staff, SuDS can actually reduce Health and Safety problems associated with working in sewers or underground tanks. While risk can never be completely eliminated, it can certainly be reduced to acceptable levels.
Site Suitability
Concerns are often expressed about filter drains or porous paving. It cannot be denied that a filter system will not work if the surrounding soils are impermeable clay. Similarly, infiltration systems may not be advisable close to sensitive aquifers. This still leaves a lot of areas where infiltration systems can be used for stormwater control and may even provide benefits such as ground water recharge. A proper design is required to ensure that the measures implemented are suitable for the given site, but the need for adequate design and planning should not make the implementation of SuDS any more onerous than conventional systems.
Maintenance Issues
Porous paving systems will need to be cleaned or possibly even replaced sooner than conventional pavements. Swales will require occasional grass cutting. Having said that, the need for gully or even pipe cleaning is eliminated. Ponds are considerably easier to clean and maintain than underground tanks. Infiltration systems have been used on road schemes for decades without significant maintenance problems. Research in the UK suggests that maintenance of SuDS systems is generally comparable or cheaper than maintenance of conventional drainage systems1.
Responsibility for long-term maintenance needs to be assigned. Local authorities are always reluctant to take on new maintenance responsibilities and developers may not be well placed to offer long term maintenance commitments. Residents groups or management companies could take responsibility but this may be problematic. Having said that, these problems are now being encountered with private estates built with conventional drainage methods. The issue of taking in charge is a serious one and needs to be addressed.
Housing Density
One of the most controversial issues encountered with SuDS installations is that they are perceived as requiring greater land take but this is not necessarily the case. Porous paving can be used instead of conventional car parking areas. The areas underneath porous pavements can be used as filter drains for roof drainage or conventional soak pits can be built.
It is undeniable that ponds or similar measures require some degree of land take. This partly explains why we have already seen ponds in business parks or industrial areas but that developers are reluctant to place them in housing developments. The area taken up by a pond could well be another block of apartments and local authorities are now as keen to endorse high densities as developers are. However, properly constructed SuDS systems can add to the amenity value of an area and even increase property values. Research in the US shows that builders can charge significant premiums for sites overlooking SuDS installations3. Even in Ireland, developers have been known to put in water features for landscaping purposes and fire fighting requirements without considering their possible water quality benefits. Water features can be more attractive than conventional green space. Local authorities should be ready to accept SuDS installations as part of a development's green space requirements if we are serious about improving our surface water quality.
Flooding
Concerns have been expressed about the ability of SuDS installations to deal with severe flooding events. It would not be practically possible to design a SuDS system to protect against every possible flood event but we don’t design conventional systems to do that in any case. SuDS systems are frequently built with overflows to deal with this issue. Failure of a SuDS system should be more gradual than failure of a conventional system in any case. The focus should thus be on flood routing to ensure that flooding is confined to green spaces or roads rather than properties.
Foundation Stability
The focus on infiltration of stormwater causes concern to some engineers. Road designers in particular are used to the concept of keeping ground water as far as possible from their road base. They are thus a little reticent about accepting swales or similar measures to deal with surface water. Yet filter drains have been used on roads projects for years without significant problems. What is important is that we ensure filter drains or soakways are far enough from foundations to ensure that stability issues won't arise. Again what we are really highlighting here is the need for proper engineering design. It has been suggested that SuDS may even benefit foundations in so far as SuDS offer a certain amount of groundwater recharge. Foundation damage due to ground shrinkage that is often blamed on trees. In reality soils are likely to dry out if we build on them thus eliminating the ability of the soil to regulate its moisture content.
Experience in Other Countries
People often express reluctance to shift to SuDS due to a lack of research or lack of understanding about their long-term behaviour. The long term nature of engineering work means that conservatism is natural. Nobody wants to risk unforeseen problems that may have long term implications.
In fact, SuDS have been in use worldwide for some considerable time. SuDS installations in Sweden go back 15 years and any teething problems have now been overcome there. The same has been recorded in the USA, where SuDS are also well established.
There have been some problems in the past with poorly constructed ponds or wetlands but knowledge in these areas has now increased. SuDS are now firmly established in Sweden, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and the UK, and particularly Scotland, for several years. In none of these countries have SuDS been considered to be unsuccessful.
The Future
The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study will be recommending that the use of SuDS be greatly increased in the region. These concepts will be incorporated in the New Development Policy and the Environmental Policy.
This is expected to offer considerable benefits in terms of stormwater control and prevention of flooding. In addition to this, SuDS will offer enhanced surface water quality. Indeed it has been suggested that Ireland may not be able to meet its obligations under the Water Framework Directive without widespread use of SuDS. Finally, SuDS will offer improved amenities, including the introduction of valuable wildlife habitats to areas where this would otherwise not occur.
SuDS will bring benefits to developers as well as to the public. Now that the need for stormwater control is accepted, these techniques can be adopted at little or no extra. SuDS offer developers more tools for meeting their stormwater control obligations in a way that can also enhance the quality and ultimately the price of developments.
There are reservations over the introduction of SuDS among developers and even the local authorities. We must recognise that people do have legitimate concerns, but all of these issues can be overcome. While we can expect an initial degree of scepticism it is hoped that the successful use of SuDS on a small number of sites will increase confidence in these measures and as experience grows, this process is likely to take on a momentum of its own. The benefits of using SuDS far outweigh the concerns people have and it is incumbent on all of us to strive to ensure their widespread acceptance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank Tom Leahy, Gerry Doherty and Fiona Campbell for their help in preparing this paper.
REFERENCES
“Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems – Best Practice Manual” - CIRIA, 2001.
“Stormwater Management Policy for Developers” – Dublin Corporation, 1998
“GDSDS – Environmental Management – Consultation Document” – Dublin Drainage Consultancy, 2003
Go to Russborough to see the work of Cassels
I have just enjoyed another day at Russborough House and want to try to encourage planners to go - and not just because of the robberies whuich have resulted in the art being relocated to the National Gallery. The guidebook says: "Russborough House is a stately house situated near the Blessington Lakes in County Wicklow, Ireland, between the towns of Blessington and Ballymore Eustace. It is a particularly fine example of Palladian architecture, designed by Richard Cassels for the First Earl of Milltown, Joseph Lesson, and built between 1741 and 1755. The interior of the house contrasts with the austere exterior by way of some ornate plasterwork on the ceilings by the Lafranchini brothers, who also collaborated with Cassels on Carton House".
Cassels is the real interest for planners. Richard Cassels, who originally trained as an engineer, came to Ireland in 1728 at the behest of Sir Gustavus Hume of County Fermanagh to design for Hume a mansion on the shores of Lough Erne. Hume had probably discovered Cassels working in London where he was influenced by the circle of architects influenced by Lord Burlington. Cassels, soon after arrival in Ireland, established a thriving architectural practice in Dublin. Architecturally at the time Dublin was an exciting place to be – Edward Lovett Pearce, also newly established in the city, was working on Castletown House, the great mansion of Speaker William Connoly, and the new Irish Houses of Parliament simultaneously. Both of these buildings were designed in the newly-introduced Palladian style. Palladian architecture was currently enjoying a revival that was to sweep across Europe and be adopted with a fervour in Ireland. Cassels was well versed in the concepts of Palladio and Vitruvius, but was also sympathetic to the more Baroque style of architecture.
In Dublin itself, Cassels worked on the Houses of Parliament with Pearce, his mentor and friend. Cassels' first solo commission was the Printing House of Trinity College, designed to resemble a temple complete with a doric portico. This portico was an interesting feature symbolizing Cassels' early work – a portico is an almost essential feature of Palladian architecture. But as Cassels' work matured he tended to merely hint at a portico by placing pilasters supporting a pediment as the focal point of a facade. Perhaps he felt the huge Italian porticos that provided shelter from the sun were not requisite for houses in the less clement Ireland. This blind, merely suggested, portico is a feature of his final Dublin masterpiece Leinster House built for the Earl of Kildare between 1745 and 1751. A comparison of the Printing House and Leinster House shows the evolution from the true Palladian style to the, commonly referred, Georgian style in Ireland during the quarter century that Dublin was to be almost rebuilt.
The untimely death of Edward Lovett Pearce, aged 34, in 1733, made Cassels Ireland's leading architect working in the sought after Palladian style. He immediately assumed all of Pearce's commissions and thus began designing a series of lavish country houses. Following the completion of the Houses of Parliament there seemed to have been a rush by the aristocracy to build a series of new town houses in the same style and Cassels was often the first choice for architect. This led to the creation of what came to be known as Georgian Dublin.
For his exteriors he used a Palladian style that was distinctive for its strength and sobriety. In this he seems to have been influenced by Pearce and also James Gibbs. However, when it came to interiors, Cassels gave full rein to his love of the more continental Baroque. Walls were covered in stucco reliefs, ceilings medallions and motifs of plaster, segmental mouldings, and carvings, in an almost rococo style peculiar to Ireland.
Cassels is the real interest for planners. Richard Cassels, who originally trained as an engineer, came to Ireland in 1728 at the behest of Sir Gustavus Hume of County Fermanagh to design for Hume a mansion on the shores of Lough Erne. Hume had probably discovered Cassels working in London where he was influenced by the circle of architects influenced by Lord Burlington. Cassels, soon after arrival in Ireland, established a thriving architectural practice in Dublin. Architecturally at the time Dublin was an exciting place to be – Edward Lovett Pearce, also newly established in the city, was working on Castletown House, the great mansion of Speaker William Connoly, and the new Irish Houses of Parliament simultaneously. Both of these buildings were designed in the newly-introduced Palladian style. Palladian architecture was currently enjoying a revival that was to sweep across Europe and be adopted with a fervour in Ireland. Cassels was well versed in the concepts of Palladio and Vitruvius, but was also sympathetic to the more Baroque style of architecture.
In Dublin itself, Cassels worked on the Houses of Parliament with Pearce, his mentor and friend. Cassels' first solo commission was the Printing House of Trinity College, designed to resemble a temple complete with a doric portico. This portico was an interesting feature symbolizing Cassels' early work – a portico is an almost essential feature of Palladian architecture. But as Cassels' work matured he tended to merely hint at a portico by placing pilasters supporting a pediment as the focal point of a facade. Perhaps he felt the huge Italian porticos that provided shelter from the sun were not requisite for houses in the less clement Ireland. This blind, merely suggested, portico is a feature of his final Dublin masterpiece Leinster House built for the Earl of Kildare between 1745 and 1751. A comparison of the Printing House and Leinster House shows the evolution from the true Palladian style to the, commonly referred, Georgian style in Ireland during the quarter century that Dublin was to be almost rebuilt.
The untimely death of Edward Lovett Pearce, aged 34, in 1733, made Cassels Ireland's leading architect working in the sought after Palladian style. He immediately assumed all of Pearce's commissions and thus began designing a series of lavish country houses. Following the completion of the Houses of Parliament there seemed to have been a rush by the aristocracy to build a series of new town houses in the same style and Cassels was often the first choice for architect. This led to the creation of what came to be known as Georgian Dublin.
For his exteriors he used a Palladian style that was distinctive for its strength and sobriety. In this he seems to have been influenced by Pearce and also James Gibbs. However, when it came to interiors, Cassels gave full rein to his love of the more continental Baroque. Walls were covered in stucco reliefs, ceilings medallions and motifs of plaster, segmental mouldings, and carvings, in an almost rococo style peculiar to Ireland.
What is a 'Green Structure'
I was talking to a student yesterday who asked me to define a 'Green Structure'. Here's how I responded:
A quite broad definition, includes all the green space, even water of all kinds: lakes, ponds, rivers, stream and coastlines, which is to be found within a city. Green spaces outside the city or urban areas are not a part of a 'Green Structure', but are of course of great importance for urban nature as well as for the city's inhabitants and climate. The focus when discussing 'Green Structure'is the green structure in the city and its most important connections with the surroundings.
In my opinion, all city nature is more or less cultivated. That is why I'd use a broad definition to explain categories which include natural remnants as well as built up areas of several types. The following categories are parts of the green structure: all kinds of water as mentioned above, ‘natural spaces’, pedestrian areas, parks, areas for sports, churchyards, areas surrounding public and private institutions, playing grounds of different types, allotment gardens (we have few if any of these in Ireland) and private gardens. Natural areas are often green spaces along rivers and streams and corridors for walking or left-over areas where people live, along roads and so on. Remnant nature might also be found in pedestrian areas, parks and churches/graveyards.
The green structure has many functions and values within a city: as a part of the communication system for walking and cycling, recreational functions, as important elements of the landscape, elements connected with history, habitats for plants and animals etc.
A quite broad definition, includes all the green space, even water of all kinds: lakes, ponds, rivers, stream and coastlines, which is to be found within a city. Green spaces outside the city or urban areas are not a part of a 'Green Structure', but are of course of great importance for urban nature as well as for the city's inhabitants and climate. The focus when discussing 'Green Structure'is the green structure in the city and its most important connections with the surroundings.
In my opinion, all city nature is more or less cultivated. That is why I'd use a broad definition to explain categories which include natural remnants as well as built up areas of several types. The following categories are parts of the green structure: all kinds of water as mentioned above, ‘natural spaces’, pedestrian areas, parks, areas for sports, churchyards, areas surrounding public and private institutions, playing grounds of different types, allotment gardens (we have few if any of these in Ireland) and private gardens. Natural areas are often green spaces along rivers and streams and corridors for walking or left-over areas where people live, along roads and so on. Remnant nature might also be found in pedestrian areas, parks and churches/graveyards.
The green structure has many functions and values within a city: as a part of the communication system for walking and cycling, recreational functions, as important elements of the landscape, elements connected with history, habitats for plants and animals etc.
Saturday, 13 January 2007
UCD's MSc in planning vs. UCD's MRUP in planning
I had an email today asking me whether someone should do the 1 year or the 2 year version of the UCD postgraduate planning programme. The choice according to the UCD website is now between:
Master of Regional and Urban Planning (MRUP)
Master's Degree in Planning Policy and Practice (MSc)
MRUP, which I took myself, is described as:
The Master of Regional and Urban Planning degree is the gold-standard Master's planning programme in the UK and Ireland. Moreover, it is the only planning degree with professional accreditation from both the Irish Planning Institute and the Royal Town Planning Institute. Being a two-year full-time Master's degree it is equivalent to mainland European and US professional planning qualifications and thus qualifies successful graduates to work in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US. The MRUP offers students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values fundamental to a career in planning. The degree offers a unique blend of lectures, studio-based learning and independent study.
The MSc is described as:
From September 2005 the Department is also offering a Master's degree in Planning Policy and Practice. This is a twelve-month full-time degree which is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute and qualifies successful graduates to work in the UK. This degree is equivalent to other one-year Masters' planning degrees being offered in Britain and Northern Ireland.
Therefore, it appears from these descriptions that MRUP is the benchmark educational standard for the UCD planning programme (and in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US). The other is simply a one year degree aimed at people who want to work in the UK. This doesn't seem to make sense, as the training for planners here in Ireland should be aimed at meeting the Irish market.
What appears to be going on here is that so many people want to do planning at present and the two year MRUP is so over-subscribed that the one year programme is cashing in on demand. A nice little earner for UCD. This seems a little unfair given that graduates of a one year programme in planning simply cannot compete with those who have the two year MRUP, the two year Queen's Belfast programme, the four year DIT programme (or possibly other fledgling programmes coming on line round the country). The question is: "Can a person become a planner in one year?" The answer, simply, is no.
My answer to the email which sparked this response was that if she hoped to get a job in planning whebn she graduated, she should, if she is successful in her application, do the MRUP degree - The Gold Standard, as the MSc can only be seen as second best by the majority of Irish planners and planner employers, like myself, who continue to hold the MRUP degree.
Master of Regional and Urban Planning (MRUP)
Master's Degree in Planning Policy and Practice (MSc)
MRUP, which I took myself, is described as:
The Master of Regional and Urban Planning degree is the gold-standard Master's planning programme in the UK and Ireland. Moreover, it is the only planning degree with professional accreditation from both the Irish Planning Institute and the Royal Town Planning Institute. Being a two-year full-time Master's degree it is equivalent to mainland European and US professional planning qualifications and thus qualifies successful graduates to work in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US. The MRUP offers students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values fundamental to a career in planning. The degree offers a unique blend of lectures, studio-based learning and independent study.
The MSc is described as:
From September 2005 the Department is also offering a Master's degree in Planning Policy and Practice. This is a twelve-month full-time degree which is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute and qualifies successful graduates to work in the UK. This degree is equivalent to other one-year Masters' planning degrees being offered in Britain and Northern Ireland.
Therefore, it appears from these descriptions that MRUP is the benchmark educational standard for the UCD planning programme (and in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US). The other is simply a one year degree aimed at people who want to work in the UK. This doesn't seem to make sense, as the training for planners here in Ireland should be aimed at meeting the Irish market.
What appears to be going on here is that so many people want to do planning at present and the two year MRUP is so over-subscribed that the one year programme is cashing in on demand. A nice little earner for UCD. This seems a little unfair given that graduates of a one year programme in planning simply cannot compete with those who have the two year MRUP, the two year Queen's Belfast programme, the four year DIT programme (or possibly other fledgling programmes coming on line round the country). The question is: "Can a person become a planner in one year?" The answer, simply, is no.
My answer to the email which sparked this response was that if she hoped to get a job in planning whebn she graduated, she should, if she is successful in her application, do the MRUP degree - The Gold Standard, as the MSc can only be seen as second best by the majority of Irish planners and planner employers, like myself, who continue to hold the MRUP degree.
Friday, 12 January 2007
State not protecting wildlife and habitats
Jamie Smyth and Tim O'Brien in The Irish Times tell us how Europe's highest court has ruled the Government is breaking EU conservation law by not protecting the State's natural habitats and wildlife.
However, the Department of the Environment said the judgment was out of date and related to a period before the introduction of necessary legislation.
In its judgment yesterday, the European Court of Justice found there was no effective national system in place to monitor a range of protected species such as the otter, the Kerry slug and various species of bats.
It also found that Irish law offered no legal protection to the breeding grounds of these species, and cited several infrastructure developments that were approved despite disturbing protected species.
The Ennis bypass, the construction of a gas pipeline in Broadhaven Bay and the Lough Rynn Estate project, which consists of a championship golf course, were all authorised by the State prior to the conclusion of environmental impact assessments that found they would have a negative impact on the environment.
The court concluded that these high-profile construction projects showed that rare species protected in Ireland, their breeding sites and their resting places were subject to disturbances and to threats which the Irish rules do not make it possible to prevent.
The court also found that sections of the Wildlife Act do not provide adequate protection for protected species because it includes derogations for certain people.
For example, it is not an offence for a person engaged in road-building, agriculture, fishing, aquaculture, forestry or turbary to interfere with or kill
protected species or to unintentionally destroy the breeding place of such an animal. This situation does not comply with EU law, according to the court.
The commission took the case against the Government because it felt the Government had not implemented effectively a council directive passed in 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.
In its defence Ireland argued it had recently amended its domestic legislation to offer protection to rare species and habitats to comply with the commission's concern.
Last night the Department of the Environment said new regulations had been enacted since the situation referred to by the court. However, the department said it was "giving detailed consideration to this judgment".
It added that "substantial progress" was continuing to be made.
"Since 2005 we have advanced the production of species action plans. Four plans have been produced covering the Irish hare, the corncrake, the pollan and the Irish lady's tresses orchid."
It said three other plans - including one covering all 10 Irish bat species - had been drafted and were at the consultative stage.
However, the Department of the Environment said the judgment was out of date and related to a period before the introduction of necessary legislation.
In its judgment yesterday, the European Court of Justice found there was no effective national system in place to monitor a range of protected species such as the otter, the Kerry slug and various species of bats.
It also found that Irish law offered no legal protection to the breeding grounds of these species, and cited several infrastructure developments that were approved despite disturbing protected species.
The Ennis bypass, the construction of a gas pipeline in Broadhaven Bay and the Lough Rynn Estate project, which consists of a championship golf course, were all authorised by the State prior to the conclusion of environmental impact assessments that found they would have a negative impact on the environment.
The court concluded that these high-profile construction projects showed that rare species protected in Ireland, their breeding sites and their resting places were subject to disturbances and to threats which the Irish rules do not make it possible to prevent.
The court also found that sections of the Wildlife Act do not provide adequate protection for protected species because it includes derogations for certain people.
For example, it is not an offence for a person engaged in road-building, agriculture, fishing, aquaculture, forestry or turbary to interfere with or kill
protected species or to unintentionally destroy the breeding place of such an animal. This situation does not comply with EU law, according to the court.
The commission took the case against the Government because it felt the Government had not implemented effectively a council directive passed in 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.
In its defence Ireland argued it had recently amended its domestic legislation to offer protection to rare species and habitats to comply with the commission's concern.
Last night the Department of the Environment said new regulations had been enacted since the situation referred to by the court. However, the department said it was "giving detailed consideration to this judgment".
It added that "substantial progress" was continuing to be made.
"Since 2005 we have advanced the production of species action plans. Four plans have been produced covering the Irish hare, the corncrake, the pollan and the Irish lady's tresses orchid."
It said three other plans - including one covering all 10 Irish bat species - had been drafted and were at the consultative stage.
Cork super-dump ... again
Sean O’Riordan in the Irish Examiner writes that one of the country’s largest private waste-disposal firms has resubmitted plans for a super dump to Cork County Council.
Greenstar believes a change in national policy may see it finally get planning permission for a controversial super dump on the Cork-Limerick border. The company was refused permission for the €15 million super dump by both Cork County Council and An Bord Pleanála in 2004, but believes that policy change may see it succeed this time and allow it to bury 140,000 tonnes of waste per annum.
People living by the forestry site at Ballyguyroe, near Kildorrery, have vowed to fight the latest proposal and in the past have won significant victories. In 2001 they succeeded in a High Court action to close a dump in the same area, which was operated at the time by the county council.
Despite the An Bord Pleanála rejection two years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency gave Greenstar a licence to operate a dump at Ballyguyroe.
“The plan will form a critical part of the company’s integrated waste management infrastructure in the south of the country and will primarily accept residual, non-recyclable waste from Greenstar’s recovery facilities and
those of its customers throughout Munster,” a company spokeswoman said yesterday.
She claimed that the 2004 application was refused because it was “premature” in the context of the then awaited revised Cork Waste Management Plan.
“Significant changes in planning circumstances have taken place in the interim and this latest application has particular regard for current national waste management policy, up-to-date published information from the EPA on waste data and remaining residual landfill capacity,” she said.
Greenstar believes a change in national policy may see it finally get planning permission for a controversial super dump on the Cork-Limerick border. The company was refused permission for the €15 million super dump by both Cork County Council and An Bord Pleanála in 2004, but believes that policy change may see it succeed this time and allow it to bury 140,000 tonnes of waste per annum.
People living by the forestry site at Ballyguyroe, near Kildorrery, have vowed to fight the latest proposal and in the past have won significant victories. In 2001 they succeeded in a High Court action to close a dump in the same area, which was operated at the time by the county council.
Despite the An Bord Pleanála rejection two years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency gave Greenstar a licence to operate a dump at Ballyguyroe.
“The plan will form a critical part of the company’s integrated waste management infrastructure in the south of the country and will primarily accept residual, non-recyclable waste from Greenstar’s recovery facilities and
those of its customers throughout Munster,” a company spokeswoman said yesterday.
She claimed that the 2004 application was refused because it was “premature” in the context of the then awaited revised Cork Waste Management Plan.
“Significant changes in planning circumstances have taken place in the interim and this latest application has particular regard for current national waste management policy, up-to-date published information from the EPA on waste data and remaining residual landfill capacity,” she said.
Do we need a review of environmental protection law?
Ken Griffen writing in tThe Irish Times tells us that The Department of the Environment has ruled out a review of environmental protection law, even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) obtained just €162,700 in fines from prosecutions last year.
The Department of the Environment has ruled out a review of environmental protection law, even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) obtained just €162,700 in fines from prosecutions last year.
This total was unusually high due to the €110,000 in fines imposed on the Shannon-based multinational, Schwarz Pharma, last February for 11 charges, including the emission of suspected carcinogens into the air.
When the Schwarz Pharma verdict is stripped out, the EPA obtained €52,700 in fines last year - an average of about €2,770 per prosecution.
The cost of bringing environmental prosecutions regularly exceeds the penalties imposed.
According to EPA figures, the agency was awarded costs of €209,911 by the courts last year.
An EPA spokeswoman admitted that the fines the agency could obtain were limited because it could only prosecute offenders in the District Court, where penalties are lowest. The maximum penalty for environmental offences in these courts is €3,000 per charge and a year’s imprisonment.
Although cases can be taken in higher courts by the Director of Public Prosecutions, this rarely occurs. Just three cases were heard in higher courts last year.
In each case, the EPA had attempted to bring a District Court prosecution, but the judges refused to accept jurisdiction due to the serious nature of the charges. These included the Schwarz Pharma case.
The EPA spokeswoman declined to answer questions about whether the EPA regarded these penalties as a sufficient deterrent. She said, however, that the EPA’s prosecutions had led to improved environmental standards in Irish businesses.
‘‘Legal actions taken by the EPA have led to significant investment in improvements to site infrastructure and clean-ups,” she said. ‘‘This investment was estimated to be in the region of €19 million in 2005.”
However, Fine Gael’s environment spokesman, Fergus O’Dowd, said the fines being imposed were ‘‘derisory’’ for significant environmental breaches.
‘‘The EPA is doing a very good job in policing the environment, but it needs to be supported with tougher fines,” he said. ‘‘What is the point of bringing people to court if the fines are so small?”
O’Dowd said that maximum fines should be at a level where ‘‘companies will remember them’’.
However, a spokesman for the department said fines were a matter for the courts to decide within the limits set by legislation.
He said that the department had no plans to review the legislation governing fines, which were last increased in 2003.
The Department of the Environment has ruled out a review of environmental protection law, even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) obtained just €162,700 in fines from prosecutions last year.
This total was unusually high due to the €110,000 in fines imposed on the Shannon-based multinational, Schwarz Pharma, last February for 11 charges, including the emission of suspected carcinogens into the air.
When the Schwarz Pharma verdict is stripped out, the EPA obtained €52,700 in fines last year - an average of about €2,770 per prosecution.
The cost of bringing environmental prosecutions regularly exceeds the penalties imposed.
According to EPA figures, the agency was awarded costs of €209,911 by the courts last year.
An EPA spokeswoman admitted that the fines the agency could obtain were limited because it could only prosecute offenders in the District Court, where penalties are lowest. The maximum penalty for environmental offences in these courts is €3,000 per charge and a year’s imprisonment.
Although cases can be taken in higher courts by the Director of Public Prosecutions, this rarely occurs. Just three cases were heard in higher courts last year.
In each case, the EPA had attempted to bring a District Court prosecution, but the judges refused to accept jurisdiction due to the serious nature of the charges. These included the Schwarz Pharma case.
The EPA spokeswoman declined to answer questions about whether the EPA regarded these penalties as a sufficient deterrent. She said, however, that the EPA’s prosecutions had led to improved environmental standards in Irish businesses.
‘‘Legal actions taken by the EPA have led to significant investment in improvements to site infrastructure and clean-ups,” she said. ‘‘This investment was estimated to be in the region of €19 million in 2005.”
However, Fine Gael’s environment spokesman, Fergus O’Dowd, said the fines being imposed were ‘‘derisory’’ for significant environmental breaches.
‘‘The EPA is doing a very good job in policing the environment, but it needs to be supported with tougher fines,” he said. ‘‘What is the point of bringing people to court if the fines are so small?”
O’Dowd said that maximum fines should be at a level where ‘‘companies will remember them’’.
However, a spokesman for the department said fines were a matter for the courts to decide within the limits set by legislation.
He said that the department had no plans to review the legislation governing fines, which were last increased in 2003.
Cliffs of Moher - planning or branding
Gordon Deegan writing in The Irish Times tells us its the branding, not the planning of the Cliffs of Moher, that's the important thing ...
A ROW has erupted between two of the agencies involved in the €31.5m Cliffs of Moher visitor centre over registering the Cliffs of Moher brand as a trademark.
Less than four weeks away from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern officially opening the centre, it emerged yesterday that a Shannon Development subsidiary has lodged a formal objection against an application by Clare Co Council to register a Cliffs of Moher brand as a trademark on an EU-wide basis.
The subsidiary, Shannon Castle Banquets and Heritage Ltd (SCBH Ltd) also has an application before the Irish Patents Office from last November to register the Cliffs of Moher.
Shannon Development are former partners of the council in the project and SCBH Ltd is leasing shop space from the council in the new centre. The council's project leader for the Cliffs centre, Ger Dollard, yesterday described Shannon Development's approach as 'extraordinary'.
He said: "The Council had not been advised by Shannon Heritage or Shannon Development of their intention to lodge an objection to our application for a trademark despite meeting at chief executive/county manager level on other issues relating to the project early in December.
"As the council is the public authority for the county and is the body who has invested over €31m in improving facilities and site management at the site, I cannot comprehend how another party could justify opposing our application for this particular trademark.
A Shannon Development spokesman said yesterday: "Shannon Development/Shannon Heritage registered the Cliffs of Moher as a trademark many years ago, to allow use of the name on merchandise sold at the company's commercial outlet at the Cliffs of Moher, and has continued to pay an annual fee to retain ownership and use of the trademark.
"Shannon Development/Shannon Heritage would be happy to share its Cliffs of Moher trademark with Clare Co Council, if this arrangement was acceptable to the Trade Mark Office, but would object to the council having sole ownership of the trade mark which could undermine our long-held commercial position at the Cliffs," he said.
A ROW has erupted between two of the agencies involved in the €31.5m Cliffs of Moher visitor centre over registering the Cliffs of Moher brand as a trademark.
Less than four weeks away from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern officially opening the centre, it emerged yesterday that a Shannon Development subsidiary has lodged a formal objection against an application by Clare Co Council to register a Cliffs of Moher brand as a trademark on an EU-wide basis.
The subsidiary, Shannon Castle Banquets and Heritage Ltd (SCBH Ltd) also has an application before the Irish Patents Office from last November to register the Cliffs of Moher.
Shannon Development are former partners of the council in the project and SCBH Ltd is leasing shop space from the council in the new centre. The council's project leader for the Cliffs centre, Ger Dollard, yesterday described Shannon Development's approach as 'extraordinary'.
He said: "The Council had not been advised by Shannon Heritage or Shannon Development of their intention to lodge an objection to our application for a trademark despite meeting at chief executive/county manager level on other issues relating to the project early in December.
"As the council is the public authority for the county and is the body who has invested over €31m in improving facilities and site management at the site, I cannot comprehend how another party could justify opposing our application for this particular trademark.
A Shannon Development spokesman said yesterday: "Shannon Development/Shannon Heritage registered the Cliffs of Moher as a trademark many years ago, to allow use of the name on merchandise sold at the company's commercial outlet at the Cliffs of Moher, and has continued to pay an annual fee to retain ownership and use of the trademark.
"Shannon Development/Shannon Heritage would be happy to share its Cliffs of Moher trademark with Clare Co Council, if this arrangement was acceptable to the Trade Mark Office, but would object to the council having sole ownership of the trade mark which could undermine our long-held commercial position at the Cliffs," he said.
Nenagh castle restoration project delayed by archaeology
Peter Gleeson in The Irish Indo' had this story:
AN archaeological find claimed to be of "huge historical significance" has postponed a Government investment of €3m to restore Nenagh Castle.
The find is believed to include a curtain wall of the 13th century castle and the ruins of a medieval manor house. Archaeologists want to access the exact significance of the site before any further development on the site.
The Office of Public Works has failed to seek planning permission from Nenagh Town Council to carry out extensive restoration works on the site, despite publishing a notice in the local press last October stating that it was going to do so.
A spokesman for the Office of Public Works stated that the submission of the planning application had been postponed after it was decided to conduct more extensive preliminary archaeological test digs.
He said the submission of a planning application for the restoration and improvement works would probably be delayed by several months to allow for further investigation.
"It gives us an opportunity to do more detailed archaeological excavations of the site to see exactly what is there. It should not affect the overall project," said the spokesman.
The Chairman of the Nenagh Tourism and Marketing Group, Stephen Slattery said he had been led to believe from talking to officials on the project that something of significant archaeological merit could yet be uncovered.
'"We have already waited 12 years for this and if we have to wait another three to six months I think that it‘s great if it avoids destroying 800 years of history."
Local Fianna Fail TD Deputy Maire Hoctor said she had been assured by Environment Minister Dick Roche that the €3m announced for the project last July is secure and will be spent on the visitors' centre project.
AN archaeological find claimed to be of "huge historical significance" has postponed a Government investment of €3m to restore Nenagh Castle.
The find is believed to include a curtain wall of the 13th century castle and the ruins of a medieval manor house. Archaeologists want to access the exact significance of the site before any further development on the site.
The Office of Public Works has failed to seek planning permission from Nenagh Town Council to carry out extensive restoration works on the site, despite publishing a notice in the local press last October stating that it was going to do so.
A spokesman for the Office of Public Works stated that the submission of the planning application had been postponed after it was decided to conduct more extensive preliminary archaeological test digs.
He said the submission of a planning application for the restoration and improvement works would probably be delayed by several months to allow for further investigation.
"It gives us an opportunity to do more detailed archaeological excavations of the site to see exactly what is there. It should not affect the overall project," said the spokesman.
The Chairman of the Nenagh Tourism and Marketing Group, Stephen Slattery said he had been led to believe from talking to officials on the project that something of significant archaeological merit could yet be uncovered.
'"We have already waited 12 years for this and if we have to wait another three to six months I think that it‘s great if it avoids destroying 800 years of history."
Local Fianna Fail TD Deputy Maire Hoctor said she had been assured by Environment Minister Dick Roche that the €3m announced for the project last July is secure and will be spent on the visitors' centre project.
This week Simon Carswell spoke to Dick Gleeson Dublin City Planner
The Sunday Business Post had this story at the weekend. I only read it today, finally. It was in my pile ...
As the city's planner, he would like to see Dublin's becoming one of the best city centres in Europe by 2016. To that end, Gleeson has a long wish-list. He'd like to see uninterrupted walkways and cycle paths linking Sutton to Sandycove - taking advantage of Dublin Bay - and from Sandycove to Chapelizod.
He'd like to see the banks of the Liffey improved along the quays, with redeveloped areas of the city - such as Smithfield, O'Connell Street and the new square being built as part of the Spencer Dock project in the docklands - being linked by a continuous pedestrian route.
He wants Henry Street and Grafton Street and the large shopping area between the two to remain the number one shopping centre in the country. He believes there is enough space between the two streets to build the equivalent of three Dundrum Shopping Centres.
As an example, he cites the areas behind the old Habitat building on St Stephen's Green and areas of Dawson Street and Molesworth Street that could be developed into shopping streets.
Gleeson says Dublin City Council is probably going to meet its target of building 40,000 new homes in the city centre by 2010, but he recognises that there will be relatively little land left after that.
''If we are going to significantly address the challenge of the sprawl of Dublin, we are going to have to look at the consolidation of the city in a sustainable and well-designed way," he said.
Gleeson has warmed to the recent suggestion of moving the port out of Dublin - perhaps to Balbriggan in north Co Dublin - and developing the eastern side of the city as a residential centre, rather than an exclusively commercial and industrial hub.
''The port represents a major opportunity to think in a very adventurous way about what type of urban form might constitute an extension of central Dublin into that area," he said. ''I don't think it should be just a model copied from Manhattan. We can achieve very sustainable densities at six and seven storeys."
To the west of the city, Gleeson is enthusiastic about plans for the area around Heuston Station where a mostly residential 32-storey building is being built. He said the area could accommodate 5.5 million square feet of space and about 3,000 new homes.
At the other end of the west-east city axis, at Poolbeg, another six million square feet and about 3,000 new homes will be built. Gleeson doesn't see the city just expanding to the port, but westwards as well.
''The inner city now extends from Heuston to the Point Depot," he said.
''But that is not the end of the story. We still miss out on a strategic relationship of Dublin to the bay on one side and to the Phoenix Park on the other.
''It is absolutely amazing that a park of 1,700 acres is so physically and psychologically separate from the city. People say it is the largest urban park in Europe. It is - I have seen the city maps of Europe. We need the park and we need to integrate the park into the city."
Gleeson would like to see a French-style brown grit boulevard lined with trees running down the side of the park from Parkgate Street to Chapelizod along the Liffey so something can be made out of ''an old road out of the city'' that he acknowledges is not really used to a great extent anymore.
He would also like to see more made of the west end of the city centre and to use the river more, even for swimming. He uses Copenhagen – a city he admires - as an example.
He said the Danes have cordoned off part of the harbour in Copenhagen for swimming.
Gleeson said the council was undertaking a feasibility study to examine whether traffic could be banned from the area in front of Heuston Station.
This would involve redirecting traffic coming into the city from the west over a new bridge northwards across the Liffey to Conyngham Road along Parkgate Street and Benburb Street at the back of the Croppies Acre. This would open up the area in front of Heuston Station and along the river to pedestrians.
''The central concept is to link the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) through the rear of the CIE building on a raised new urban space and link it across to the Phoenix Park," said Gleeson.
Gleeson said the city would open up to the west with a new public park, linking IMMA in Kilmainham, south of the river, to the Nat ional Museum at Collins Barracks, north of the river, via Heuston Station.
He envisages a new entrance for the National Museum modelled on the Louvre in Paris. Gleeson's high ambitions for Dublin do not necessarily involve high buildings.
''There isn't an automatic case for high rise in Dublin. Most of those cities that I have mentioned - Copenhagen, Vienna, Barcelona and Paris - have not embraced high rise as the answer to everything," he said.
''A lot of debate goes into high rise because it is the easy way out, grabbing attention on a site or a flagship project. Relatively few of those buildings actually translate into flagship character and quality.
"Some architects can handle it, most can't.
''I would restate our commitment - Dublin will remain largely low rise and we will protect the area between the canals."
However, Gleeson acknowledged that there might be a place for high rise in the docklands.
''What we are stating is that we won't consider high buildings without a plan, which has got to look at all things on the ground – its context, its relationship with the historic legacy of Dublin," he said.
Planning and building well-designed skyscrapers in Dublin would be a challenge, said Gleeson. Office buildings need such a large ''floor plate'' that, when they rise into the sky, they tend to be ''inelegant and fat'', he said, whereas residential buildings tend to be ''more elegant''.
''The problem is that residential buildings are so expensive to build because the floor plates are so restrictive," he said.
Gleeson is not just focusing on the city centre. Ringsend, Ballsbridge, Rathmines and Grangegorman are also in his sights for a revamp.
He said the Irish Glass Bottle site - which was bought by a consortium led by property developer Bernard McNamara and including the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and wealth manager Derek Quinlan -offered the potential for an intriguing new suburb.
''It has to maximise the relationship between two very different characters - the character of the bay and the river. It presents one of the most interesting living environments anywhere in Dublin," he said.
Ballsbridge presented an opportunity to bring ''design energy'' to the suburbs, where it had been lacking, said Gleeson.
''It is probably the most famous suburb in Ireland in terms of its icon status," he said. ''Major institutions have been locating there for the last 100 years. It went through radical change at different times in its history and is probably going to go through radical change again."
The big question is whether or not the council will allow high rise in Ballsbridge, as envisaged by property developer Sean Dunne, who bought some of the most expensive land in the country when he purchased the Jurys Doyle site in 2005.
Dunne wants to develop the area in a radical plan. ''We are looking at more than just the lands owned by Sean Dunne and Ray Grehan [who owns land in Ballsbridge next to Dunne's]," said Gleeson.
''We are looking at the whole of Ballsbridge. It needs an additional number of facilities. It has very poor local shopping. It is dominated by traffic.
''For an area of the city that is so well known and so famous and has such amazing institutions as Lansdowne Road, it sometimes falls down at its heart."
The council is preparing a local area plan that will be put on public display later this month.
Gleeson said this would involve ''creating an urban form that answers the questions of creating a character and identity for Ballsbridge - one that marries well with the wonderful legacy of Victorian Dublin''.
As for traffic problems in the city centre, Gleeson believes that more Luas lines around the city will provide a solution, citing the fact that Luas carries 27 million passengers a year (compared to Dart's 24 million) and transports more people at night.
''We are so close to saturation with the traffic that, when a small incident happens, it can cause serious problems," he said.
He believes the Port Tunnel will ease traffic in the city centre and give the city's planners an opportunity to develop public spaces along the river.
''If you ask me how we are going to pull together the newly-developed areas along the north city centre," he said, ''the answer is the river."
As the city's planner, he would like to see Dublin's becoming one of the best city centres in Europe by 2016. To that end, Gleeson has a long wish-list. He'd like to see uninterrupted walkways and cycle paths linking Sutton to Sandycove - taking advantage of Dublin Bay - and from Sandycove to Chapelizod.
He'd like to see the banks of the Liffey improved along the quays, with redeveloped areas of the city - such as Smithfield, O'Connell Street and the new square being built as part of the Spencer Dock project in the docklands - being linked by a continuous pedestrian route.
He wants Henry Street and Grafton Street and the large shopping area between the two to remain the number one shopping centre in the country. He believes there is enough space between the two streets to build the equivalent of three Dundrum Shopping Centres.
As an example, he cites the areas behind the old Habitat building on St Stephen's Green and areas of Dawson Street and Molesworth Street that could be developed into shopping streets.
Gleeson says Dublin City Council is probably going to meet its target of building 40,000 new homes in the city centre by 2010, but he recognises that there will be relatively little land left after that.
''If we are going to significantly address the challenge of the sprawl of Dublin, we are going to have to look at the consolidation of the city in a sustainable and well-designed way," he said.
Gleeson has warmed to the recent suggestion of moving the port out of Dublin - perhaps to Balbriggan in north Co Dublin - and developing the eastern side of the city as a residential centre, rather than an exclusively commercial and industrial hub.
''The port represents a major opportunity to think in a very adventurous way about what type of urban form might constitute an extension of central Dublin into that area," he said. ''I don't think it should be just a model copied from Manhattan. We can achieve very sustainable densities at six and seven storeys."
To the west of the city, Gleeson is enthusiastic about plans for the area around Heuston Station where a mostly residential 32-storey building is being built. He said the area could accommodate 5.5 million square feet of space and about 3,000 new homes.
At the other end of the west-east city axis, at Poolbeg, another six million square feet and about 3,000 new homes will be built. Gleeson doesn't see the city just expanding to the port, but westwards as well.
''The inner city now extends from Heuston to the Point Depot," he said.
''But that is not the end of the story. We still miss out on a strategic relationship of Dublin to the bay on one side and to the Phoenix Park on the other.
''It is absolutely amazing that a park of 1,700 acres is so physically and psychologically separate from the city. People say it is the largest urban park in Europe. It is - I have seen the city maps of Europe. We need the park and we need to integrate the park into the city."
Gleeson would like to see a French-style brown grit boulevard lined with trees running down the side of the park from Parkgate Street to Chapelizod along the Liffey so something can be made out of ''an old road out of the city'' that he acknowledges is not really used to a great extent anymore.
He would also like to see more made of the west end of the city centre and to use the river more, even for swimming. He uses Copenhagen – a city he admires - as an example.
He said the Danes have cordoned off part of the harbour in Copenhagen for swimming.
Gleeson said the council was undertaking a feasibility study to examine whether traffic could be banned from the area in front of Heuston Station.
This would involve redirecting traffic coming into the city from the west over a new bridge northwards across the Liffey to Conyngham Road along Parkgate Street and Benburb Street at the back of the Croppies Acre. This would open up the area in front of Heuston Station and along the river to pedestrians.
''The central concept is to link the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) through the rear of the CIE building on a raised new urban space and link it across to the Phoenix Park," said Gleeson.
Gleeson said the city would open up to the west with a new public park, linking IMMA in Kilmainham, south of the river, to the Nat ional Museum at Collins Barracks, north of the river, via Heuston Station.
He envisages a new entrance for the National Museum modelled on the Louvre in Paris. Gleeson's high ambitions for Dublin do not necessarily involve high buildings.
''There isn't an automatic case for high rise in Dublin. Most of those cities that I have mentioned - Copenhagen, Vienna, Barcelona and Paris - have not embraced high rise as the answer to everything," he said.
''A lot of debate goes into high rise because it is the easy way out, grabbing attention on a site or a flagship project. Relatively few of those buildings actually translate into flagship character and quality.
"Some architects can handle it, most can't.
''I would restate our commitment - Dublin will remain largely low rise and we will protect the area between the canals."
However, Gleeson acknowledged that there might be a place for high rise in the docklands.
''What we are stating is that we won't consider high buildings without a plan, which has got to look at all things on the ground – its context, its relationship with the historic legacy of Dublin," he said.
Planning and building well-designed skyscrapers in Dublin would be a challenge, said Gleeson. Office buildings need such a large ''floor plate'' that, when they rise into the sky, they tend to be ''inelegant and fat'', he said, whereas residential buildings tend to be ''more elegant''.
''The problem is that residential buildings are so expensive to build because the floor plates are so restrictive," he said.
Gleeson is not just focusing on the city centre. Ringsend, Ballsbridge, Rathmines and Grangegorman are also in his sights for a revamp.
He said the Irish Glass Bottle site - which was bought by a consortium led by property developer Bernard McNamara and including the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and wealth manager Derek Quinlan -offered the potential for an intriguing new suburb.
''It has to maximise the relationship between two very different characters - the character of the bay and the river. It presents one of the most interesting living environments anywhere in Dublin," he said.
Ballsbridge presented an opportunity to bring ''design energy'' to the suburbs, where it had been lacking, said Gleeson.
''It is probably the most famous suburb in Ireland in terms of its icon status," he said. ''Major institutions have been locating there for the last 100 years. It went through radical change at different times in its history and is probably going to go through radical change again."
The big question is whether or not the council will allow high rise in Ballsbridge, as envisaged by property developer Sean Dunne, who bought some of the most expensive land in the country when he purchased the Jurys Doyle site in 2005.
Dunne wants to develop the area in a radical plan. ''We are looking at more than just the lands owned by Sean Dunne and Ray Grehan [who owns land in Ballsbridge next to Dunne's]," said Gleeson.
''We are looking at the whole of Ballsbridge. It needs an additional number of facilities. It has very poor local shopping. It is dominated by traffic.
''For an area of the city that is so well known and so famous and has such amazing institutions as Lansdowne Road, it sometimes falls down at its heart."
The council is preparing a local area plan that will be put on public display later this month.
Gleeson said this would involve ''creating an urban form that answers the questions of creating a character and identity for Ballsbridge - one that marries well with the wonderful legacy of Victorian Dublin''.
As for traffic problems in the city centre, Gleeson believes that more Luas lines around the city will provide a solution, citing the fact that Luas carries 27 million passengers a year (compared to Dart's 24 million) and transports more people at night.
''We are so close to saturation with the traffic that, when a small incident happens, it can cause serious problems," he said.
He believes the Port Tunnel will ease traffic in the city centre and give the city's planners an opportunity to develop public spaces along the river.
''If you ask me how we are going to pull together the newly-developed areas along the north city centre," he said, ''the answer is the river."
News on forestry grants
Here's a subject I did my undergrad' dissertation on. The Irish Times covers this story as follows:
Increased grants for forestry planting were announced by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Mary Wallace.
The new Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) is part of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, which aims to diversify land use in the wake of reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Additional grants of up to €200 per hectare for tree planting will be available to farmers for five years. The scheme will operate on a one-year pilot basis and is only available to those participating in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS).
"Properly planned forestry is one of the most environmentally friendly end-uses to which we can put our land," Minister Wallace said.
She pointed out that while the FEPS would increase tree planting, the Afforestation Scheme, which aims to increase forest cover from its current level of 9 per cent of the State's land area to 17 per cent by the year 2035, would remain the principal incentive for Irish forestry.
"With the increasing evidence of climate change before us, with the need to find alternative fuels, with the demand for cleaner air and a better environment, it is more important than ever that we plant more forests," Ms Wallace said.
To qualify for a FEPS grant farmers will have to follow adhere environmental objectives such as biodiversity, habitats, species mix, environmental impact and visual considerations.
Increased grants for forestry planting were announced by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Mary Wallace.
The new Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) is part of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, which aims to diversify land use in the wake of reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Additional grants of up to €200 per hectare for tree planting will be available to farmers for five years. The scheme will operate on a one-year pilot basis and is only available to those participating in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS).
"Properly planned forestry is one of the most environmentally friendly end-uses to which we can put our land," Minister Wallace said.
She pointed out that while the FEPS would increase tree planting, the Afforestation Scheme, which aims to increase forest cover from its current level of 9 per cent of the State's land area to 17 per cent by the year 2035, would remain the principal incentive for Irish forestry.
"With the increasing evidence of climate change before us, with the need to find alternative fuels, with the demand for cleaner air and a better environment, it is more important than ever that we plant more forests," Ms Wallace said.
To qualify for a FEPS grant farmers will have to follow adhere environmental objectives such as biodiversity, habitats, species mix, environmental impact and visual considerations.
Thursday, 11 January 2007
Bit of background for planners visiting Dublin
I had an email this morning from planners travelling to Ireland from the US. They asked about where they can find material on Dublin planning before arrival.
I advised them to look at: http://reflectingcity.com/
This is an excellent website covering all of the main issues confronting Dublin's changing geography and planning over time.
I advised them to look at: http://reflectingcity.com/
This is an excellent website covering all of the main issues confronting Dublin's changing geography and planning over time.
Wednesday, 10 January 2007
Is a plan for Sandyford needed? An Bord Pleanala thinks so ...
The Irish Times
While I was one of the planning officers at Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council dealing with Sandyford, it was interesting to be dealing with such large planning applications, but also very controversial due to the ongoing conversion of this estate from old IDA-style industrial estate to mixed use business park.
The Irish Times has reported that a framework plan for the development of the Sandyford Industrial Estate is to be initiated following concerns raised by An Bord Pleanála about a shortage of parks in the area.
This is interesting, as I would have thought it would have been initiated on the grounds of traffic. Apparently, councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council voted to accept the county manager's (Owen Keegan) proposal to develop an urban framework plan after An Bord Pleanála raised concerns about planning developments in the estate. The council's planning department received a letter from the board in which it stated it was concerned about the cumulative impact of high-density residential development already approved or proposed for the estate.
The Irish Times quotes from this letter: "The board has noted the congested nature of the local network, the capacity of public transport, including the Luas system, and the relatively restricted connectivity of the estate with the wider area," the letter said. "The absence of a clear strategy for provision of public open spaces, including parks and playgrounds, to serve the immediate needs of this area is of concern."
The board asked the council if there was an intention to draw up a local area plan. The letter was sent in the context of recent large-scale planning applications in Sandyford.
In my view, Sandyford represents a micro-cosm of Irish planning, as it has a bit of everything. For example, it has sustainable transport in bus and Luas, but vast numbers of car parking spaces, which is unsustainable.
It is also interesting to hear views coming out of the board.
I will continue to watch Sandyford with interest.
While I was one of the planning officers at Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council dealing with Sandyford, it was interesting to be dealing with such large planning applications, but also very controversial due to the ongoing conversion of this estate from old IDA-style industrial estate to mixed use business park.
The Irish Times has reported that a framework plan for the development of the Sandyford Industrial Estate is to be initiated following concerns raised by An Bord Pleanála about a shortage of parks in the area.
This is interesting, as I would have thought it would have been initiated on the grounds of traffic. Apparently, councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council voted to accept the county manager's (Owen Keegan) proposal to develop an urban framework plan after An Bord Pleanála raised concerns about planning developments in the estate. The council's planning department received a letter from the board in which it stated it was concerned about the cumulative impact of high-density residential development already approved or proposed for the estate.
The Irish Times quotes from this letter: "The board has noted the congested nature of the local network, the capacity of public transport, including the Luas system, and the relatively restricted connectivity of the estate with the wider area," the letter said. "The absence of a clear strategy for provision of public open spaces, including parks and playgrounds, to serve the immediate needs of this area is of concern."
The board asked the council if there was an intention to draw up a local area plan. The letter was sent in the context of recent large-scale planning applications in Sandyford.
In my view, Sandyford represents a micro-cosm of Irish planning, as it has a bit of everything. For example, it has sustainable transport in bus and Luas, but vast numbers of car parking spaces, which is unsustainable.
It is also interesting to hear views coming out of the board.
I will continue to watch Sandyford with interest.
Ballsbridge plans scuppered?
Did anyone catch that story in The Irish Times today about how Dublin City Council plans to cap the height of buildings in Ballsbridge? Will this scupper old Sean Dunne's plans for the area? His 32 storey building may now not be possible on the Jurys and Berkeley Court hotel sites.
The reason for this is the proposed local area plan that will restrict the height of buildings in the area. The plan, written by town planning consultants Urban Initiatives, has been presented to the local city councillors and will be put out to public consultation later this month. According to The Irish Times, it focuses on the "urban village" centre of Ballsbridge around the junction of Pembroke Road, Shelbourne Road and Merrion Road, especially the development opportunities presented by large sites such as the seven-acre Jurys/Berkeley Court site bought by developer Sean Dunne for €380 million last year.
Personally I think that this is not the ideal location for tall buildings, but the DEGW Study wasn't strong enough and only Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is funding a study on tall buildings at present. Hopefully the Local Area Plan will give some guidance.
For details on local area plans see my October blogs!
The reason for this is the proposed local area plan that will restrict the height of buildings in the area. The plan, written by town planning consultants Urban Initiatives, has been presented to the local city councillors and will be put out to public consultation later this month. According to The Irish Times, it focuses on the "urban village" centre of Ballsbridge around the junction of Pembroke Road, Shelbourne Road and Merrion Road, especially the development opportunities presented by large sites such as the seven-acre Jurys/Berkeley Court site bought by developer Sean Dunne for €380 million last year.
Personally I think that this is not the ideal location for tall buildings, but the DEGW Study wasn't strong enough and only Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is funding a study on tall buildings at present. Hopefully the Local Area Plan will give some guidance.
For details on local area plans see my October blogs!
Draft Guidelines on Design Standards for Apartments for public consultation
I saw this yesterday evening, but didn't have a chance to put it up. All planners will be pleased to hear that the DoELGH has finally published the much anticipated Draft Guidelines on Design Standards for Apartments for public consultation. I'll try to get a review up as soon as I can, but here's a chunk of the press release:
The primary aim of these draft guidelines is to promote sustainable urban housing by ensuring that the design and layout of new apartments will provide satisfactory accommodation for a variety of household types and sizes – including families with children - over the medium to long term.
The focus of these draft guidelines is on the apartment building itself and on individual units within it. While there has been a general trend towards larger average apartment sizes over the past decade, these draft guidelines provide recommended minimum standards for:
· floor areas for different types of apartments,
· storage spaces,
· sizes for apartment balconies / patios, and
· room dimensions for certain rooms.
The draft guidelines also refer to the different housing needs in different areas, as reflected in housing strategies and local housing demand. Target average floor areas and a mix of unit types and sizes are suggested in new apartment developments, to help to ensure sustainable residential communities and facilitate integrated developments for different categories of occupants. For example, the draft guidelines recommend that no more than 10% - 15% of units in any apartment scheme of, say, 20 or more units should be of the one-bedroom type (save in exceptional cases, such as student accommodation), because of their incapacity to cater for families.
These new guidelines will form part of a suite of guidance being prepared by the Department within a wider housing/planning context, which will include:
· new draft planning guidelines, provisionally entitled "Sustainable urban housing: Planning for new residential developments", which will incorporate a revision of the 1999 residential density guidelines;
· a new best practice handbook on urban design and housing layouts which will illustrate, with examples drawn from current practice, how the policies set out in the planning guidelines might be implemented; and
· a revision of the 1999 Social Housing Design Guidelines.
In welcoming these new draft guidelines, the Minister highlighted the need for the guidance "to reflect the rapid changes in Ireland's demographics and settlement patterns over recent years, the need for more compact urban design, better integration between residential development and physical and social infrastructure and the overriding aim of building sustainable communities which will contribute to a good quality of life for all our people".
The Department welcomes any comments or submissions on the draft apartment guidelines up to close of business on Monday 5th March 2007. The finalised guidelines will subsequently be published by Minister Roche under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This requires planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to them in the performance of their functions.
However, pending finalisation of the guidelines, planning authorities are being requested to have regard to the recommended standards for new apartment schemes, when preparing or varying development plans and local area plans, particularly when their current plans incorporate older standards.
Here's the link:http://www.environ.ie/doei/doeihome.nsf/0/A612D009022D4DCE8025725F00584E79
The primary aim of these draft guidelines is to promote sustainable urban housing by ensuring that the design and layout of new apartments will provide satisfactory accommodation for a variety of household types and sizes – including families with children - over the medium to long term.
The focus of these draft guidelines is on the apartment building itself and on individual units within it. While there has been a general trend towards larger average apartment sizes over the past decade, these draft guidelines provide recommended minimum standards for:
· floor areas for different types of apartments,
· storage spaces,
· sizes for apartment balconies / patios, and
· room dimensions for certain rooms.
The draft guidelines also refer to the different housing needs in different areas, as reflected in housing strategies and local housing demand. Target average floor areas and a mix of unit types and sizes are suggested in new apartment developments, to help to ensure sustainable residential communities and facilitate integrated developments for different categories of occupants. For example, the draft guidelines recommend that no more than 10% - 15% of units in any apartment scheme of, say, 20 or more units should be of the one-bedroom type (save in exceptional cases, such as student accommodation), because of their incapacity to cater for families.
These new guidelines will form part of a suite of guidance being prepared by the Department within a wider housing/planning context, which will include:
· new draft planning guidelines, provisionally entitled "Sustainable urban housing: Planning for new residential developments", which will incorporate a revision of the 1999 residential density guidelines;
· a new best practice handbook on urban design and housing layouts which will illustrate, with examples drawn from current practice, how the policies set out in the planning guidelines might be implemented; and
· a revision of the 1999 Social Housing Design Guidelines.
In welcoming these new draft guidelines, the Minister highlighted the need for the guidance "to reflect the rapid changes in Ireland's demographics and settlement patterns over recent years, the need for more compact urban design, better integration between residential development and physical and social infrastructure and the overriding aim of building sustainable communities which will contribute to a good quality of life for all our people".
The Department welcomes any comments or submissions on the draft apartment guidelines up to close of business on Monday 5th March 2007. The finalised guidelines will subsequently be published by Minister Roche under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This requires planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to them in the performance of their functions.
However, pending finalisation of the guidelines, planning authorities are being requested to have regard to the recommended standards for new apartment schemes, when preparing or varying development plans and local area plans, particularly when their current plans incorporate older standards.
Here's the link:http://www.environ.ie/doei/doeihome.nsf/0/A612D009022D4DCE8025725F00584E79
THORP reopening a "missed opportunity" says Dick Roche in meeting with UK Secretary of State
Mr. Dick Roche met Alistair Darling, M.P., Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry yesterday. The meeting addressed issues relating to Sellafield, and in particular the THORP Plant.
This issue reminds us all of the reasons why Ireland should NOT be planning for nuclear.
Minister Roche said: "The purpose of my meeting here today was to once again impress on the UK Government the extent of Ireland's concerns about the dangers of Sellafield. Our view is that the operations there are uneconomic, environmentally damaging and have a particularly poor safety track record. I particularly drove home our concerns regarding the THORP Plant which has been closed for almost two years following a serious leak of radioactive waste and is expected to reopen shortly. An announcement to that effect is, I understand, imminent."
The Minister and the Secretary of State also discussed the UK Energy Review, which concluded that the UK would have to build a new generation of nuclear power stations to meet projected electricity demand. The Minister said: "I reminded the Secretary of State that adverse consequences have arisen for Ireland as a result of nuclear policy decisions and actions by the UK in the past and that any building of new nuclear stations would be viewed by us in that context. Most especially I sought and received assurances that nuclear new build was not on the horizon for Northern Ireland. This echoes the stated view of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain on this issue".
The Secretary of State confirmed in regard to the current THORP reprocessing programme that the expected completion date remains 2010 as scheduled. I impressed upon the Secretary of State that the strong view of the Irish Government that the operating life of the THORP Plant should not be extended. My own view is that the decision to reopen the Plant now, without at a minimum some form of international peer review is a missed opportunity to address, what is for the Irish population, a long standing source of concern".
The Minister concluded by saying: "The Irish Government's concerns in relation to Sellafield are regularly and repeatedly conveyed to the UK Government at Ministerial and Official level. The United Kingdom Government is under no illusions as to Irish Government policy on Sellafield. In this regard, I can also promise the Irish people that I will continue to voice their concerns about reprocessing operations at Sellafield at every possible forum and today's meeting demonstrates that commitment on my part"
This issue reminds us all of the reasons why Ireland should NOT be planning for nuclear.
Minister Roche said: "The purpose of my meeting here today was to once again impress on the UK Government the extent of Ireland's concerns about the dangers of Sellafield. Our view is that the operations there are uneconomic, environmentally damaging and have a particularly poor safety track record. I particularly drove home our concerns regarding the THORP Plant which has been closed for almost two years following a serious leak of radioactive waste and is expected to reopen shortly. An announcement to that effect is, I understand, imminent."
The Minister and the Secretary of State also discussed the UK Energy Review, which concluded that the UK would have to build a new generation of nuclear power stations to meet projected electricity demand. The Minister said: "I reminded the Secretary of State that adverse consequences have arisen for Ireland as a result of nuclear policy decisions and actions by the UK in the past and that any building of new nuclear stations would be viewed by us in that context. Most especially I sought and received assurances that nuclear new build was not on the horizon for Northern Ireland. This echoes the stated view of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain on this issue".
The Secretary of State confirmed in regard to the current THORP reprocessing programme that the expected completion date remains 2010 as scheduled. I impressed upon the Secretary of State that the strong view of the Irish Government that the operating life of the THORP Plant should not be extended. My own view is that the decision to reopen the Plant now, without at a minimum some form of international peer review is a missed opportunity to address, what is for the Irish population, a long standing source of concern".
The Minister concluded by saying: "The Irish Government's concerns in relation to Sellafield are regularly and repeatedly conveyed to the UK Government at Ministerial and Official level. The United Kingdom Government is under no illusions as to Irish Government policy on Sellafield. In this regard, I can also promise the Irish people that I will continue to voice their concerns about reprocessing operations at Sellafield at every possible forum and today's meeting demonstrates that commitment on my part"
Tuesday, 9 January 2007
Redevelopment of Sonairte
The Meath Chronicle tells us that the popular Sonairte national ecology centre at Laytown, is to be redeveloped:
Slane area councillors told of plan to expand centre
CHILDREN just love Sonairte, the national ecology centre at Laytown, and she could see no difficulty with the centre’s viability into the future, the cathaoirleach of the Slane Electoral Area Committee of Meath County Council, Colr Ann Dillon Gallagher, said following a presentation of a plan for an upgrade and refurbishment of the centre.
Consultants Faber Maunsell presented the results of a feasibility study on the redevelopment of Sonairte to the area’s five councillors and council officials at the December meeting.
Mike Alcock of the consultancy firm said that Sonairte had the potential to be a “centre of excellence” which would help the local economy and promote tourism.
The councillors were told that the Sonairte group had restructured itself over the past 18 months. Some key people who had started up the centre had left, and others had now come on board.
The consultants expressed the view that the plan for the ‘eco-village’ to the west of Laytown - which was also presented at the December meeting - was “a really exciting development”, and it would now be possible to do something in terms of ecological living which would fit in very well with the Sonairte ideal.
The main focus of the consultants’ report centred on Sonairte’s future as a sustainable living centre, an education centre, and a sustainable energy centre.
The sustainable living aspect encompassed recycling, a shop/café, small business opportunities, farmers’ market, an organic garden and healthy environment.
Mr Alcock took the councillors on a ‘virtual tour’ of the centre as it stands, and outlined where the centre could be expanded to provide for upgraded facilities.
An education centre at Sonairte would include the development of an educational space with good quality classrooms, full-time staff, a part-time teacher and a classroom assistant, structured within a five-year plan.
It was important to get the primary level infrastructure in place and then perhaps the centre could be used for training teachers in ecological living, and it was possible the universities would eventually get involved, he said.
Dealing with the sustainable energy aspects of Sonairte, Mr Alcock said there should be a strong emphasis on renewable energy and he suggested that a famous Sonairte landmark - the wind turbine - should be replaced. “The wind turbine is often used as a beacon for Sonairte but it is not a very good beacon. It has never worked since the day it went in,” he said.
It was also extremely important that the concept of ‘explaining’ the Sonairte concept be improved. “We’re not trying to build a commercially viable centre. We are trying to build on what is already there. What is there has been built up by volunteers. We are not trying to take it away from volunteers.
“We are not trying for a commercially viable centre but rather a financially viable centre,” the consultant said.
He estimated that it could cost about e1.04 million to rebuild and refurbish the centre but he saw income coming in over a five-year period.
One question which had to be decided, he added, was the long-term ownership of the project - would it be the case that Sonairte ‘championed’ the centre, or would it be Meath County Council which ‘championed’ it.
Commenting on the report, Colr Ann Dillon Gallagher said that it was “very enlightening”. Colr Tom Kelly, who is a director of Sonairte, said that he could not take part in the discussion and said he would “reserve his position”.
Colr Dominic Hannigan raised the prospect that EU funding could be garnered in order to capitalise works on the centre.
It was certainly the case that the proximity of the Dublin-Belfast rail line would be a huge boost to the centre, he believed.
Michael Killeen of the Meath County Council executive said that the question arose as to who was going to bring the project forward. The ownership of the site would have to be resolved.
He expressed the view that the cost of refurbishing the centre was not “pie in the sky”, in fact, it was ‘small money’. “It would be remiss of Meath County Council if we did not go forward and get this project up and running,” he said.
Colr Dillon Gallagher said: “We would have no problem selling the idea because children just love it. Viability won’t be a problem. I think that people will come to it, not only from Ireland, but from abroad.”
Slane area councillors told of plan to expand centre
CHILDREN just love Sonairte, the national ecology centre at Laytown, and she could see no difficulty with the centre’s viability into the future, the cathaoirleach of the Slane Electoral Area Committee of Meath County Council, Colr Ann Dillon Gallagher, said following a presentation of a plan for an upgrade and refurbishment of the centre.
Consultants Faber Maunsell presented the results of a feasibility study on the redevelopment of Sonairte to the area’s five councillors and council officials at the December meeting.
Mike Alcock of the consultancy firm said that Sonairte had the potential to be a “centre of excellence” which would help the local economy and promote tourism.
The councillors were told that the Sonairte group had restructured itself over the past 18 months. Some key people who had started up the centre had left, and others had now come on board.
The consultants expressed the view that the plan for the ‘eco-village’ to the west of Laytown - which was also presented at the December meeting - was “a really exciting development”, and it would now be possible to do something in terms of ecological living which would fit in very well with the Sonairte ideal.
The main focus of the consultants’ report centred on Sonairte’s future as a sustainable living centre, an education centre, and a sustainable energy centre.
The sustainable living aspect encompassed recycling, a shop/café, small business opportunities, farmers’ market, an organic garden and healthy environment.
Mr Alcock took the councillors on a ‘virtual tour’ of the centre as it stands, and outlined where the centre could be expanded to provide for upgraded facilities.
An education centre at Sonairte would include the development of an educational space with good quality classrooms, full-time staff, a part-time teacher and a classroom assistant, structured within a five-year plan.
It was important to get the primary level infrastructure in place and then perhaps the centre could be used for training teachers in ecological living, and it was possible the universities would eventually get involved, he said.
Dealing with the sustainable energy aspects of Sonairte, Mr Alcock said there should be a strong emphasis on renewable energy and he suggested that a famous Sonairte landmark - the wind turbine - should be replaced. “The wind turbine is often used as a beacon for Sonairte but it is not a very good beacon. It has never worked since the day it went in,” he said.
It was also extremely important that the concept of ‘explaining’ the Sonairte concept be improved. “We’re not trying to build a commercially viable centre. We are trying to build on what is already there. What is there has been built up by volunteers. We are not trying to take it away from volunteers.
“We are not trying for a commercially viable centre but rather a financially viable centre,” the consultant said.
He estimated that it could cost about e1.04 million to rebuild and refurbish the centre but he saw income coming in over a five-year period.
One question which had to be decided, he added, was the long-term ownership of the project - would it be the case that Sonairte ‘championed’ the centre, or would it be Meath County Council which ‘championed’ it.
Commenting on the report, Colr Ann Dillon Gallagher said that it was “very enlightening”. Colr Tom Kelly, who is a director of Sonairte, said that he could not take part in the discussion and said he would “reserve his position”.
Colr Dominic Hannigan raised the prospect that EU funding could be garnered in order to capitalise works on the centre.
It was certainly the case that the proximity of the Dublin-Belfast rail line would be a huge boost to the centre, he believed.
Michael Killeen of the Meath County Council executive said that the question arose as to who was going to bring the project forward. The ownership of the site would have to be resolved.
He expressed the view that the cost of refurbishing the centre was not “pie in the sky”, in fact, it was ‘small money’. “It would be remiss of Meath County Council if we did not go forward and get this project up and running,” he said.
Colr Dillon Gallagher said: “We would have no problem selling the idea because children just love it. Viability won’t be a problem. I think that people will come to it, not only from Ireland, but from abroad.”
Rockchapel gets the windmills it feels it doesn't deserve
Maria Herlihy in The Corkman tells another tale about windmills and planning:
RESIDENTS in Rockchapel who appealed the granting of six windmills at Foiladaun were “very disappointed” at An Bord Pleanala’s decision to signal the green light for the development.
However, the windmills are subject to 26 conditions and planning is now granted for five windmills as opposed to the original six.
The planned windmills, which are reportedly the highest in Europe, will have a hub height of 80 metres and blade diameter of 82 metres.
The decision to grant the windfarm on March 26, 2006 by Cork County Council to Kemar Limited of 3 Woods Place, York Street, Cork came despite some residents feeling they had received above and beyond their fair quota of windfarm development in the area, with planning granted for 57 windmills in Rockchapel.
One resident told The Corkman: “We are very disappointed as we lobbied very long and hard for this and put in a lot of work into this objection. It’s a shame it’s come to this.”
Another resident said: “The feeling is obviously one of disappointment but we acknowledge that An Bord Pleanala’s say is final and we have to go with that.”
In the decision reached by An Bord Pleanála, and viewed by The Corkman, it stated that the windfarm would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities or the landscape character of the area.
It was also stated that the development would not be likely to have a significant detrimental effect on the hen harrier species or its nesting or foraging habitat.
In the nine page document, the hen harrier raised its beak on more than one occasion and it was stated that the construction at the location shall only take place during dry weather with the months of April to July inclusive given. This was ordered so as to minimise the risk of soil erosion and to avoid disturbance to breeding hen harriers and their young.
No turbine is to be constructed within 500 metres of a known hen harrier nest. During the operation of the windfarm, any turbine with a new nest within 500 metres shall be decommissioned during the nesting period and the planning authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service shall be notified immediately.
Turbine four was omitted from the proposed development in the interest of preserving the upland blanket bog at the location.
Interestingly, the permission for the five turbines is for a period of 20 years from the date of commissioning of the turbines. The wind turbines and related ancillary structures shall then be removed, unless, prior to the end of this period planning permission shall have been granted for their retention for a further period.
The reason for the above, given by An Bord Pleanala, is to enable the re-assessment of the impact of the development, having regard to the changes of technology and design during the two decade time-frame.
Facilities shall be installed at the developers’ expense to minimise interference with communications, radio or television in the area and the noise levels measured externally during the operation of the development at the nearest noise sensitive location shall not exceed 5dB.
Previously, residents spoke to The Corkman and said their quality of life was fast dwindling due to the noise coming from existing windmills, which are lying adjacent to the now green lighted development.
RESIDENTS in Rockchapel who appealed the granting of six windmills at Foiladaun were “very disappointed” at An Bord Pleanala’s decision to signal the green light for the development.
However, the windmills are subject to 26 conditions and planning is now granted for five windmills as opposed to the original six.
The planned windmills, which are reportedly the highest in Europe, will have a hub height of 80 metres and blade diameter of 82 metres.
The decision to grant the windfarm on March 26, 2006 by Cork County Council to Kemar Limited of 3 Woods Place, York Street, Cork came despite some residents feeling they had received above and beyond their fair quota of windfarm development in the area, with planning granted for 57 windmills in Rockchapel.
One resident told The Corkman: “We are very disappointed as we lobbied very long and hard for this and put in a lot of work into this objection. It’s a shame it’s come to this.”
Another resident said: “The feeling is obviously one of disappointment but we acknowledge that An Bord Pleanala’s say is final and we have to go with that.”
In the decision reached by An Bord Pleanála, and viewed by The Corkman, it stated that the windfarm would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities or the landscape character of the area.
It was also stated that the development would not be likely to have a significant detrimental effect on the hen harrier species or its nesting or foraging habitat.
In the nine page document, the hen harrier raised its beak on more than one occasion and it was stated that the construction at the location shall only take place during dry weather with the months of April to July inclusive given. This was ordered so as to minimise the risk of soil erosion and to avoid disturbance to breeding hen harriers and their young.
No turbine is to be constructed within 500 metres of a known hen harrier nest. During the operation of the windfarm, any turbine with a new nest within 500 metres shall be decommissioned during the nesting period and the planning authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service shall be notified immediately.
Turbine four was omitted from the proposed development in the interest of preserving the upland blanket bog at the location.
Interestingly, the permission for the five turbines is for a period of 20 years from the date of commissioning of the turbines. The wind turbines and related ancillary structures shall then be removed, unless, prior to the end of this period planning permission shall have been granted for their retention for a further period.
The reason for the above, given by An Bord Pleanala, is to enable the re-assessment of the impact of the development, having regard to the changes of technology and design during the two decade time-frame.
Facilities shall be installed at the developers’ expense to minimise interference with communications, radio or television in the area and the noise levels measured externally during the operation of the development at the nearest noise sensitive location shall not exceed 5dB.
Previously, residents spoke to The Corkman and said their quality of life was fast dwindling due to the noise coming from existing windmills, which are lying adjacent to the now green lighted development.
Dick to discuss Delgany?
The Bray People tells us of an invite to Dick Roche, Minister for the Environment, to discuss the Draft Greystones/Delgany Local Area Plan.
Delgany Community Council has extended an New Year invitation to Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to meet with them in early January to discuss the amendments made by Wicklow County councillors to the Local Area Plan for Greystones/Delgany.
The Community Council say that they are very concerned that Wicklow County Councillors adopted 'unwarranted' amendments to the Greystones/Delgany Local Area Plan with out considering the impact on the local community or the opposition of the Community Council and other groups to them.
The Delgany Group has said it believes that it is clear to many Greystones and Delgany residents that these amendments starkly contradict the guidelines of the consultants draft LAP and also the recommendations of Wicklow County Council planners.
Evelyn Cawley, on behalf of the Delgany Community Council, attended a meeting before Christmas with Cllr. David Grant for the Minister, outlined the concerns of the Community Council. She stated that there are significant local concerns regarding the changes and the amendments which represent 'unsustainable development and bad planning'.
'Because these amendments ignore good planning principles,' she said, 'they will have detrimental effects on Delgany and Greystones.There are no significant employment opportunities in the area so all this residential development will result in car bases commuting and the environment will suffer as well as the quality of people's lives.'
The Community Council have documented their concerns to the Minister in a letter and are hoping to have a meeting with him in January.
Delgany Community Council has extended an New Year invitation to Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to meet with them in early January to discuss the amendments made by Wicklow County councillors to the Local Area Plan for Greystones/Delgany.
The Community Council say that they are very concerned that Wicklow County Councillors adopted 'unwarranted' amendments to the Greystones/Delgany Local Area Plan with out considering the impact on the local community or the opposition of the Community Council and other groups to them.
The Delgany Group has said it believes that it is clear to many Greystones and Delgany residents that these amendments starkly contradict the guidelines of the consultants draft LAP and also the recommendations of Wicklow County Council planners.
Evelyn Cawley, on behalf of the Delgany Community Council, attended a meeting before Christmas with Cllr. David Grant for the Minister, outlined the concerns of the Community Council. She stated that there are significant local concerns regarding the changes and the amendments which represent 'unsustainable development and bad planning'.
'Because these amendments ignore good planning principles,' she said, 'they will have detrimental effects on Delgany and Greystones.There are no significant employment opportunities in the area so all this residential development will result in car bases commuting and the environment will suffer as well as the quality of people's lives.'
The Community Council have documented their concerns to the Minister in a letter and are hoping to have a meeting with him in January.
Only locals allowed in Fingal
Tim Healy in the Irish Independent delivers bad news for prople who want a one-off house in Fingal:
PEOPLE expecting to buy €350,000 sites to build a dream home in Dublin's rural hinterland have been warned only locals will be allowed to live in them.
Fingal Council, which operates a "locals only" policy for one-off housing in its mainly rural administrative area of north county Dublin, has written to at least one estate agent selling such sites informing him of the policy.
The reminder came as councillors last night rejected an attempt to rezone a piece of green belt land at Gormanstown, near Balbriggan, for what supporters said were "third generation" locals.
Permission
The land, at Tobersool Lane, would provide "a couple of houses" for local families who have had difficulty getting planning permission, local Independent Cllr May McKeon said. Quarter-acre sites were being sold for around €350,000 to "city slickers", Cllr Michael Kennedy (FF) said.
But Fingal Co Manager, David O'Connor, said the auctioneer advertising those €350,000 sites had been written to and told planning permission to build was subject to the council's rural housing policy. Buyers must have a connection usually through farming or agriculture-related job.
PEOPLE expecting to buy €350,000 sites to build a dream home in Dublin's rural hinterland have been warned only locals will be allowed to live in them.
Fingal Council, which operates a "locals only" policy for one-off housing in its mainly rural administrative area of north county Dublin, has written to at least one estate agent selling such sites informing him of the policy.
The reminder came as councillors last night rejected an attempt to rezone a piece of green belt land at Gormanstown, near Balbriggan, for what supporters said were "third generation" locals.
Permission
The land, at Tobersool Lane, would provide "a couple of houses" for local families who have had difficulty getting planning permission, local Independent Cllr May McKeon said. Quarter-acre sites were being sold for around €350,000 to "city slickers", Cllr Michael Kennedy (FF) said.
But Fingal Co Manager, David O'Connor, said the auctioneer advertising those €350,000 sites had been written to and told planning permission to build was subject to the council's rural housing policy. Buyers must have a connection usually through farming or agriculture-related job.
PLANS for a new town of 12,000 people on south of Drogheda,
Angela McCormick had this great Drogheda story:
PLANS for a new town of 12,000 people on south of Drogheda, with the new E30 million stadium for Drogheda United at its heart, were unveiled this week.
It will see some 5,000 homes built on 360 acres of land on the Duleek road stretching from Platin to the Europa Hotel.
Dublin developer Bill Doyle told a meeting of east Meath Councillors he will provide more than E50 million in sports and road infrastructure if the project is approved.
Along with the new stadium, a ‘David Lloyd style’ tennis academy with six tennis courts is also on the way.
‘Drogheda United is leading the town into city status,’ a thrilled Drogs Chairman Chris Byrne told the Drogheda Independent
Confirming the deal Bill Doyle said his presentation included promises to build a 10,000 seater stadium, plus a 46,000 square foot leisure facility catering for all sports that includes all weather pitches, a 25 meter swimming pool, a tennis academy, a sports crèche and a top class gym.
The first 2,500 homeowners in the new town will be offered a year’s free membership of the facilities.
Doyle told the DI his plans include spending E22 million on a four and a half kilometer road linking the old N1 to the M1 motorway.
‘This is a ten year development. We have designated sites for three schools, as well as shops, offices and retail outlets. The social infrastructure will be built in conjunction with the houses and will includes community facilities and a medical centre,’ said Mr Doyle.
Plans for the development are expected to be lodged with Meath County Council by February 28.
Though Meath is the planning authority involved, Drogheda Borough Council has been fully briefed on the proposal.
Town Clerk Des Foley said it is a ‘very welcome’ development.
‘It is the start of the growth of Drogheda. We expect the population north and south of town to double in the next 20 years. It ties in with the planning strategy for the greater Drogheda area that the three local authorities have been working on for the past two years,’ he said.
Doyle is investing E110 million in the scheme which is a joint venture between Doyle Developments, Buvinda Developments, Murphy Developers and the Farrelly Brothers. The project is designed by Dublin architect Frank Crowley and UK company Sports Facilities International.
Drogheda United Chairman Vincent Hoey said while the stadium will be provided free the club plans to invest a further E9 million in the facility. ‘It is vital we get this stadium. We have been told by the FAI we must have new grounds by 2008,’ he said.
East Meath Councillor Dominic Hannigan however sounded a note of caution.
‘This will be add 30% to the local population and have a huge transport implications. A Julianstown bypass may be necessary.
‘To sanction another 5,000 homes east Meath councillors must be satisfied the community will be very well served,’ said the Labour councillor.
His Fianna Fail colleague Cllr Pat Boshell believes it is an ‘excellent proposal.
PLANS for a new town of 12,000 people on south of Drogheda, with the new E30 million stadium for Drogheda United at its heart, were unveiled this week.
It will see some 5,000 homes built on 360 acres of land on the Duleek road stretching from Platin to the Europa Hotel.
Dublin developer Bill Doyle told a meeting of east Meath Councillors he will provide more than E50 million in sports and road infrastructure if the project is approved.
Along with the new stadium, a ‘David Lloyd style’ tennis academy with six tennis courts is also on the way.
‘Drogheda United is leading the town into city status,’ a thrilled Drogs Chairman Chris Byrne told the Drogheda Independent
Confirming the deal Bill Doyle said his presentation included promises to build a 10,000 seater stadium, plus a 46,000 square foot leisure facility catering for all sports that includes all weather pitches, a 25 meter swimming pool, a tennis academy, a sports crèche and a top class gym.
The first 2,500 homeowners in the new town will be offered a year’s free membership of the facilities.
Doyle told the DI his plans include spending E22 million on a four and a half kilometer road linking the old N1 to the M1 motorway.
‘This is a ten year development. We have designated sites for three schools, as well as shops, offices and retail outlets. The social infrastructure will be built in conjunction with the houses and will includes community facilities and a medical centre,’ said Mr Doyle.
Plans for the development are expected to be lodged with Meath County Council by February 28.
Though Meath is the planning authority involved, Drogheda Borough Council has been fully briefed on the proposal.
Town Clerk Des Foley said it is a ‘very welcome’ development.
‘It is the start of the growth of Drogheda. We expect the population north and south of town to double in the next 20 years. It ties in with the planning strategy for the greater Drogheda area that the three local authorities have been working on for the past two years,’ he said.
Doyle is investing E110 million in the scheme which is a joint venture between Doyle Developments, Buvinda Developments, Murphy Developers and the Farrelly Brothers. The project is designed by Dublin architect Frank Crowley and UK company Sports Facilities International.
Drogheda United Chairman Vincent Hoey said while the stadium will be provided free the club plans to invest a further E9 million in the facility. ‘It is vital we get this stadium. We have been told by the FAI we must have new grounds by 2008,’ he said.
East Meath Councillor Dominic Hannigan however sounded a note of caution.
‘This will be add 30% to the local population and have a huge transport implications. A Julianstown bypass may be necessary.
‘To sanction another 5,000 homes east Meath councillors must be satisfied the community will be very well served,’ said the Labour councillor.
His Fianna Fail colleague Cllr Pat Boshell believes it is an ‘excellent proposal.
The Tara saga continues in The Irish Times ...
It has taken me a few days to get this story up as my web link has been down. The next few posts will be bits I have picked up from the papers in the last few days. Each is referenced back to the original paper. Brendan.
The Tara issue was back in the news over the weekend with an article by Frank McDonald in The Irish Times:
The Save Tara campaign has urged Opposition TDs to call a halt to the "premature clearing" of trees in the Gabhra Valley, east of the Hill of Tara in Co Meath, and to reroute the M3 motorway "before we pave over history, literature and archaeology".
In a statement yesterday, it said that the public should visit the sites where trees had been felled to verify - contrary to claims by its proponents - that the motorway would be closer to Tara than the existing N3.
Save Tara said that the tree-felling at Rath Lugh, near Lismullin, and at Blundelstown "shows without doubt that the new road and the planned interchange are closer to the top of the hill than the existing road".
Noting that the Gabhra river runs beside the N3, it said that the motorway would drive over it.
Gabhra means "white mare", and horses are associated with the kingship of Tara. Horse bones were found on the hill.
The valley was associated with the deaths of the Fianna. "Here is the site of the Battle of Gabhra, where the King of Tara battled with the Fianna and both he an the famous champion Oscar were killed along with many others," the statement said.
"Rath Lugh contains the name of the old Irish god Lugh, who took over his kingship on the top of the Hill of Tara and is celebrated in the Festival of Lúnasa. It was one of the outer defensive forts of Tara, and the present route will cut it away from its natural centre. This extraordinary rath would then sit at the edge of a motorway, completely out of context."
The statement said that three Tara experts had warned of this "rather ignominious end for a once proud and important monument". In a paper in 2004, Joe Fenwick, Conor Newman and Edel Bhreathnach said that the M3 would "destroy the spatial and visual integrity of the archaeological and historical landscape of Tara as well as removing from it key component monuments".
The Tara issue was back in the news over the weekend with an article by Frank McDonald in The Irish Times:
The Save Tara campaign has urged Opposition TDs to call a halt to the "premature clearing" of trees in the Gabhra Valley, east of the Hill of Tara in Co Meath, and to reroute the M3 motorway "before we pave over history, literature and archaeology".
In a statement yesterday, it said that the public should visit the sites where trees had been felled to verify - contrary to claims by its proponents - that the motorway would be closer to Tara than the existing N3.
Save Tara said that the tree-felling at Rath Lugh, near Lismullin, and at Blundelstown "shows without doubt that the new road and the planned interchange are closer to the top of the hill than the existing road".
Noting that the Gabhra river runs beside the N3, it said that the motorway would drive over it.
Gabhra means "white mare", and horses are associated with the kingship of Tara. Horse bones were found on the hill.
The valley was associated with the deaths of the Fianna. "Here is the site of the Battle of Gabhra, where the King of Tara battled with the Fianna and both he an the famous champion Oscar were killed along with many others," the statement said.
"Rath Lugh contains the name of the old Irish god Lugh, who took over his kingship on the top of the Hill of Tara and is celebrated in the Festival of Lúnasa. It was one of the outer defensive forts of Tara, and the present route will cut it away from its natural centre. This extraordinary rath would then sit at the edge of a motorway, completely out of context."
The statement said that three Tara experts had warned of this "rather ignominious end for a once proud and important monument". In a paper in 2004, Joe Fenwick, Conor Newman and Edel Bhreathnach said that the M3 would "destroy the spatial and visual integrity of the archaeological and historical landscape of Tara as well as removing from it key component monuments".
Dublin Coastal Development "The Biggest Construction Project in the History of the State"
The development will be constructed in five phases:
1. The construction of the South Wall motorway to the proposed development site in Dublin bay.
2. The construction of three artificial islands with a total surface area of over 12 square kilometers.
3. Infrastructure finalised. The tracks for the luas link tramway are laid. The completion of the link to the East Point Toll bridge and the N11.
4. The construction of the impressive central business district, the hub of commerce and industry.
5. The construction of the residential areas. The 2 tiers of apartments and villas. Over 42 thousand separate residences.
See more details :http://www.dublincoastaldevelopment.com/development.html
1. The construction of the South Wall motorway to the proposed development site in Dublin bay.
2. The construction of three artificial islands with a total surface area of over 12 square kilometers.
3. Infrastructure finalised. The tracks for the luas link tramway are laid. The completion of the link to the East Point Toll bridge and the N11.
4. The construction of the impressive central business district, the hub of commerce and industry.
5. The construction of the residential areas. The 2 tiers of apartments and villas. Over 42 thousand separate residences.
See more details :http://www.dublincoastaldevelopment.com/development.html
New School for Wicklow
Plans for Wicklow town's new 1,000-student secondary school have taken a step forward after County Wicklow VEC lodged an application for outline planning permission for the site at Burkeen, Wicklow.
The application is currently being considered by planners at Wicklow County Council, who are due to make a decision by February 17.
see: http://www.unison.ie/wicklow_people/stories.php3?ca=34&si=1749491&issue_id=15069
This article has been in the Wicklow People all Week !
The application is currently being considered by planners at Wicklow County Council, who are due to make a decision by February 17.
see: http://www.unison.ie/wicklow_people/stories.php3?ca=34&si=1749491&issue_id=15069
This article has been in the Wicklow People all Week !
Ireland's National Biodiversity Plan
I had an email this morning asking about Ireland's National Biodiversity Plan. The good news is that it is available to read online (I have provided the easiest link below), the bad news is that most planners are not that impressed by it. Have a read, tell me what you think:
http://www.botanicgardens.ie/gspc/nbp.htm
http://www.botanicgardens.ie/gspc/nbp.htm
Sunday, 7 January 2007
Solstice Arts Centre
Had a look at this building by Grafton Architects at the weekend. See what do you think? Cick the following link:
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/meath/navan/solstice_arts_centre.html
For those who can't make it to this link. Here's the review:
The space includes a 320-seat theater, three visual-arts areas and a cafe bar. At a cost of 13.5 million euro, Solstice is now hailed as one of the Republic's most impressive arts venues outside of Dublin. It was funded by a grant of €2.9m from the Department of Arts Sport and Tourism, some local contributions and the significant balance from Meath County Council and Navan Town Council. Originally it was primarily meant to facilitate a theatre building and courthouse, but over the course of its development it emerged as a hybrid of interchangeable spaces appropriate also to visual art. The centre was designed to reinstate the centre of the town and is intended to operate as a civic monument for the people of Navan and elsewhere.
The sloping ground and the geometry of the site have contributed to the dynamic form of the building. A civic space occupies the southern edge of the site. This space forms the main entrance to the new facility. The theatre space is located to take advantage of the sloping site and creates an intimate public room with a unique character. The fly tower is integrated into the roof while actors� dressing rooms and scene dock are located at the lower ground floor level.
The arts centre is called Solstice a name that references the ancient rituals associated with the county and the light that the arts bring to this community.
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/meath/navan/solstice_arts_centre.html
For those who can't make it to this link. Here's the review:
The space includes a 320-seat theater, three visual-arts areas and a cafe bar. At a cost of 13.5 million euro, Solstice is now hailed as one of the Republic's most impressive arts venues outside of Dublin. It was funded by a grant of €2.9m from the Department of Arts Sport and Tourism, some local contributions and the significant balance from Meath County Council and Navan Town Council. Originally it was primarily meant to facilitate a theatre building and courthouse, but over the course of its development it emerged as a hybrid of interchangeable spaces appropriate also to visual art. The centre was designed to reinstate the centre of the town and is intended to operate as a civic monument for the people of Navan and elsewhere.
The sloping ground and the geometry of the site have contributed to the dynamic form of the building. A civic space occupies the southern edge of the site. This space forms the main entrance to the new facility. The theatre space is located to take advantage of the sloping site and creates an intimate public room with a unique character. The fly tower is integrated into the roof while actors� dressing rooms and scene dock are located at the lower ground floor level.
The arts centre is called Solstice a name that references the ancient rituals associated with the county and the light that the arts bring to this community.
New Harbour Plans on Display this week
See previous note. I forgot to say that the people of Greystones have three weeks in which to examine the new proposals for the development of housing and a marina at Greystones harbour. The plans went on display on 4 January and the public have until 29m January to examine the new proposals and submit their opinions to An Bord Pleanala.
The plans have not changed significantly from the proposals which were so comprehensively rejected by the community last Spring. Some of the apartments have been moved and the overall number of apartments has been reduced by 8. The height of the blocks has not been altered. The main concerns for the community appear to be visual intrusiveness, failure to respect the character of the harbour area, loss of public amenities, traffic congestion and issues arising from disturbance of the dump.
Copies of the new plans are available on CD or in printed form from Greystones Town Council offices or Greystones Library. The CD costs €5 and the printed version €50. However a copy is available to inspect free of charge. Unlike the last time it is not expected that there will be a large public exhibition.
Submissions on the plans must be sent to:
The Secretary
An Bord Pleanala
64 Marlborough St.
Dublin 1
The plans have not changed significantly from the proposals which were so comprehensively rejected by the community last Spring. Some of the apartments have been moved and the overall number of apartments has been reduced by 8. The height of the blocks has not been altered. The main concerns for the community appear to be visual intrusiveness, failure to respect the character of the harbour area, loss of public amenities, traffic congestion and issues arising from disturbance of the dump.
Copies of the new plans are available on CD or in printed form from Greystones Town Council offices or Greystones Library. The CD costs €5 and the printed version €50. However a copy is available to inspect free of charge. Unlike the last time it is not expected that there will be a large public exhibition.
Submissions on the plans must be sent to:
The Secretary
An Bord Pleanala
64 Marlborough St.
Dublin 1
Greystones Marina Plan = Unprecedented Opposition
Did anyone see the article “Wicklow group to endorse election candidate” by Ruadhan MacCormaic in the Irish Times on Saturday? Since reading it, I’ve been thinking again about the incredible number of objections there are to the Greystones marina plan – approx’ 6,000 – and I have been trying to put it into context. Preliminary results from Census 2006 indicate the population of Greystones Electoral Division is 7,106. This means that 6 out of 7 people over 18 in Greystones (assuming most objectors live in Greystones) are opposed to the plan. This begs the question: “What level of objection doe sit take in Ireland for a planning application to be refused?” These results are almost those of a plebiscite (A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal), i.e. the results suggest that if every person was asked to vote on the proposal tomorrow, they would all vote no. Therefore, when the Greystones Protection and Development Association states that it believes Wickow County Council is not representing the views of local people on this issue, it is hard to argue otherwise. That there are plans to run an independent candidate in the general election on this issue is no surprise.
The quality of the Greystones proposal must be assessed in light of the fact that more people have objected to it than to the Ringsend incinerator proposal, which is located in a more densely populated part of the country.
Those who wish to follow the course of the Greystones proposal as is passes through An Bord Pleanala’s assessment can follow this link:
http://www.pleanala.ie/data1/searchdetails.asp?id=6178713&caseno=EF2016
This case is due to be decided by 30-01-2007.
The quality of the Greystones proposal must be assessed in light of the fact that more people have objected to it than to the Ringsend incinerator proposal, which is located in a more densely populated part of the country.
Those who wish to follow the course of the Greystones proposal as is passes through An Bord Pleanala’s assessment can follow this link:
http://www.pleanala.ie/data1/searchdetails.asp?id=6178713&caseno=EF2016
This case is due to be decided by 30-01-2007.
Saturday, 6 January 2007
Happy architecture ...
I finally managed to read this book which has been on my shelf for months. Here's a reviewby Hugh Pearman:
Do buildings talk to us? Can they communicate something directly to our psyches? If so, and if we can learn that language, then how come there is so much awful architecture around us? Shouldn't it be possible, after all this time, to guarantee that a new building will be both beautiful and useful?
Well, clearly not. Nor does Alain de Botton's latest book make itself a hostage to fortune by attempting a new list of commandments on how to build. Too many before him have failed in that task. The book is more in the nature of a quest, as much a journey through its author's mind as through the matters of style, patronage or typology which are the more usual concerns of writers on architecture.
De Botton tries a different tack. He wants to get into the bones of architecture and find out what makes it go right or wrong: not so much aesthetically, though that is clearly important, as psychologically. Because our notions of beauty constantly shift. What is ugly to one generation is lovely to the next, and vice-versa.
But certain buildings share something. At one end of the spectrum you get the Royal Crescent in Bath, say. At the other end you might find one of the better buildings by Norman Foster, or Swiss superstars Herzog and de Meuron. Somehow these buildings can talk to each other across the centuries, and fulfil some need in us. We are satisfied by them, they feel right in some way. But what way is that?
De Botton ponders why it is that the flexible rules of Palladian neo-classicism, so successful in Britain from the 17th to the 19th centuries, should somehow not offer the same all-purpose solution today? If adhering to the rules laid down in the Italian Renaissance by Andrea Palladio were all it took to guarantee excellence, how come a late 1980s Quinlan Terrry villa in Regent's Park, which follows these rules, is so uninspiring? Come to that, why it is that a faithful reproduction of Old Amsterdam, built in Japan, should be so unconvincing? (clue: it's not in the Netherlands).
At time the slightly artless de Botton style grates somewhat, but mostly it is refreshing. He tackles the troublesome business of taste, for instance, not as one promoting or defending a given position, but simply as someone who would like to know what it's all about. Given that his own known personal preference is for modernism, this attempt at neutrality is commendable.
He suggests how and why different people like different things ("We can imagine that a whitewashed rational loft, which seems to us punishingly ordered, might be home to someone unusually oppressed by intimations of anarchy"). Similarly an exuberant, colourful home might well be the reaction of a unimaginative bureaucrat to his dull, ordered existence. Well, maybe. But nobody can argue with de Botton's assertion that "A diversity of styles is a natural consequence of the manifold nature of our inner needs."
For me the book comes alive when de Botton, as emotional as he is intellectual, wears his heart on his sleeve. He describes situations - a family row, a fraught meeting - in terms that can only elicit sympathy.
"Imagine a man in an especially tormented period, sitting in the waiting room of a Georgian townhouse before a meeting...he looks up at the ceiling and recognises that at some point in the 18th century, someone took the trouble to design a complicated but harmonious moulding...The ceiling is a repository of the qualities the man would like to have in himself: it manages to be both playful and serious, subtle and clear, formal and unpretentious."
So is this Adam ceiling any help to this, ah, acquaintance of our philosopher narrrator? Not much. "He is embroiled in professional complications which he cannot resolve, he is permanently tired, a sour expression is etched onto his face, and he has begun shouting intemperately at strangers - when all he wants to explain is that he is in pain. The ceiling is the man's true home, to which he cannot find his way back. There are tears in his eyes when an assistant enters the room to usher him to his meeting."
Indeed, the quest for the soul of architecture does at times seem a thankless task. I am with de Botton when he remarks that beauty and apparent perfection are saddening things - either because we cannot attain them, or because we know that they are doomed to disintegration and decay. Entropy is the final arbiter.
He seems irked somewhat by icon-buildings ("Architecture should have the confidence and the kindness to be a little boring.") Most of today's "signature" architects, from Frank Gehry to Rem Koolhaas, are tellingly ignored. There are exceptions. Foster's Canary Wharf Underground station is compared to the Alhambra for its "lightness in the face of downward pressure" while he commends a Herzog and de Meuron house for its harmonious juxtaposition of materials.
In the end, he suggests, good architecture comes down to such harmony. "The balance we approve of in architecture, and which we anoint with the word 'beautiful', alludes to a state that, on a psychological level, we can describe as mental health or happiness." Echoing (though not acknowledging) Churchill's famous aphorism "We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us", de Botton suggests that we project ourselves into architecture and that consequently what we see in it explains more about us than it.
So bad architecture is a failure of psychology while good architecture - what we call beautiful - is "the child of the coherent relationship between parts."
Nobody could claim that these are great revelations. But they have the virtue of being true. Those who control our built environment would do well to take heed. And those who love de Botton's continued chronicling of his sometimes anguished mental state will be delighted.
De Botton website: http://www.alaindebotton.com
Foster andPartners website: http://www.fosterandpartners.com
Do buildings talk to us? Can they communicate something directly to our psyches? If so, and if we can learn that language, then how come there is so much awful architecture around us? Shouldn't it be possible, after all this time, to guarantee that a new building will be both beautiful and useful?
Well, clearly not. Nor does Alain de Botton's latest book make itself a hostage to fortune by attempting a new list of commandments on how to build. Too many before him have failed in that task. The book is more in the nature of a quest, as much a journey through its author's mind as through the matters of style, patronage or typology which are the more usual concerns of writers on architecture.
De Botton tries a different tack. He wants to get into the bones of architecture and find out what makes it go right or wrong: not so much aesthetically, though that is clearly important, as psychologically. Because our notions of beauty constantly shift. What is ugly to one generation is lovely to the next, and vice-versa.
But certain buildings share something. At one end of the spectrum you get the Royal Crescent in Bath, say. At the other end you might find one of the better buildings by Norman Foster, or Swiss superstars Herzog and de Meuron. Somehow these buildings can talk to each other across the centuries, and fulfil some need in us. We are satisfied by them, they feel right in some way. But what way is that?
De Botton ponders why it is that the flexible rules of Palladian neo-classicism, so successful in Britain from the 17th to the 19th centuries, should somehow not offer the same all-purpose solution today? If adhering to the rules laid down in the Italian Renaissance by Andrea Palladio were all it took to guarantee excellence, how come a late 1980s Quinlan Terrry villa in Regent's Park, which follows these rules, is so uninspiring? Come to that, why it is that a faithful reproduction of Old Amsterdam, built in Japan, should be so unconvincing? (clue: it's not in the Netherlands).
At time the slightly artless de Botton style grates somewhat, but mostly it is refreshing. He tackles the troublesome business of taste, for instance, not as one promoting or defending a given position, but simply as someone who would like to know what it's all about. Given that his own known personal preference is for modernism, this attempt at neutrality is commendable.
He suggests how and why different people like different things ("We can imagine that a whitewashed rational loft, which seems to us punishingly ordered, might be home to someone unusually oppressed by intimations of anarchy"). Similarly an exuberant, colourful home might well be the reaction of a unimaginative bureaucrat to his dull, ordered existence. Well, maybe. But nobody can argue with de Botton's assertion that "A diversity of styles is a natural consequence of the manifold nature of our inner needs."
For me the book comes alive when de Botton, as emotional as he is intellectual, wears his heart on his sleeve. He describes situations - a family row, a fraught meeting - in terms that can only elicit sympathy.
"Imagine a man in an especially tormented period, sitting in the waiting room of a Georgian townhouse before a meeting...he looks up at the ceiling and recognises that at some point in the 18th century, someone took the trouble to design a complicated but harmonious moulding...The ceiling is a repository of the qualities the man would like to have in himself: it manages to be both playful and serious, subtle and clear, formal and unpretentious."
So is this Adam ceiling any help to this, ah, acquaintance of our philosopher narrrator? Not much. "He is embroiled in professional complications which he cannot resolve, he is permanently tired, a sour expression is etched onto his face, and he has begun shouting intemperately at strangers - when all he wants to explain is that he is in pain. The ceiling is the man's true home, to which he cannot find his way back. There are tears in his eyes when an assistant enters the room to usher him to his meeting."
Indeed, the quest for the soul of architecture does at times seem a thankless task. I am with de Botton when he remarks that beauty and apparent perfection are saddening things - either because we cannot attain them, or because we know that they are doomed to disintegration and decay. Entropy is the final arbiter.
He seems irked somewhat by icon-buildings ("Architecture should have the confidence and the kindness to be a little boring.") Most of today's "signature" architects, from Frank Gehry to Rem Koolhaas, are tellingly ignored. There are exceptions. Foster's Canary Wharf Underground station is compared to the Alhambra for its "lightness in the face of downward pressure" while he commends a Herzog and de Meuron house for its harmonious juxtaposition of materials.
In the end, he suggests, good architecture comes down to such harmony. "The balance we approve of in architecture, and which we anoint with the word 'beautiful', alludes to a state that, on a psychological level, we can describe as mental health or happiness." Echoing (though not acknowledging) Churchill's famous aphorism "We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us", de Botton suggests that we project ourselves into architecture and that consequently what we see in it explains more about us than it.
So bad architecture is a failure of psychology while good architecture - what we call beautiful - is "the child of the coherent relationship between parts."
Nobody could claim that these are great revelations. But they have the virtue of being true. Those who control our built environment would do well to take heed. And those who love de Botton's continued chronicling of his sometimes anguished mental state will be delighted.
De Botton website: http://www.alaindebotton.com
Foster andPartners website: http://www.fosterandpartners.com
Does the RIAI condone the President’s Column?
I sat down to read the latest edition of the RIAI journal ‘Architecture Ireland’ last night. Its presentation gives the, in some cases, deserved, impression Irish architecture is at the cutting edge, with cleverly photographed contemporary architecture featured on the cover. The table of contents looks impressive and lead me to the obituary of Sam Stephenson, which I found genuinely interesting. The treatment of recent examples of Irish architecture in a range of articles is excellent. I also think the publishing of excerpts from the best architecture theses of recent students is a great idea. For the most part this is a serious magazine for the architectural profession and one which, as a planner, I always try to read.
Where this edition, and the previous, falls down is at the President’s Column on page 5. Here the incumbent, Mr James Pike, Partner in one of the largest architect firms in the country, appears to have decided to take a very large brush, brandished it in front of the planners of Ireland, and to have tarred planning and planners with the words: “Irish planning is crap” in a way that can only be taken as offensive to the planning profession.
Given the current political climate for planning, documented in the recent book ‘Chaos at the Crossroads’, it is not surprising that there are some bad examples of Irish planning. This does not mean all Irish planning is bad. In fact, follow the course of Irish planning since about 1910, and it is obvious that the progress planning has made, including developing and successfully instituting a statutory planning process for the entire country since 1963, and producing recurrent land use plans which now provide policies for every part of the country, is near on amazing. Mr Pike’s views which include, if his recent comments in Venice are read in detail, a possible scrapping of the current planning system are irresponsible and short-sighted, representing an attack on what planners do and why they do it.
Mr Pike’s comments read like notes from a first year lecture in planning to undergraduate students. The lecturer asks: “so, what do you think of planning?” Response from cider-smelling students: “shite”. What planners learn while undertaking their – often many – qualifications, which are required to get a job as a planner, is: we do our best in the face of, and, often in spite of, an incredibly well organised development industry (both public and private) of which I am part. Mr Pike’s column, when read by a planner (public or private), comes across as so simplistic as to be clichéd. It has become all too easy to grab headlines with some story of bad planning and for the RIAI to support such comments reduces the credibility and certainly the newsworthiness of its journal.
Planners do not often defend themselves, as most work for Planning Authorities or An Bord Pleanala, which don’t permit it. Those few planners trying to represent the profession, the IPI and RTPI, do so in the face of enormous negativity from those who do not understand the inherent complexities, political requirements, Development Plan policies, and insistency and resourcefulness of the development industry. For the RIAI to publish Mr Pike’s ongoing negative comments about Irish planning in edition after edition, is for it to appear naïve and ill informed, when its members clearly understand the ‘why’ of bad planning. The RIAI should focus on areas where it has specialist knowledge, where changes are possible: not slag planning as a whole – an incredibly complex and inherently political subject.
There are few in the development industry who can claim they are not part of the problems which are endemic in Irish planning – as perceived by the public. An example of this would be Mr Pike’s firm’s own high density housing developments, which now litter Dublin and other parts of the country. Mr Pike has been and still is a firm proponent of very high density residential development and continues to be under the auspices of the Urban Forum. Campaigning by the development lobby, including by the RIAI in the late 1990s, led to almost every Development Plan in the country supporting such development up to present day. Since then, many communities have learned the meaning of high density development on their doorsteps and have tried to oppose it. Such developments have often been built on what was once institutional land. The communities adjacent to such development quickly become cynical about planners and architects. Fact is, whatever example is taken: rural housing, urban housing, offices, tall buildings, mixed use developments, shopping centres, roads, wind farms, you name it: all bad planning is designed by someone and considered fine by some and shite by others. It’s a matter of opinion.
In his Column, Mr Pike appears to be allowing his personal views of planning, his ‘opinion’ to influence his comments when he should be representing architects. Whatever the reason for driving another nail into planning, the RIAI should stop doing it and stick to stories which are specific to architecture.
How many Irish architects would accept a President’s column from an Irish planner which said: “all Irish architecture is terrible”. All Irish architecture is not bad; all Irish planning is not bad. When teased at parties about how bad much of Ireland’s architecture is, architects have a get-out clause, they say: “Most Irish buildings are not architect designed” (Note: The Building Control Bill plans to alter this, so this clause will not last much longer). If planners have a similar retort, it might be: “Most examples of bad planning in Ireland are produced by those who clam to be architects”. If the RIAI should do anything, it should accept its role as part of the development industry; recognising that for many communities, the designs of its members often represent examples of bad planning (even if they are later medal winners – ask Joe Public about Busarus), as evidenced by the scale of objections to many architect’s proposals. The soapbox is not the right place for any architect to stand when talking about planning, as architects benefit daily from planning decisions: both good and bad.
Planners accept criticism from many sources, but from the RIAI President, it seems unnecessary and hypocritical. We are both, architects and planners, part of the same planning process, some days we love it and some days we hate it. We try each day to make it better and we should do so together.
The website for ‘Architecture Ireland’ states: “ARCHITECTURE IRELAND is the Official Journal of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland founded in 1839, is the governing body of the profession in Ireland. ARCHITECTURE IRELAND’S main objective is to give the widest possible coverage to both Irish architecture and to Irish architects”. I suggest that this aim should once again be brought into focus, rather than entering the taxidriver-like debate about the state of Irish planning.
See: http://www.architectureireland.ie/inside.html
Brendan Buck
6 January 2007
Where this edition, and the previous, falls down is at the President’s Column on page 5. Here the incumbent, Mr James Pike, Partner in one of the largest architect firms in the country, appears to have decided to take a very large brush, brandished it in front of the planners of Ireland, and to have tarred planning and planners with the words: “Irish planning is crap” in a way that can only be taken as offensive to the planning profession.
Given the current political climate for planning, documented in the recent book ‘Chaos at the Crossroads’, it is not surprising that there are some bad examples of Irish planning. This does not mean all Irish planning is bad. In fact, follow the course of Irish planning since about 1910, and it is obvious that the progress planning has made, including developing and successfully instituting a statutory planning process for the entire country since 1963, and producing recurrent land use plans which now provide policies for every part of the country, is near on amazing. Mr Pike’s views which include, if his recent comments in Venice are read in detail, a possible scrapping of the current planning system are irresponsible and short-sighted, representing an attack on what planners do and why they do it.
Mr Pike’s comments read like notes from a first year lecture in planning to undergraduate students. The lecturer asks: “so, what do you think of planning?” Response from cider-smelling students: “shite”. What planners learn while undertaking their – often many – qualifications, which are required to get a job as a planner, is: we do our best in the face of, and, often in spite of, an incredibly well organised development industry (both public and private) of which I am part. Mr Pike’s column, when read by a planner (public or private), comes across as so simplistic as to be clichéd. It has become all too easy to grab headlines with some story of bad planning and for the RIAI to support such comments reduces the credibility and certainly the newsworthiness of its journal.
Planners do not often defend themselves, as most work for Planning Authorities or An Bord Pleanala, which don’t permit it. Those few planners trying to represent the profession, the IPI and RTPI, do so in the face of enormous negativity from those who do not understand the inherent complexities, political requirements, Development Plan policies, and insistency and resourcefulness of the development industry. For the RIAI to publish Mr Pike’s ongoing negative comments about Irish planning in edition after edition, is for it to appear naïve and ill informed, when its members clearly understand the ‘why’ of bad planning. The RIAI should focus on areas where it has specialist knowledge, where changes are possible: not slag planning as a whole – an incredibly complex and inherently political subject.
There are few in the development industry who can claim they are not part of the problems which are endemic in Irish planning – as perceived by the public. An example of this would be Mr Pike’s firm’s own high density housing developments, which now litter Dublin and other parts of the country. Mr Pike has been and still is a firm proponent of very high density residential development and continues to be under the auspices of the Urban Forum. Campaigning by the development lobby, including by the RIAI in the late 1990s, led to almost every Development Plan in the country supporting such development up to present day. Since then, many communities have learned the meaning of high density development on their doorsteps and have tried to oppose it. Such developments have often been built on what was once institutional land. The communities adjacent to such development quickly become cynical about planners and architects. Fact is, whatever example is taken: rural housing, urban housing, offices, tall buildings, mixed use developments, shopping centres, roads, wind farms, you name it: all bad planning is designed by someone and considered fine by some and shite by others. It’s a matter of opinion.
In his Column, Mr Pike appears to be allowing his personal views of planning, his ‘opinion’ to influence his comments when he should be representing architects. Whatever the reason for driving another nail into planning, the RIAI should stop doing it and stick to stories which are specific to architecture.
How many Irish architects would accept a President’s column from an Irish planner which said: “all Irish architecture is terrible”. All Irish architecture is not bad; all Irish planning is not bad. When teased at parties about how bad much of Ireland’s architecture is, architects have a get-out clause, they say: “Most Irish buildings are not architect designed” (Note: The Building Control Bill plans to alter this, so this clause will not last much longer). If planners have a similar retort, it might be: “Most examples of bad planning in Ireland are produced by those who clam to be architects”. If the RIAI should do anything, it should accept its role as part of the development industry; recognising that for many communities, the designs of its members often represent examples of bad planning (even if they are later medal winners – ask Joe Public about Busarus), as evidenced by the scale of objections to many architect’s proposals. The soapbox is not the right place for any architect to stand when talking about planning, as architects benefit daily from planning decisions: both good and bad.
Planners accept criticism from many sources, but from the RIAI President, it seems unnecessary and hypocritical. We are both, architects and planners, part of the same planning process, some days we love it and some days we hate it. We try each day to make it better and we should do so together.
The website for ‘Architecture Ireland’ states: “ARCHITECTURE IRELAND is the Official Journal of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland founded in 1839, is the governing body of the profession in Ireland. ARCHITECTURE IRELAND’S main objective is to give the widest possible coverage to both Irish architecture and to Irish architects”. I suggest that this aim should once again be brought into focus, rather than entering the taxidriver-like debate about the state of Irish planning.
See: http://www.architectureireland.ie/inside.html
Brendan Buck
6 January 2007
Friday, 5 January 2007
Luas Congestion Charge - Madness?
Is the decision to introduce a congestion charge for morning rush hour LUAS customers 'outrageous'? The Rail Procurement Agency has confirmed that an extra charge of 10 cent will be imposed on tickets between 7.45am and 9.30am.
Surely a fare increase like this is counterproductive, because it will discourage the use of public transport and force passengers back into their cars. It assumes that commuters have alternatives, and that they can and will vary their work hours and departure times to avoid the 10 cent surcharge. It assumes that commuters enjoy and consciously choose to travel in congested carriages. The reality is that the lives of most workers are restricted, not just by their working hours but also by family considerations, such as the need to bring children to crèches and schools.
In many cases commuters simply cannot vary their departure times to avoid the LUAS morning peak period. To suggest they should leave earlier and 'have a cup of coffee' before going to work is simply an insult and an extra cost for hard-pressed commuters.
This exercise can only be seen as revenue-raising, rather than a genuine attempt to deal with overcrowding. Instead of using price differentiation to penalise workers, the Government should provide extra peak hour trams and liberalise the bus market to increase public transport capacity.
Surely a fare increase like this is counterproductive, because it will discourage the use of public transport and force passengers back into their cars. It assumes that commuters have alternatives, and that they can and will vary their work hours and departure times to avoid the 10 cent surcharge. It assumes that commuters enjoy and consciously choose to travel in congested carriages. The reality is that the lives of most workers are restricted, not just by their working hours but also by family considerations, such as the need to bring children to crèches and schools.
In many cases commuters simply cannot vary their departure times to avoid the LUAS morning peak period. To suggest they should leave earlier and 'have a cup of coffee' before going to work is simply an insult and an extra cost for hard-pressed commuters.
This exercise can only be seen as revenue-raising, rather than a genuine attempt to deal with overcrowding. Instead of using price differentiation to penalise workers, the Government should provide extra peak hour trams and liberalise the bus market to increase public transport capacity.
Roche orders new excavation at Viking site
Those who recently read 'Chaos at the Crossroads' will be interested in this follow-up story from Fronk McDonald in the Irish Times:
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has commissioned consultant archaeologists to carry out "targeted excavation" of the ninth century Woodstown Viking site in Waterford to establish the nature and extent of it.
The contract has been awarded to Archaeological Consultancy Services (ACS) Ltd. ACS is the company which carried out the initial archaeological investigations which uncovered the site in 2003.
This follows the recommendation of a working group that a supplementary research project should review all available information, including archaeological assessments and investigations of the site, which has been designated as a national monument.
The Woodstown site, at which substantial Viking elements have been uncovered, first came to light in 2003 during archaeological investigations in advance of the construction of the N25 Waterford city bypass. It is thought to be a Viking longphort (ship fortress).
Given its significance, the Minister issued directions in May 2005 under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 requiring that the site be secured and protected pending the development of a long-term strategy for its preservation and management.
Some 5,000 artefacts and the grave of a Viking warrior have been discovered so far. Following these discoveries, which were initially kept under wraps by archaeologists, the National Roads Authority (NRA) decided to reroute the bypass away from the core site.
However, Waterford solicitor Gerard Halley, who owns a farm in the area, has claimed that the site is much more extensive and that parts of it could still be damaged by the proposed road. He has taken legal action aimed at securing its preservation.
He is seeking to have a compulsory purchase order rescinded, arguing that the precise boundaries of the national monument have yet to be determined and that the land in question contains archaeological remains which could relate to the Viking site.
At his own expense, Mr Halley commissioned a geophysical survey of land along the alternative route for the bypass last March. He informed the Minister by letter that the survey found there was "considerable . . . archaeological potential in these areas".
However, minutes of the first meeting of the Woodstown Working Group on November 30th, 2005, show that Brian Duffy, the Department of the Environment's chief archaeologist, said it would have "no role whatsoever in relation to the alternative route".
Mr Halley has alleged "gross incompetence, lack of communication and manipulative dishonesty on the part of elements of the various State authorities involved" - a claim denied by John McDermott, acting principal officer in the National Monuments Service.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has commissioned consultant archaeologists to carry out "targeted excavation" of the ninth century Woodstown Viking site in Waterford to establish the nature and extent of it.
The contract has been awarded to Archaeological Consultancy Services (ACS) Ltd. ACS is the company which carried out the initial archaeological investigations which uncovered the site in 2003.
This follows the recommendation of a working group that a supplementary research project should review all available information, including archaeological assessments and investigations of the site, which has been designated as a national monument.
The Woodstown site, at which substantial Viking elements have been uncovered, first came to light in 2003 during archaeological investigations in advance of the construction of the N25 Waterford city bypass. It is thought to be a Viking longphort (ship fortress).
Given its significance, the Minister issued directions in May 2005 under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 requiring that the site be secured and protected pending the development of a long-term strategy for its preservation and management.
Some 5,000 artefacts and the grave of a Viking warrior have been discovered so far. Following these discoveries, which were initially kept under wraps by archaeologists, the National Roads Authority (NRA) decided to reroute the bypass away from the core site.
However, Waterford solicitor Gerard Halley, who owns a farm in the area, has claimed that the site is much more extensive and that parts of it could still be damaged by the proposed road. He has taken legal action aimed at securing its preservation.
He is seeking to have a compulsory purchase order rescinded, arguing that the precise boundaries of the national monument have yet to be determined and that the land in question contains archaeological remains which could relate to the Viking site.
At his own expense, Mr Halley commissioned a geophysical survey of land along the alternative route for the bypass last March. He informed the Minister by letter that the survey found there was "considerable . . . archaeological potential in these areas".
However, minutes of the first meeting of the Woodstown Working Group on November 30th, 2005, show that Brian Duffy, the Department of the Environment's chief archaeologist, said it would have "no role whatsoever in relation to the alternative route".
Mr Halley has alleged "gross incompetence, lack of communication and manipulative dishonesty on the part of elements of the various State authorities involved" - a claim denied by John McDermott, acting principal officer in the National Monuments Service.
Historic house is saved by quick-thinking locals
This from the Indo:
THE quick thinking of local residents has saved one of Sligo's oldest buildings from demolition.
The early 18th century house on High Street, a protected structure, is considered one of the last surviving original houses on Sligo's oldest street.
In the days before Christmas, local people informed a councillor, Declan Bree, of their belief that the house was at risk of being demolished during the holiday.
It emerged that the owners of an adjacent building site had been asked by the owner of the protected structure to allow access to the back of the building through the site.
The development company at the building site advised council officials, who had remained on duty at City Hall, that such permission would not be granted.
Sligo Borough Council then received a request from an agent acting for the building's owner calling for its immediate demolition because it was "considered dangerous".
A council spokesperson said yesterday the owners had been advised that such a proposal would not be considered.
An Taisce has praised the vigilance of the residents.
Anita Guidera
THE quick thinking of local residents has saved one of Sligo's oldest buildings from demolition.
The early 18th century house on High Street, a protected structure, is considered one of the last surviving original houses on Sligo's oldest street.
In the days before Christmas, local people informed a councillor, Declan Bree, of their belief that the house was at risk of being demolished during the holiday.
It emerged that the owners of an adjacent building site had been asked by the owner of the protected structure to allow access to the back of the building through the site.
The development company at the building site advised council officials, who had remained on duty at City Hall, that such permission would not be granted.
Sligo Borough Council then received a request from an agent acting for the building's owner calling for its immediate demolition because it was "considered dangerous".
A council spokesperson said yesterday the owners had been advised that such a proposal would not be considered.
An Taisce has praised the vigilance of the residents.
Anita Guidera
Donegal landfill dispute deepens
The Irish Times also covered the Donegal Landfill story:
An Bord Pleanála has come under pressure from Donegal County Council to support a new application for a controversial landfill development close to Glenveagh National Park.
Although the appeals board refused planning permission for the landfill at Meenaboll a year ago, it has been asked by the local authority to specify necessary requirements for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for such a project.
The scoping document, which the appeals board has just published, lays emphasis on the need for alternative site locations in any application, "taking into account the effect on the environment".
It names particular species of bird and animal which must be considered - including the golden eagle, which has been re-introduced by the State into the north Donegal area
The document's publication has prompted opponents of the landfill to call on Donegal County Council to "come clean" on the issue and to "stop trying to bully An Bord Pleanála".
The county council identified the proposed regional landfill on a 14.5 hectare site at Meenaboll, west of Letterkenny, over four years ago.
Under its regional waste management plan, the new site would take 24,000 tonnes of municipal waste over 20 years.
The site is an upland area bordering on a special area of conservation, and within sight of Errigal mountain and Glenveagh.
Objectors, including An Taisce and the Meenaboll Environmental Protection Group, said the leachate from the landfill could pollute Gartan Lake near Church Hill, which provides the public water supply to Letterkenny.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted the project a waste management licence but An Bord Pleanála turned down the planning application in January 2006.
The appeals board took the location's proximity to Glenveagh into account in its ruling, and noted that its upland location would pose a risk of landslides and consequent water pollution.
It said it would "constitute an unwarranted intrusion into the landscape and would potentially have significant adverse effects on protected and endangered species".
Gerry Mulgrew, of the Meenaboll Environmental Protection Group, said that he was confident that elected members of Donegal County Council did not support this project, whereas officials seemed to be determined to push it through.
Donegal County Council was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Lorna Siggins
An Bord Pleanála has come under pressure from Donegal County Council to support a new application for a controversial landfill development close to Glenveagh National Park.
Although the appeals board refused planning permission for the landfill at Meenaboll a year ago, it has been asked by the local authority to specify necessary requirements for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for such a project.
The scoping document, which the appeals board has just published, lays emphasis on the need for alternative site locations in any application, "taking into account the effect on the environment".
It names particular species of bird and animal which must be considered - including the golden eagle, which has been re-introduced by the State into the north Donegal area
The document's publication has prompted opponents of the landfill to call on Donegal County Council to "come clean" on the issue and to "stop trying to bully An Bord Pleanála".
The county council identified the proposed regional landfill on a 14.5 hectare site at Meenaboll, west of Letterkenny, over four years ago.
Under its regional waste management plan, the new site would take 24,000 tonnes of municipal waste over 20 years.
The site is an upland area bordering on a special area of conservation, and within sight of Errigal mountain and Glenveagh.
Objectors, including An Taisce and the Meenaboll Environmental Protection Group, said the leachate from the landfill could pollute Gartan Lake near Church Hill, which provides the public water supply to Letterkenny.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted the project a waste management licence but An Bord Pleanála turned down the planning application in January 2006.
The appeals board took the location's proximity to Glenveagh into account in its ruling, and noted that its upland location would pose a risk of landslides and consequent water pollution.
It said it would "constitute an unwarranted intrusion into the landscape and would potentially have significant adverse effects on protected and endangered species".
Gerry Mulgrew, of the Meenaboll Environmental Protection Group, said that he was confident that elected members of Donegal County Council did not support this project, whereas officials seemed to be determined to push it through.
Donegal County Council was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Lorna Siggins
Donegal Meenaboll landfill plan scrapped
This from Donegal News:
A scoping report issued by An Bord Pleanála to Donegal County Council last week has backed-up its reasons for refusing planning permission for the development of a landfill site at Meenaboll.
Last week a decision was taken by County Councillors not to spend any more public money on pursuing a establishing a landfill at that location. In welcoming the decision, a spokesperson for the group opposed to the development of the landfill stated that they are still not satisfied that the issue has been resolved once an for all.
"We have learnt from experience that we cannot trust everything we hear. And in light of this we will be keeping a very watchful eye on the Council and all their moves as regards Meenaboll," explained Gerry Mulgrew.
In January of this year An Bord Pleanála refused permission to Donegal County Council for the development of a landfill site at Meenaboll. As a public body the Council was entitled to request a 'scoping report' from the planning appeals board giving a detailed description for the grounds on which they were refused. This report was issued to the Council at the end of last week, and a copy, obtained by the Donegal News, stated clearly that any development of a landfill site at Meenaboll would have a detrimental affect on the on the natural amenities surrounding it.
At last week's Council meeting, Councillor Francis Conaghan expressed his belief that elected members had been treated "shoddily" on this issue and stated that the executive handled the Meenaboll situation "by stealth".
County Manager Michael McLoone stated: "I do not think the executive have acted without authority in regard to this matter and I did get approval of the elected members to seek the scoping report."
Sinn Fein's Donegal North East representative, Councillor Padraig Mac Lochlainn, praised local people following the decision that no more public money should be spent on the proposal for a landfill site at Meenaboll.
It was also agreed that a workshop should be established to discuss the implications of the situation. That workshop will inevitably involve major focus on future recycling options.
Cllr Mac Lochlainn said: "I want to praise local people for their campaign against the Meenaboll proposal. That campaign was vindicated by An Bord Pleanala's original decision in this matter.
"I also want to commend the other political parties on Donegal County Council for having the good sense to back Sinn Fein's very vocal leadership on this issue.
"The Council's decision to halt the Meenaboll proposal is an important reminder to the Council Executive that they are obliged to work in partnership with the elected members."
Gerry Mulgrew thanked Sinn Fein for tabling the motion as well as the County Mayor Enda Bonner, and Cllrs Francis Conaghan and Ian McGarvey for their support on the issue.
A scoping report issued by An Bord Pleanála to Donegal County Council last week has backed-up its reasons for refusing planning permission for the development of a landfill site at Meenaboll.
Last week a decision was taken by County Councillors not to spend any more public money on pursuing a establishing a landfill at that location. In welcoming the decision, a spokesperson for the group opposed to the development of the landfill stated that they are still not satisfied that the issue has been resolved once an for all.
"We have learnt from experience that we cannot trust everything we hear. And in light of this we will be keeping a very watchful eye on the Council and all their moves as regards Meenaboll," explained Gerry Mulgrew.
In January of this year An Bord Pleanála refused permission to Donegal County Council for the development of a landfill site at Meenaboll. As a public body the Council was entitled to request a 'scoping report' from the planning appeals board giving a detailed description for the grounds on which they were refused. This report was issued to the Council at the end of last week, and a copy, obtained by the Donegal News, stated clearly that any development of a landfill site at Meenaboll would have a detrimental affect on the on the natural amenities surrounding it.
At last week's Council meeting, Councillor Francis Conaghan expressed his belief that elected members had been treated "shoddily" on this issue and stated that the executive handled the Meenaboll situation "by stealth".
County Manager Michael McLoone stated: "I do not think the executive have acted without authority in regard to this matter and I did get approval of the elected members to seek the scoping report."
Sinn Fein's Donegal North East representative, Councillor Padraig Mac Lochlainn, praised local people following the decision that no more public money should be spent on the proposal for a landfill site at Meenaboll.
It was also agreed that a workshop should be established to discuss the implications of the situation. That workshop will inevitably involve major focus on future recycling options.
Cllr Mac Lochlainn said: "I want to praise local people for their campaign against the Meenaboll proposal. That campaign was vindicated by An Bord Pleanala's original decision in this matter.
"I also want to commend the other political parties on Donegal County Council for having the good sense to back Sinn Fein's very vocal leadership on this issue.
"The Council's decision to halt the Meenaboll proposal is an important reminder to the Council Executive that they are obliged to work in partnership with the elected members."
Gerry Mulgrew thanked Sinn Fein for tabling the motion as well as the County Mayor Enda Bonner, and Cllrs Francis Conaghan and Ian McGarvey for their support on the issue.
Tara protesters continuing work
The Indo reported this week that:
PROTESTERS disrupted preparatory work along the route of the M3 motorway in Co Meath yesterday in their bid to have the road moved away from the historic Hill of Tara.
Campaigners gathered at Rath Lugh to block the diggers from clearing the felled trees.
Work was disrupted after a number of protesters entered the site and stood in front of the mechanical vehicles before climbing into the buckets of the diggers.
Siobhan Rice from Dublin, a Save Tara campaigner, said the work was being carried out on the outskirts of Rath Lugh, which is a defence fort of Tara, the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
"We still continue to ask that independent archaeologists be allowed to inspect the sites," Ms Rice said. "It is an area that is extraordinarily rich in heritage and has been compared to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.
"We are not anti-M3 campaigners - we just want the road moved around the Tara-Skryne valley, where it would cost taxpayers around €50m less."
The protesters vowed to continue blocking machinery and attending sites where archaeologists are working every day as the preparatory work for the M3 motorway from Clonee to Kells continues.
Campaigner Anita Ni Nuallain (22) from Newbridge, who has been camping near the site, said: "We will be here as long as it takes, until we can get the road rerouted."
"I think people don't realise the importance of Tara. It is not just a hill, it is a whole complex - the whole Boyne Valley is interlinked."
Louise Hogan
PROTESTERS disrupted preparatory work along the route of the M3 motorway in Co Meath yesterday in their bid to have the road moved away from the historic Hill of Tara.
Campaigners gathered at Rath Lugh to block the diggers from clearing the felled trees.
Work was disrupted after a number of protesters entered the site and stood in front of the mechanical vehicles before climbing into the buckets of the diggers.
Siobhan Rice from Dublin, a Save Tara campaigner, said the work was being carried out on the outskirts of Rath Lugh, which is a defence fort of Tara, the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
"We still continue to ask that independent archaeologists be allowed to inspect the sites," Ms Rice said. "It is an area that is extraordinarily rich in heritage and has been compared to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.
"We are not anti-M3 campaigners - we just want the road moved around the Tara-Skryne valley, where it would cost taxpayers around €50m less."
The protesters vowed to continue blocking machinery and attending sites where archaeologists are working every day as the preparatory work for the M3 motorway from Clonee to Kells continues.
Campaigner Anita Ni Nuallain (22) from Newbridge, who has been camping near the site, said: "We will be here as long as it takes, until we can get the road rerouted."
"I think people don't realise the importance of Tara. It is not just a hill, it is a whole complex - the whole Boyne Valley is interlinked."
Louise Hogan
Winter workshop on sprawl
I was asked to put up this reference to a workshop on urban sprawl:
Seventh Annual Winter Workshop
Cooley Environmental and Health Group wish to announce their seventh annual winter workshop which will take place on 27 January 2007 in The Strand Hotel, Omeath, Co Louth, starting at 2.00 p.m.
Rather
Seventh Annual Winter Workshop
Cooley Environmental and Health Group wish to announce their seventh annual winter workshop which will take place on 27 January 2007 in The Strand Hotel, Omeath, Co Louth, starting at 2.00 p.m.
Rather