THE Department of the Environment has warned Westmeath County Council not to zone any more land in Moate, saying that too much zoning has taken place in the town of late.
In addition, an objective stating that only 50% of the existing land zoned residential should be released before 2014, with the remainder to be developed after that year.
Moate is one of four Westmeath towns - along with Kilbeggan, Delvin and Castlepollard - which were singled out by the Department of the Environment for having too much re-zoning take place in recent years.
In county manager Danny McLoughlin's report on public submissions relating to the Moate Town Plan, he stated that sufficient lands are currently available to provide for any population increase in Moate "until 2014 and beyond."
The county manager stated that no more zoning would take place in Moate or the other three towns mentioned by the Department for the foreseeable future, except in cases where a particular retail, commercial Or educational shortfall was identified.
The Department has expressed its wish to see the existing zoned land developed on a carefully managed basis before any further development takes place.
In his report on Moate, Mr McLoughlin said that the town's population rose by 24.2% between 2002 and 2006. The town's population stood at 1,888 in 2006 and, the report stated, "there are sufficient lands zoned in the draft town plan to provide a further population increase of 7,056 people, which is adequate to provide for the planned growth of the town to 2014 and beyond."
The report added: "In response to the Department's submission, it is accepted that such a growth needs to be managed carefully to ensure Moate can achieve a critical mass to support its growing urban and extensive rural hinterland but also that such a growth would not compete with the accelerated growth of the nearby linked gateway towns of Athlone and Tullamore."
Additional lands "remote from the town" should not be zoned in order to "ensure a proper consolidated and concentric sustainable growth of the town," the report stated.
In response to requests for land to be re-zoned for enterprise and employment, the county manager's report stated that 13.5ha is presently available in Moate for this purpose, however it did consent to land to the north and north west of the town's business park being re-zoned for the same purpose.
In total, over 400 submissions relating to the draft County Development Plan for 2008-14 were received by the Council.
Adrian Cusack
Westmeath Independent
Posted by bps planning consultants - www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Stradbally's sewage, water woes resurface
The whistle-clean County Waterford village of Stradbally is once again on high sewage alert.
According to local farmer and community activist Tom Hickey, such was the amount of raw sewage pouring into the Cove last week that "you could float a boat on it".
Then last Friday night people's water taps ran dry, not an unusual occurrence in the seaside village and surrounding areas.
On Monday a bulk tanker of water was in situ, with the fire brigade "doing a great job" bringing water to houses, filling bath tubs, etc. Tom added, that Waterford County Council staff had been "most helpful under trying conditions".
The sewage and water systems in Stradbally were built in the early 1950s, with no improvements have been made to the piping network since. The original septic tank there was designed for 240 persons.
The population of Stradbally was 351 in 2005 and is predicted to grow to 1,068 by 2025. In summer time the seasonal population increases to around 400. All the while the water reservoir capacity has remained the same as the original scheme.
Building boom
Tom points out that prior to the building boom of the mid-1990s there were 73 houses in the village, renowned for its high Tidy Towns ratings. Since then, however, the County Council have granted planning permission for about 200 houses. Most of this sewage discharges into the River Tay and flows into Stradbally Cove with obvious consequences for bathing water quality at the beach.
"It is wrong that families with children, our senior citizens, local businesses, schools and indeed homes are left in this situation," says Catherine Clancy, a colleague on Stradbally Tourism & Enterprise Group, asking: "Why do Council planners continue to give planning permission in the village without proper infrastructure in place?"
Indeed, the current County Development Plan (2005-2011), states that "any development, which impacts negatively on bath ing water quality and hence human health, is unlikely to be favourably considered".
In 2002 Mr. Hickey among others made a formal complaint to. the EU Commission 'against Waterford County Council and Ireland for the. discharge of raw sewage into the Cove in breach of the Bathing Water Directive.
As a result of tests the local group carried out, the then South Eastern Health Board recommended that signs be erected warning people not to bathe, paddle or wash utensils in the river at the Cove.
This was prompted by an outbreak the previous summer when six of 13 children attending swimming classes in the Cove were sick within one hour of going into the water. "At the time," says Tom, "Waterford Co Council gave us a commitment that no further planning permission would be given until proper sewage treatment facilities were in place. What needs to happen before they do the right thing?"
Seven Villages
The sanitary services in Stradbally are due to be upgraded under the long-delayed EUR46m-plus 'Seven Villages' sewerage scheme. CPOs for the site at Stradbally More are in place, with objections by the affected landowner, Mr Walter Drohan, having been resolved at an Oral Hearing in Dungarvan in June of last year.
However, so far progress on actually constructing the grouped sewerage works - which will each have with an operation phase of 20 years; and a design population equivalent of 1,185 in Stradbally's case - has been dropping slow. The optimistic completion target (the schemes are to be built simultaneously) has now been pushed back to late 2011.
Applications for foreshore licences in respect of outfall pipes for the proposed storm/surface water collection system and waste water treatment plants, lodged in April 2005, are still being examined by the engineering division in the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Minister Eamon Ryan told John Deasy earlier this month that their view is that the Stradbally outfall should be protected by a rock layer. The final discharge point will be at Ballyvooney Cove, with an analysis for the Council deeming that there would be a negligible detrimental effect on the inter-tidal sections of the shore as a result.
Water supply
Meanwhile, the Stradbaliy Sheskin Water Supply Scheme, which supplies the village of Stradbally and the hinterland to the southwest as far as Ballyvoyle, continues to be dogged by mains difficulties.
The supply takes from a single source taken from an impoundment on the Tay. Water is treated with alum dosing and pressure filtration and pumped to the Stradbaliy Reservoir. Water gravitates to the village and is boosted to Sheskin.
There are currently 235 domestic and 40 non-domestic connections on the scheme. However, significant residential development pressure is evidenced by 155 houses currently at planning stage.
The Council says the Tay offers significant spare capacity based on current average demand. The limiting factor is the poor condition of the 4" rising main from the treatment works to the storage reservoir (the capacity of which needs to be increased) over a distance of 2km. There are numerous leaks due to deterioration of the Asbestos pipe which proves very problematic to maintain due to its location beside the river. There's a preliminary cost estimate of EUR0.8m for the necessary upgrading.
Jamie O'Keeffe
Munster Express 26.10.07
Posted by bps planning consultants - www.buckplanning.ie
According to local farmer and community activist Tom Hickey, such was the amount of raw sewage pouring into the Cove last week that "you could float a boat on it".
Then last Friday night people's water taps ran dry, not an unusual occurrence in the seaside village and surrounding areas.
On Monday a bulk tanker of water was in situ, with the fire brigade "doing a great job" bringing water to houses, filling bath tubs, etc. Tom added, that Waterford County Council staff had been "most helpful under trying conditions".
The sewage and water systems in Stradbally were built in the early 1950s, with no improvements have been made to the piping network since. The original septic tank there was designed for 240 persons.
The population of Stradbally was 351 in 2005 and is predicted to grow to 1,068 by 2025. In summer time the seasonal population increases to around 400. All the while the water reservoir capacity has remained the same as the original scheme.
Building boom
Tom points out that prior to the building boom of the mid-1990s there were 73 houses in the village, renowned for its high Tidy Towns ratings. Since then, however, the County Council have granted planning permission for about 200 houses. Most of this sewage discharges into the River Tay and flows into Stradbally Cove with obvious consequences for bathing water quality at the beach.
"It is wrong that families with children, our senior citizens, local businesses, schools and indeed homes are left in this situation," says Catherine Clancy, a colleague on Stradbally Tourism & Enterprise Group, asking: "Why do Council planners continue to give planning permission in the village without proper infrastructure in place?"
Indeed, the current County Development Plan (2005-2011), states that "any development, which impacts negatively on bath ing water quality and hence human health, is unlikely to be favourably considered".
In 2002 Mr. Hickey among others made a formal complaint to. the EU Commission 'against Waterford County Council and Ireland for the. discharge of raw sewage into the Cove in breach of the Bathing Water Directive.
As a result of tests the local group carried out, the then South Eastern Health Board recommended that signs be erected warning people not to bathe, paddle or wash utensils in the river at the Cove.
This was prompted by an outbreak the previous summer when six of 13 children attending swimming classes in the Cove were sick within one hour of going into the water. "At the time," says Tom, "Waterford Co Council gave us a commitment that no further planning permission would be given until proper sewage treatment facilities were in place. What needs to happen before they do the right thing?"
Seven Villages
The sanitary services in Stradbally are due to be upgraded under the long-delayed EUR46m-plus 'Seven Villages' sewerage scheme. CPOs for the site at Stradbally More are in place, with objections by the affected landowner, Mr Walter Drohan, having been resolved at an Oral Hearing in Dungarvan in June of last year.
However, so far progress on actually constructing the grouped sewerage works - which will each have with an operation phase of 20 years; and a design population equivalent of 1,185 in Stradbally's case - has been dropping slow. The optimistic completion target (the schemes are to be built simultaneously) has now been pushed back to late 2011.
Applications for foreshore licences in respect of outfall pipes for the proposed storm/surface water collection system and waste water treatment plants, lodged in April 2005, are still being examined by the engineering division in the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Minister Eamon Ryan told John Deasy earlier this month that their view is that the Stradbally outfall should be protected by a rock layer. The final discharge point will be at Ballyvooney Cove, with an analysis for the Council deeming that there would be a negligible detrimental effect on the inter-tidal sections of the shore as a result.
Water supply
Meanwhile, the Stradbaliy Sheskin Water Supply Scheme, which supplies the village of Stradbally and the hinterland to the southwest as far as Ballyvoyle, continues to be dogged by mains difficulties.
The supply takes from a single source taken from an impoundment on the Tay. Water is treated with alum dosing and pressure filtration and pumped to the Stradbaliy Reservoir. Water gravitates to the village and is boosted to Sheskin.
There are currently 235 domestic and 40 non-domestic connections on the scheme. However, significant residential development pressure is evidenced by 155 houses currently at planning stage.
The Council says the Tay offers significant spare capacity based on current average demand. The limiting factor is the poor condition of the 4" rising main from the treatment works to the storage reservoir (the capacity of which needs to be increased) over a distance of 2km. There are numerous leaks due to deterioration of the Asbestos pipe which proves very problematic to maintain due to its location beside the river. There's a preliminary cost estimate of EUR0.8m for the necessary upgrading.
Jamie O'Keeffe
Munster Express 26.10.07
Posted by bps planning consultants - www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Coastal reefs plan will mean ban on fishing
Coral reefs discovered off our west coast in a seabed survey last year are to be designated as ocean parks, meaning an all-out ban on fishing in the areas.
Dragnet fishing destroys coral reefs, as can pollution, and even activity by tourist divers.
Environment Minister John Gormley says he hopes to see the implementation of a EU-wide fishing ban in these "ecologically sensitive areas" off the west coast of Ireland and the EU Commission has agreed with him.
Mr Gormley says Ireland's deep sea coral reefs are "some of the best in Europe."
The European Commission has now accepted Ireland's proposal for a fishing ban on four areas covering a total of 2,500 square kilometres, it was revealed yesterday.
Ban
Mr Gormley hopes a ban proposal can be rubber-stamped at next month's EU Council of Fisheries Ministers. It would be the first such permanent fishing ban of its type in the EU.
Four areas have been designated by Ireland as Special Areas of Conservation.
Coral reefs were once thought to be restricted to warm, shallow waters in tropical and subtropical regions.
However, they are increasingly being found in cold but nutrient-rich waters along the edge of continental shelves.
"These cold-water reefs act like islands on the normally featureless and muddy sea floor," a spokesman for Mr Gormley said.
He said it was clear from scientific surveys that the activities of the European fishing fleet were destroying Ireland's coral reef systems.
Last year, the Government proposed four sites for designation as Special Areas of Conservation. Two sites are located in the Porcupine Bank while two are in the Porcupine Seabight area of the coast.
"The commission is now putting the proposals forward for decision by the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers, I would hope to see the ban in place by the end of the year," Mr Gormley said.
Senan Molony
Irish Independent
Dragnet fishing destroys coral reefs, as can pollution, and even activity by tourist divers.
Environment Minister John Gormley says he hopes to see the implementation of a EU-wide fishing ban in these "ecologically sensitive areas" off the west coast of Ireland and the EU Commission has agreed with him.
Mr Gormley says Ireland's deep sea coral reefs are "some of the best in Europe."
The European Commission has now accepted Ireland's proposal for a fishing ban on four areas covering a total of 2,500 square kilometres, it was revealed yesterday.
Ban
Mr Gormley hopes a ban proposal can be rubber-stamped at next month's EU Council of Fisheries Ministers. It would be the first such permanent fishing ban of its type in the EU.
Four areas have been designated by Ireland as Special Areas of Conservation.
Coral reefs were once thought to be restricted to warm, shallow waters in tropical and subtropical regions.
However, they are increasingly being found in cold but nutrient-rich waters along the edge of continental shelves.
"These cold-water reefs act like islands on the normally featureless and muddy sea floor," a spokesman for Mr Gormley said.
He said it was clear from scientific surveys that the activities of the European fishing fleet were destroying Ireland's coral reef systems.
Last year, the Government proposed four sites for designation as Special Areas of Conservation. Two sites are located in the Porcupine Bank while two are in the Porcupine Seabight area of the coast.
"The commission is now putting the proposals forward for decision by the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers, I would hope to see the ban in place by the end of the year," Mr Gormley said.
Senan Molony
Irish Independent
Monday, 29 October 2007
DTO to prepare Transport Strategy to 2030
The Dublin Transportation Office is to develop a new Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), which will set out the infrastructure and other requirements for the region for the period 2010-2030.
The new Strategy will be published in two years' time and will be the successor to the DTO's previous strategy proposal - A Platform for Change: Strategy 2000-2016 - published in 2000, which was the first plan to propose Luas, Metro and a Quality Bus Network for the GDA (Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow).
The DTO Strategy Team's plans include major consultation - to involve all companies, agencies and representative groups involved in providing and using transportation in the region - as well as an inclusive public consultation programme, which will invite views, suggestions and feedback from everyone in Ireland.
Extensive use of the DTO's state-of-the-art Transportation Modelling software will be used to determine the ideal transport network, modes, capacities and frequencies to cater for the levels of demand forecast for the region in 20 years' time.
To prepare the Strategy, the DTO has issued a comprehensive Tender Notice, which includes -
* Transport and land use planning advice (transport infrastructure and services, demand-side measures)
* transport/land use studies;
* data collection (transport, land use and environmental);
* data analysis;
* transport and land use modelling work (including enhancement of DTO model and model calibration);
* data analysis;
* Strategic Environmental Assessment - and
* related technical and administrative advice.
Announcing the move, DTO Director/CEO John Henry said - "Transport impacts on everyone and has a direct impact on people's quality of life. It is timely that we are now starting to visualise the type of City and Region we want for the year 2030 and putting the plans in place that will meet those objectives and take us there.
"We will be involving all the agencies involved in providing transport in the GDA and we will be seeking the involvement of people living and working in the region - as well as people living throughout the rest of Ireland, who visit their Capital region for leisure or other reasons."
Mr Henry added - "We will also be involving policy-makers from other relevant sectors - including Environment, Land Use, Health, Education and Energy - in our planning. Real improvements in quality of life for all Dubliners will come from coordinating all our long-term planning in this way."
The new Strategy will be published in two years' time and will be the successor to the DTO's previous strategy proposal - A Platform for Change: Strategy 2000-2016 - published in 2000, which was the first plan to propose Luas, Metro and a Quality Bus Network for the GDA (Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow).
The DTO Strategy Team's plans include major consultation - to involve all companies, agencies and representative groups involved in providing and using transportation in the region - as well as an inclusive public consultation programme, which will invite views, suggestions and feedback from everyone in Ireland.
Extensive use of the DTO's state-of-the-art Transportation Modelling software will be used to determine the ideal transport network, modes, capacities and frequencies to cater for the levels of demand forecast for the region in 20 years' time.
To prepare the Strategy, the DTO has issued a comprehensive Tender Notice, which includes -
* Transport and land use planning advice (transport infrastructure and services, demand-side measures)
* transport/land use studies;
* data collection (transport, land use and environmental);
* data analysis;
* transport and land use modelling work (including enhancement of DTO model and model calibration);
* data analysis;
* Strategic Environmental Assessment - and
* related technical and administrative advice.
Announcing the move, DTO Director/CEO John Henry said - "Transport impacts on everyone and has a direct impact on people's quality of life. It is timely that we are now starting to visualise the type of City and Region we want for the year 2030 and putting the plans in place that will meet those objectives and take us there.
"We will be involving all the agencies involved in providing transport in the GDA and we will be seeking the involvement of people living and working in the region - as well as people living throughout the rest of Ireland, who visit their Capital region for leisure or other reasons."
Mr Henry added - "We will also be involving policy-makers from other relevant sectors - including Environment, Land Use, Health, Education and Energy - in our planning. Real improvements in quality of life for all Dubliners will come from coordinating all our long-term planning in this way."
Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2007
The Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2007 has been published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The Yearbook presents a comprehensive picture of Ireland today. It provides detailed information, tables and graphs across a wide range of topics. These include - the population, labour force, education, crime, the economy, agriculture, industry, services, prices, housing, knowledge economy and the environment.
The chapter on the environment covers such topics as -
* Transport
The total number of registered vehicles has increased by 103% over the period 1990-2005. Related CO2 emissions have increased by 166% in the same period.
* Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions (in equivalent tonnes of Carbon Dioxide) have increased by 24% during the years 1990 to 2005, while acid rain precursor emissions have decreased by 23% in the same period.
* Waste Management
The tonnage of household and commercial waste collected in 2005 increased by 3% relative to 2004.
* Recycling
34.6% of municipal waste collected in Ireland was re-used in 2005.
* Energy
Ireland's total primary energy requirement in 2005 was 15.61m TOE - an increase of 64% since 1990.
The Yearbook presents a comprehensive picture of Ireland today. It provides detailed information, tables and graphs across a wide range of topics. These include - the population, labour force, education, crime, the economy, agriculture, industry, services, prices, housing, knowledge economy and the environment.
The chapter on the environment covers such topics as -
* Transport
The total number of registered vehicles has increased by 103% over the period 1990-2005. Related CO2 emissions have increased by 166% in the same period.
* Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions (in equivalent tonnes of Carbon Dioxide) have increased by 24% during the years 1990 to 2005, while acid rain precursor emissions have decreased by 23% in the same period.
* Waste Management
The tonnage of household and commercial waste collected in 2005 increased by 3% relative to 2004.
* Recycling
34.6% of municipal waste collected in Ireland was re-used in 2005.
* Energy
Ireland's total primary energy requirement in 2005 was 15.61m TOE - an increase of 64% since 1990.
Review of Archaeological Policy and Practice
The Review of Archaeological Policy and Practice has been launched by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley TD.
The Review will be one of the most wide-ranging and inclusive to take place in Ireland and the aim will be to improve and strengthen the protection of our archaeological heritage. This review was promised by Minister Gormley following publication of the Lismullen file, last June.
The primary focus will be to examine whether national monuments legislation needs to be strengthened and how archaeological practices should be improved.
The review will look at a wide range of issues, including the recording and protection of monuments, designation of monuments as national monuments and how archaeological issues are dealt with in the planning process, both at development plan level and at the level of individual planning applications. The review will also look at how archaeological matters are dealt with in the context of infrastructure development generally and in the context of approved road development, in particular.
An issues paper was recently published by Minister Gormley, which identified specific topics to be examined in the review. A series of seminars are taking place over the coming week at which various stakeholders - including archaeologists, campaigners and expert departmental staff - can discuss the issues. It is hoped that the review will be completed by the middle of next year.
"Soon after entering office, I promised I would review Archaeological Policy and Practice and, today, I am delivering on that commitment" - Minister John Gormley said. "The aim of this review is to make policy towards protecting our archaeological heritage the best there can be and to draw from the experience and advice of experts - both at home and abroad - to achieve this.
"When I promised this review, it was my stated intention that it would be wide-ranging and inclusive to all. This is the first in a series of seminars open to all who are interested.
"In the past I felt that there had been some gaps in how we dealt with archaeological finds in certain circumstances. I am resolute that when this process is finalised, we will have a policy in place which will be the best internationally and which will afford our very valuable built heritage the protection it so richly deserves" - concluded the Minister.
The review is the first to have taken place since 1999, when previous policy guidelines issued. There has been a huge increase since then in the number of archaeological excavations undertaken. At present, 1,000 excavations per annum on average take place in Ireland - with 1,700 anticipated in 2007.
The Minister also officially launched a new dedicated archaeological website, developed by his Department which contains much useful information and advice for the public and archaeology professionals - as well as access to national archaeological records and a facility for making online archaeological licence applications.
"This new website, along with other Department initiatives - such as the 'Archaeology in the Classroom' programme for primary schools soon to be expanded to the transition year cycle, a pilot project to encourage the employment of archaeologists by local authorities and support for the Heritage Council field monument advisors scheme - are just a few examples of our efforts to raise awareness at many levels of our precious heritage resource and its significance to communities and to the national psyche" - said Minister Gormley.
The Review will be one of the most wide-ranging and inclusive to take place in Ireland and the aim will be to improve and strengthen the protection of our archaeological heritage. This review was promised by Minister Gormley following publication of the Lismullen file, last June.
The primary focus will be to examine whether national monuments legislation needs to be strengthened and how archaeological practices should be improved.
The review will look at a wide range of issues, including the recording and protection of monuments, designation of monuments as national monuments and how archaeological issues are dealt with in the planning process, both at development plan level and at the level of individual planning applications. The review will also look at how archaeological matters are dealt with in the context of infrastructure development generally and in the context of approved road development, in particular.
An issues paper was recently published by Minister Gormley, which identified specific topics to be examined in the review. A series of seminars are taking place over the coming week at which various stakeholders - including archaeologists, campaigners and expert departmental staff - can discuss the issues. It is hoped that the review will be completed by the middle of next year.
"Soon after entering office, I promised I would review Archaeological Policy and Practice and, today, I am delivering on that commitment" - Minister John Gormley said. "The aim of this review is to make policy towards protecting our archaeological heritage the best there can be and to draw from the experience and advice of experts - both at home and abroad - to achieve this.
"When I promised this review, it was my stated intention that it would be wide-ranging and inclusive to all. This is the first in a series of seminars open to all who are interested.
"In the past I felt that there had been some gaps in how we dealt with archaeological finds in certain circumstances. I am resolute that when this process is finalised, we will have a policy in place which will be the best internationally and which will afford our very valuable built heritage the protection it so richly deserves" - concluded the Minister.
The review is the first to have taken place since 1999, when previous policy guidelines issued. There has been a huge increase since then in the number of archaeological excavations undertaken. At present, 1,000 excavations per annum on average take place in Ireland - with 1,700 anticipated in 2007.
The Minister also officially launched a new dedicated archaeological website, developed by his Department which contains much useful information and advice for the public and archaeology professionals - as well as access to national archaeological records and a facility for making online archaeological licence applications.
"This new website, along with other Department initiatives - such as the 'Archaeology in the Classroom' programme for primary schools soon to be expanded to the transition year cycle, a pilot project to encourage the employment of archaeologists by local authorities and support for the Heritage Council field monument advisors scheme - are just a few examples of our efforts to raise awareness at many levels of our precious heritage resource and its significance to communities and to the national psyche" - said Minister Gormley.
Proposed Planning Exemptions - environment and a strong economy working in tandem
Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has announced details of a 3-month consultation process on proposed exemptions for micro-renewable technologies for industrial, commercial and public buildings and agricultural structures.
"These proposals provide a perfect example of how economic well-being and a strong commitment to our environment can compliment one another. They make further inroads in removing any unnecessary regulatory barriers to the uptake of renewables in all sectors" - said the Minister.
Following on from the introduction of exemptions from planning permission requirements for certain micro-renewable energy technologies in the domestic sector in February 2007, the Department further reviewed existing provisions with a view to facilitating increased usage of renewable energy in the industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors - and in public buildings, including schools and hospitals.
The consultation paper contains proposals for exemptions for wind turbines, combined heat and power (CHP) plants, solar panels and biomass boiler units - subject to certain conditions - across each of the sectors.
The Minister continued - "We face significant challenges to reduce our emissions, maximise renewable energy uptake and ensure security of energy supply. While these challenges are not simple tasks by any means, they also present great opportunities. So, for example, if we maximise the enormous potential of renewable energy sources, we will be directly combating climate change - and, if we ensure security and sustainability of energy supply, we will be fostering and promoting sustainable employment in Ireland.
"The measures I am proposing will have multiple benefits in terms of climate change emissions reductions, potential job creation and the development of a more sustainable and secure energy supply. The exemptions support actions required to meet Ireland's emissions target under the Kyoto Protocol - as detailed in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 and in the Agreed Programme for Government.
"They seek to build on the recognition that the issue of climate change requires a 'whole-of-society' effort across all sectors, by enabling a broader range of energy users to take an active role in reducing their dependency on fossil fuels.
"Furthermore, they will contribute to the achievement of the Energy White Paper targets for increasing the percentage of all electricity consumed on a national basis that comes from renewable sources, to 15% by 2010 and 33% by 2020.
"As we have set out in our National Climate Change Strategy, the achievement of our renewable energy targets for 2010 will result in CO2 emissions savings of 1.47Mt.
"In a more immediate sense, if the introduction of the proposed exemptions prompts even a single industrial operation to source their energy needs from a 5MW CHP, instead of from conventional electricity supply, the emissions saved would amount to 6ktonnes annually. This sends out a strong and very positive signal that the planning system is being increasingly deployed in the fight against climate change."
The Minister concluded by saying - "the proposed exemptions provide an appropriate balance between the needs of business to explore opportunities for meeting their energy requirements from renewable sources and of the public to preserve the amenity of their local area.
"The consultation paper sets out the rationale for these limits and I hope they will receive full and rigorous debate over the coming months. I welcome comments from all quarters by the closing date of 18 January as a means of ensuring that we pitch these exemptions at the appropriate levels."
The proposed exemptions would be introduced by way of amendment to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, which set out a range of classes of development which are exempt from planning permission requirements.
Similar exemptions for use of micro-renewable energy technologies in the domestic context were introduced in February 2007 (S.I. 83 of 2007), following a public consultation process in late 2006.
Among the key exemptions that are now proposed is the provision or erection of -
* an enclosed CHP plant of up to 500m2 gross floor space for industrial buildings, or 300m2 for public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures
* wind turbines up to a total height of 20m for industrial, public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures or met masts of up to 50m for a temporary period of up to 9 months out of 18
* as with the domestic micro-renewable technologies exemptions, there are no proposals to exempt building-mounted turbines from consideration through the planning process
* solar panels on the whole of a roof in an industrial estate or a total aperture area of up to 50m2 or 50% of total roof area for public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures
* heat pumps of up to 15m2 total area in an industrial estate, or up to 10m2 for public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures
* biomass fuel storage tanks of up to 50,000 litres capacity above ground and up to 100,000 litres below ground for industrial, public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures.
The consultation paper is available from the Department's website - or from Austin O'Dowd/Goretti Reynolds
Planning Section
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Custom House
Dublin 1
Tel: 01 888 2895/2821
Email: planning@environ.ie
"These proposals provide a perfect example of how economic well-being and a strong commitment to our environment can compliment one another. They make further inroads in removing any unnecessary regulatory barriers to the uptake of renewables in all sectors" - said the Minister.
Following on from the introduction of exemptions from planning permission requirements for certain micro-renewable energy technologies in the domestic sector in February 2007, the Department further reviewed existing provisions with a view to facilitating increased usage of renewable energy in the industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors - and in public buildings, including schools and hospitals.
The consultation paper contains proposals for exemptions for wind turbines, combined heat and power (CHP) plants, solar panels and biomass boiler units - subject to certain conditions - across each of the sectors.
The Minister continued - "We face significant challenges to reduce our emissions, maximise renewable energy uptake and ensure security of energy supply. While these challenges are not simple tasks by any means, they also present great opportunities. So, for example, if we maximise the enormous potential of renewable energy sources, we will be directly combating climate change - and, if we ensure security and sustainability of energy supply, we will be fostering and promoting sustainable employment in Ireland.
"The measures I am proposing will have multiple benefits in terms of climate change emissions reductions, potential job creation and the development of a more sustainable and secure energy supply. The exemptions support actions required to meet Ireland's emissions target under the Kyoto Protocol - as detailed in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 and in the Agreed Programme for Government.
"They seek to build on the recognition that the issue of climate change requires a 'whole-of-society' effort across all sectors, by enabling a broader range of energy users to take an active role in reducing their dependency on fossil fuels.
"Furthermore, they will contribute to the achievement of the Energy White Paper targets for increasing the percentage of all electricity consumed on a national basis that comes from renewable sources, to 15% by 2010 and 33% by 2020.
"As we have set out in our National Climate Change Strategy, the achievement of our renewable energy targets for 2010 will result in CO2 emissions savings of 1.47Mt.
"In a more immediate sense, if the introduction of the proposed exemptions prompts even a single industrial operation to source their energy needs from a 5MW CHP, instead of from conventional electricity supply, the emissions saved would amount to 6ktonnes annually. This sends out a strong and very positive signal that the planning system is being increasingly deployed in the fight against climate change."
The Minister concluded by saying - "the proposed exemptions provide an appropriate balance between the needs of business to explore opportunities for meeting their energy requirements from renewable sources and of the public to preserve the amenity of their local area.
"The consultation paper sets out the rationale for these limits and I hope they will receive full and rigorous debate over the coming months. I welcome comments from all quarters by the closing date of 18 January as a means of ensuring that we pitch these exemptions at the appropriate levels."
The proposed exemptions would be introduced by way of amendment to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, which set out a range of classes of development which are exempt from planning permission requirements.
Similar exemptions for use of micro-renewable energy technologies in the domestic context were introduced in February 2007 (S.I. 83 of 2007), following a public consultation process in late 2006.
Among the key exemptions that are now proposed is the provision or erection of -
* an enclosed CHP plant of up to 500m2 gross floor space for industrial buildings, or 300m2 for public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures
* wind turbines up to a total height of 20m for industrial, public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures or met masts of up to 50m for a temporary period of up to 9 months out of 18
* as with the domestic micro-renewable technologies exemptions, there are no proposals to exempt building-mounted turbines from consideration through the planning process
* solar panels on the whole of a roof in an industrial estate or a total aperture area of up to 50m2 or 50% of total roof area for public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures
* heat pumps of up to 15m2 total area in an industrial estate, or up to 10m2 for public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures
* biomass fuel storage tanks of up to 50,000 litres capacity above ground and up to 100,000 litres below ground for industrial, public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures.
The consultation paper is available from the Department's website - or from Austin O'Dowd/Goretti Reynolds
Planning Section
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Custom House
Dublin 1
Tel: 01 888 2895/2821
Email: planning@environ.ie
Council leads the way with survey of unaccounted-for waste
WATERFORD City Council has become the first local authority in Ireland to carry out a survey of unaccounted-for waste.
The survey, funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is part of an effort to tackle the amount of waste illegally disposed of across the country.
The council will survey households to determine how they dispose of their waste, in the first study of its kind in Ireland.
The council’s environmental awareness officer, Ella Ryan, said: “Unaccounted-for waste is refuse that is not collected at the kerbside through a wheeled bin collection.
“This includes the waste generated by people who do not have access to refuse collection services, as well as those who do not make use of a service that is provided.”
An estimated average of 24% of waste generated in Ireland is uncollected, “so this is a problem that extends much further afield than Waterford City alone”, she said.
Council staff will call to households who have not paid the 2007 fixed charge and who do not have this charge waived to determine how they are disposing of waste.
If the householders are disposing of their waste in an unlawful way, a Section 18 notice will be served on the household under the Waste Management Acts 1995–2003. This notice requires the household to provide details of their method of waste disposal and can be used to secure a prosecution for illegal disposal of waste. If the household fails to respond to this notice, it can lead to a court appearance.
Ms Ryan said: “This pilot survey will help us to identify anyone who is disposing of their waste illegally, and should, therefore, also result in a reduction in the amount of waste illegally disposed of, for example through dumping or burning.
“The survey will also mean that the council can identify those householders who do not make use of the council refuse collection, but who have legitimate and legal means of disposing of their waste.”
Queries about waste disposal can be made to the council’s environmental services department on 051-849563.
Irish Examiner
The survey, funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is part of an effort to tackle the amount of waste illegally disposed of across the country.
The council will survey households to determine how they dispose of their waste, in the first study of its kind in Ireland.
The council’s environmental awareness officer, Ella Ryan, said: “Unaccounted-for waste is refuse that is not collected at the kerbside through a wheeled bin collection.
“This includes the waste generated by people who do not have access to refuse collection services, as well as those who do not make use of a service that is provided.”
An estimated average of 24% of waste generated in Ireland is uncollected, “so this is a problem that extends much further afield than Waterford City alone”, she said.
Council staff will call to households who have not paid the 2007 fixed charge and who do not have this charge waived to determine how they are disposing of waste.
If the householders are disposing of their waste in an unlawful way, a Section 18 notice will be served on the household under the Waste Management Acts 1995–2003. This notice requires the household to provide details of their method of waste disposal and can be used to secure a prosecution for illegal disposal of waste. If the household fails to respond to this notice, it can lead to a court appearance.
Ms Ryan said: “This pilot survey will help us to identify anyone who is disposing of their waste illegally, and should, therefore, also result in a reduction in the amount of waste illegally disposed of, for example through dumping or burning.
“The survey will also mean that the council can identify those householders who do not make use of the council refuse collection, but who have legitimate and legal means of disposing of their waste.”
Queries about waste disposal can be made to the council’s environmental services department on 051-849563.
Irish Examiner
'Ignored' residents reject estates plan
RESIDENTS living in a troubled estate earmarked for a major facelift say they do not want to be included in the redevelopment plans because they weren't consulted.
Residents from Weston Gardens on Limerick's southside took out a full-page advertisement in their local paper to object to the work being carried out by the Limerick Regeneration Agencies.
The State agencies were set up following publication of the John Fitzgerald report and estates in Moyross, Southill and Ballinacurra-Weston are set to be radically transformed over coming years arising from their recommendations.
The man charged with overseeing the regeneration welcomed the open letter in the 'Limerick Leader' criticising the agency overseeing the redevelopment in their neighbourhood.
Chief executive officer of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies, Brendan Kenny, said he welcomed all input into the redevelopment of estates from local people as it showed a willingness by people to become involved.
Last week, the first meeting of the Southside Regeneration Committee was held to begin work on city's southside.
However, residents from Weston Gardens say they have "no trust, faith or confidence in the Southside Agency and do not wish to be included in its remit".
The committee of the Weston Gardens Association says it is disappointed to have been excluded from membership of the regeneration committee after it was invited to join it.
In response, Mr Kenny said: "It's a healthy situation if there are people who feel aggrieved at not being on a regeneration committee. That's a good sign because it shows a willingness to get involved."
Barry Duggan
Irish Independent
Residents from Weston Gardens on Limerick's southside took out a full-page advertisement in their local paper to object to the work being carried out by the Limerick Regeneration Agencies.
The State agencies were set up following publication of the John Fitzgerald report and estates in Moyross, Southill and Ballinacurra-Weston are set to be radically transformed over coming years arising from their recommendations.
The man charged with overseeing the regeneration welcomed the open letter in the 'Limerick Leader' criticising the agency overseeing the redevelopment in their neighbourhood.
Chief executive officer of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies, Brendan Kenny, said he welcomed all input into the redevelopment of estates from local people as it showed a willingness by people to become involved.
Last week, the first meeting of the Southside Regeneration Committee was held to begin work on city's southside.
However, residents from Weston Gardens say they have "no trust, faith or confidence in the Southside Agency and do not wish to be included in its remit".
The committee of the Weston Gardens Association says it is disappointed to have been excluded from membership of the regeneration committee after it was invited to join it.
In response, Mr Kenny said: "It's a healthy situation if there are people who feel aggrieved at not being on a regeneration committee. That's a good sign because it shows a willingness to get involved."
Barry Duggan
Irish Independent
Friday, 26 October 2007
Mayor quashes Hill of Allen debate
An attempt to discuss the Hill of Allen controversy was ruled out of order at Monday’s meeting of Kildare County Council. The topic was introduced by Cllr. Fiona O’Loughlin, who sought an amendment to the minutes of a previous meeting.
“I looked for information in relation to the proposed settlement between Roadstone and Kildare County Council and I want the minutes amended to clarify that,” she said.
She went on to comment: “I believe Roadstone should be applying for planning permission to the council in relation to its quarrying operation. Now it has emerged that two more national monuments have been discovered and in terms of heritage, and protecting what we have, this is vitally important.”
Cllr. O’Loughlin added: “I appreciate the sensitivities around the case at present, but I wanted to make this point.”
However, when Cllr. Pat Black attempted to make a further comment on the matter, commencing with “Anybody with the idea of heritage in mind should be concerned,” he was prevented from continuing.
Saying that she had allowed Cllr. O’Loughlin to request the amendment to the minutes, mayor Mary Glennon said there could now be no further discussion. “There is no debate under mayor’s business,” she said.
“I don’t want a debate; I want to make a comment,” said Cllr. Black.
“I’m sorry, I cannot allow any comment — there is no right of reply,” the mayor told a disgruntled Cllr. Black, effectively closing off the discussion.
Despite saying two weeks ago that the details of its settlement with Roadstone would be finalised and entered into the planning record “shortly,” no such information has yet been placed in the public arena by the county council.
Vicki Weller
Kildare Nationalist
“I looked for information in relation to the proposed settlement between Roadstone and Kildare County Council and I want the minutes amended to clarify that,” she said.
She went on to comment: “I believe Roadstone should be applying for planning permission to the council in relation to its quarrying operation. Now it has emerged that two more national monuments have been discovered and in terms of heritage, and protecting what we have, this is vitally important.”
Cllr. O’Loughlin added: “I appreciate the sensitivities around the case at present, but I wanted to make this point.”
However, when Cllr. Pat Black attempted to make a further comment on the matter, commencing with “Anybody with the idea of heritage in mind should be concerned,” he was prevented from continuing.
Saying that she had allowed Cllr. O’Loughlin to request the amendment to the minutes, mayor Mary Glennon said there could now be no further discussion. “There is no debate under mayor’s business,” she said.
“I don’t want a debate; I want to make a comment,” said Cllr. Black.
“I’m sorry, I cannot allow any comment — there is no right of reply,” the mayor told a disgruntled Cllr. Black, effectively closing off the discussion.
Despite saying two weeks ago that the details of its settlement with Roadstone would be finalised and entered into the planning record “shortly,” no such information has yet been placed in the public arena by the county council.
Vicki Weller
Kildare Nationalist
Shell advisers had no consent to drill
The Department of the Environment is considering what action to take with the Corrib gas developers, following an admission by Shell consultants that they drilled in a special area of conservation (SAC) in north Mayo without the appropriate consent.
The consultants have also conceded they did not consult the National Parks and Wildlife Service before drilling boreholes in the Glenamoy bog complex special area of conservation.
They have said the "oversight" was due to "miscommunication", both within their own company and Shell E&P Ireland.
A Department of Environment spokesman said that an expert had been sent to assess whether the SAC had been damaged. It would decide what action to take.
Under the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, the Minister for the Environment must authorise any such work in a special area of conservation by written consent, and contravention of this "without reasonable excuse" is described as an "offence" in the legislation.
The borehole drilling was being carried out by RPS Consultants, which had been hired by Shell E&P Ireland to select a modified route for the Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
Six weeks ago, a solidarity camp on the same site at Glengad was directed by court order to be dismantled by January 1st.
In a statement to The Irish Times , RPS Consultants said: "We are aware that in order to carry out such activities within a SAC, permission needs to be granted by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and we are currently in discussion with them."
Lorna Siggins
The Irish Times
The consultants have also conceded they did not consult the National Parks and Wildlife Service before drilling boreholes in the Glenamoy bog complex special area of conservation.
They have said the "oversight" was due to "miscommunication", both within their own company and Shell E&P Ireland.
A Department of Environment spokesman said that an expert had been sent to assess whether the SAC had been damaged. It would decide what action to take.
Under the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, the Minister for the Environment must authorise any such work in a special area of conservation by written consent, and contravention of this "without reasonable excuse" is described as an "offence" in the legislation.
The borehole drilling was being carried out by RPS Consultants, which had been hired by Shell E&P Ireland to select a modified route for the Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
Six weeks ago, a solidarity camp on the same site at Glengad was directed by court order to be dismantled by January 1st.
In a statement to The Irish Times , RPS Consultants said: "We are aware that in order to carry out such activities within a SAC, permission needs to be granted by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and we are currently in discussion with them."
Lorna Siggins
The Irish Times
Kerry planners overturn council on windfarm
A DECISION by Kerry County Council to refuse planning permission for two wind turbines near Asdee has been overturned by An Bord Pleanala.
The windfarm is to be situated at Curraderrig, Asdee on a site approximately seven kilometers north east of Ballybunion and west of Ballylongford.
The application is for the construction of two generators, with a hub height of 64 metres and of rotor diameter 70.5 metres, as well as a control building and ancillary works.
In December 2006, Kerry County Council turned down permission for the turbines saying they would be obtrusive on the landscape and would lessen the value of nearby homes.
However the decision was appealed by the applicant, JP McElligott, who argued that the planned turbines were just 2.5km from an existing windfarm at Beale and that they would not be located in an area with prime or special amenity value nor would they be located near any "views or prospects".
Planning inspector Aisling Cunnane recommended that the planning board grant permission for the turbines.
She maintained they would not have a significant adverse impact on the landscape and they would not adversely impact on flora and fauna.
At a meeting on 21 September last the board decided to grant permission in accordance with the inspector's recommendation, subject to certain conditions.
These include the structures being removed after 20 years unless further permission is granted, that noise levels be minimised and that the colour scheme to be used would be agreed with the council
The Kingdom
The windfarm is to be situated at Curraderrig, Asdee on a site approximately seven kilometers north east of Ballybunion and west of Ballylongford.
The application is for the construction of two generators, with a hub height of 64 metres and of rotor diameter 70.5 metres, as well as a control building and ancillary works.
In December 2006, Kerry County Council turned down permission for the turbines saying they would be obtrusive on the landscape and would lessen the value of nearby homes.
However the decision was appealed by the applicant, JP McElligott, who argued that the planned turbines were just 2.5km from an existing windfarm at Beale and that they would not be located in an area with prime or special amenity value nor would they be located near any "views or prospects".
Planning inspector Aisling Cunnane recommended that the planning board grant permission for the turbines.
She maintained they would not have a significant adverse impact on the landscape and they would not adversely impact on flora and fauna.
At a meeting on 21 September last the board decided to grant permission in accordance with the inspector's recommendation, subject to certain conditions.
These include the structures being removed after 20 years unless further permission is granted, that noise levels be minimised and that the colour scheme to be used would be agreed with the council
The Kingdom
Villagers say their ritual stone shall not be moved
FOR 2,000 years it has stood proudly in all weathers – a testament to the great mysteries of our Celtic ancestors.
But now the Turoe Stone, known as one of the finest of its kind in Europe, is to be moved from its home in a remote part of Co. Galway and housed in a museum.
The plan has stirred up a storm of disapproval among villagers in Bullaun who have demanded that Environment Minister John Gormley intervene.
The Turoe Stone is a unique white stone and is about one metre tall. It was placed near a ring fort at Kiltullagh over 2,000 years ago and then moved a century and a half ago to its current resting place in Bullaun, a few miles north of Loughrea.
Experts now believe it needs protection from the elements, but the Turoe Historical Society wants the stone to remain where it is. They are instead calling for a visitor centre to be built on the site.
Dr Kieran Jordan of the society says that such a move would ensure the stone remained locally and would help boost rural development.
Plans to move the stone to Galway City Museum are advanced. However, a public meeting in Bullaun on Saturday night heard that there is vehement opposition.
'The stone needs protection from weathering, but rather than removing it, this protection can be given to it on-site,' said Dr Jordan.
'With millions of euros being spent on rural development, removal of the very treasures that could attract visitors to rural areas is unfair.
'We would prefer to see proposals for development of an acclaimed Celtic tourist attraction site. This would support rural development, create and maintain the authenticity and integrity of the viewing experience and keep people out of our already clogged-up city,' he said.
Local PD Senator Ciaran Cannon has called for cross-party support to prevent the stone being moved.
'Removing the stone is taking the lazy option. The Turoe Stone is far too important and needs imagination and foresight to ensure that it is there for hundreds of years to come,' he said.
The Turoe Stone, an oval granite monument, was decorated in a Celtic style related to the La Tene culture of northern modern-day France during the Iron Age.
Many historians believe that the stone was carved in France, brought to Ireland in Celtic times and ultimately, like some family heirloom, moved further west, far from the prying eyes of the invaders.
Although the religious or ceremonial purposes of the stone are lost in time, for anybody who is interested in prehistoric Celtic art or, indeed, in art of any kind, this stone is a priceless treasure.
It is decorated all over with concentric spirals that are carved in low relief to a depth of about three centimetres.
Legend has it that the carvings on the stone – were they spread out on a flat surface – would equate to a primitive globe map.
The concept of the ritual stone was created by the pre-Christian Celtic communities.
They appear to have generally dismissed writing in favour of a relatively simpler set of symbols for expressing ideas and maintaining their religious and political beliefs.
Insofar as the long-term survival of their race and language was concerned, this 'paper free' approach appears to have proved very successful for the Celts.
The Irish Celts took to pen and ink art in the fifth century AD. So the beautiful eighth-century Book of Kells was produced by the direct descendants of the same race of people who cut and carved the Turoe stone.
John Fallon
Daily Mail
But now the Turoe Stone, known as one of the finest of its kind in Europe, is to be moved from its home in a remote part of Co. Galway and housed in a museum.
The plan has stirred up a storm of disapproval among villagers in Bullaun who have demanded that Environment Minister John Gormley intervene.
The Turoe Stone is a unique white stone and is about one metre tall. It was placed near a ring fort at Kiltullagh over 2,000 years ago and then moved a century and a half ago to its current resting place in Bullaun, a few miles north of Loughrea.
Experts now believe it needs protection from the elements, but the Turoe Historical Society wants the stone to remain where it is. They are instead calling for a visitor centre to be built on the site.
Dr Kieran Jordan of the society says that such a move would ensure the stone remained locally and would help boost rural development.
Plans to move the stone to Galway City Museum are advanced. However, a public meeting in Bullaun on Saturday night heard that there is vehement opposition.
'The stone needs protection from weathering, but rather than removing it, this protection can be given to it on-site,' said Dr Jordan.
'With millions of euros being spent on rural development, removal of the very treasures that could attract visitors to rural areas is unfair.
'We would prefer to see proposals for development of an acclaimed Celtic tourist attraction site. This would support rural development, create and maintain the authenticity and integrity of the viewing experience and keep people out of our already clogged-up city,' he said.
Local PD Senator Ciaran Cannon has called for cross-party support to prevent the stone being moved.
'Removing the stone is taking the lazy option. The Turoe Stone is far too important and needs imagination and foresight to ensure that it is there for hundreds of years to come,' he said.
The Turoe Stone, an oval granite monument, was decorated in a Celtic style related to the La Tene culture of northern modern-day France during the Iron Age.
Many historians believe that the stone was carved in France, brought to Ireland in Celtic times and ultimately, like some family heirloom, moved further west, far from the prying eyes of the invaders.
Although the religious or ceremonial purposes of the stone are lost in time, for anybody who is interested in prehistoric Celtic art or, indeed, in art of any kind, this stone is a priceless treasure.
It is decorated all over with concentric spirals that are carved in low relief to a depth of about three centimetres.
Legend has it that the carvings on the stone – were they spread out on a flat surface – would equate to a primitive globe map.
The concept of the ritual stone was created by the pre-Christian Celtic communities.
They appear to have generally dismissed writing in favour of a relatively simpler set of symbols for expressing ideas and maintaining their religious and political beliefs.
Insofar as the long-term survival of their race and language was concerned, this 'paper free' approach appears to have proved very successful for the Celts.
The Irish Celts took to pen and ink art in the fifth century AD. So the beautiful eighth-century Book of Kells was produced by the direct descendants of the same race of people who cut and carved the Turoe stone.
John Fallon
Daily Mail
Taoiseach urged to 'stop giving out about snails'
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern should stop giving out about "snails and swans" holding up roads when it was he who encouraged support for the European treaty that brought in the safeguards for them, the president of An Taisce said yesterday.
Éanna Ní Lamhna criticised the "silly nonsense" being spoken by those in power who had no environmental education and thought they were the "only species on Earth".
See the Friends of the Irish Environment Report submitted to the Minister on Cascade Wood...
and
See the true story of the Kildare By Pass, dismissed by Senator Martin Manseer as 'the ridiculous delay to the N7 bypass at Kildare because of a supposedly threatened species of snail.'
Dr Ní Lamhna was in Muckross House in Killarney National Park yesterday to launch the State's first third-level wildlife biology courses.
The courses, a four-year BSc in wildlife biology and two-year certificate in biological and environmental studies, are being offered by the Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT), in partnership with Killarney National Park and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Students will spend at least one day a week on fieldwork in the 25,000 acres of mountain woods and lakes of the park.
Referring to a radio news report the previous evening that depicted the rare Kerry slug as holding up a Cork road, Dr Ní Lamhna said: "Nobody made the point that this slug is not a nuisance holding up development, but an indicator species of an ancient wood."
The slug was protected under the habitats directive of the Maastricht treaty and the Taoiseach giving out about snails and swans holding up major roads projects was at odds with his stance on that treaty, she said.
"You wouldn't think he [ Mr Ahern] encouraged people to vote for this treaty," said Dr Ní Lamhna, in reference to Mr Ahern's support for the treaty.
The An Taisce president, who is a biologist and college lecturer, also claimed Éamon De Valera's emphasis on the Irish language in education had pushed the sciences aside.
His education policy had produced people with wonderful Irish, but without any knowledge of the environment, she said, breaking into Irish as she spoke.
Biology was made a Leaving Cert subject only in 1971 and 40 years ago girls were not offered or encouraged to study science. Between 1936 and 1971 students were taught "not a single word about the environment".
That meant the people in power now, such as county managers and politicians, had learned nothing about the environment or biology at school, she said.
People did not want to hear any more of the "silly nonsense" about snails holding up roads and "what did snails ever do for us?" and so on, "as if we were the only species on Earth".
The course being offered by the ITT was "very timely" and was at the cusp of a new environmental awareness, she added.
Anne Lucey
The Irish Times 25.10.07
Éanna Ní Lamhna criticised the "silly nonsense" being spoken by those in power who had no environmental education and thought they were the "only species on Earth".
See the Friends of the Irish Environment Report submitted to the Minister on Cascade Wood...
and
See the true story of the Kildare By Pass, dismissed by Senator Martin Manseer as 'the ridiculous delay to the N7 bypass at Kildare because of a supposedly threatened species of snail.'
Dr Ní Lamhna was in Muckross House in Killarney National Park yesterday to launch the State's first third-level wildlife biology courses.
The courses, a four-year BSc in wildlife biology and two-year certificate in biological and environmental studies, are being offered by the Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT), in partnership with Killarney National Park and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Students will spend at least one day a week on fieldwork in the 25,000 acres of mountain woods and lakes of the park.
Referring to a radio news report the previous evening that depicted the rare Kerry slug as holding up a Cork road, Dr Ní Lamhna said: "Nobody made the point that this slug is not a nuisance holding up development, but an indicator species of an ancient wood."
The slug was protected under the habitats directive of the Maastricht treaty and the Taoiseach giving out about snails and swans holding up major roads projects was at odds with his stance on that treaty, she said.
"You wouldn't think he [ Mr Ahern] encouraged people to vote for this treaty," said Dr Ní Lamhna, in reference to Mr Ahern's support for the treaty.
The An Taisce president, who is a biologist and college lecturer, also claimed Éamon De Valera's emphasis on the Irish language in education had pushed the sciences aside.
His education policy had produced people with wonderful Irish, but without any knowledge of the environment, she said, breaking into Irish as she spoke.
Biology was made a Leaving Cert subject only in 1971 and 40 years ago girls were not offered or encouraged to study science. Between 1936 and 1971 students were taught "not a single word about the environment".
That meant the people in power now, such as county managers and politicians, had learned nothing about the environment or biology at school, she said.
People did not want to hear any more of the "silly nonsense" about snails holding up roads and "what did snails ever do for us?" and so on, "as if we were the only species on Earth".
The course being offered by the ITT was "very timely" and was at the cusp of a new environmental awareness, she added.
Anne Lucey
The Irish Times 25.10.07
North Quay traffic problems causing concern
Arklow Town Council have considered a moritorium on all future developments on Arklow's North Quay until a solution to the area's traffic problems is found.At their meeting last week, town councillors said North Quay, Mill Road and the Marina had only one acess point via the Bridgewater roundabout and North Quay.
Development freeze considered on quay
Arklow Town Council have considered a moritorium on all future developments on Arklow's North Quay until a solution to the area's traffic problems is found.
At their meeting last week, town councillors said North Quay, Mill Road and the Marina had only one acess point via the Bridgewater roundabout and North Quay.
Several North Quay developments have recently received planning permission including the Aldi store beside the Bridgewater Store, the Foudi development of 118 apartments near the marina, and the Joby development of 50 apartments and eight retail units, also on North Quay. Other North Quay developments are likely to follow.
Town councillor Donal O'Sullivan asked whether the council should freeze granting any more planning permissions in the area for the time being.Until there is some proper infrastructural access to the North Quay should we as a council grant any more planning permissions down there?,' he asked.
We have to have a long, hard look at the accessibility of that site.'
Councillor Pat Fitzgerald said a new access route to the North Quay area would have to be found.
Arklow mayor Sylvester Bourke suggested putting a freeze on future planning applications to see what happens with traffic'.
But Town Clerk Des Nicholls said there would be problems building a new access road to the quayside.
Seaview Avenue or Stringers Lane ar the most suitable points from which to build a new link road to the quays, but the council had made committments to local residents in the past to limit traffic flows there.
Mr Nichols said the Bridgewater roundabout had been designed to cater for shoppers as well as all other existing developments on the North Quay.
Wicklow People
Development freeze considered on quay
Arklow Town Council have considered a moritorium on all future developments on Arklow's North Quay until a solution to the area's traffic problems is found.
At their meeting last week, town councillors said North Quay, Mill Road and the Marina had only one acess point via the Bridgewater roundabout and North Quay.
Several North Quay developments have recently received planning permission including the Aldi store beside the Bridgewater Store, the Foudi development of 118 apartments near the marina, and the Joby development of 50 apartments and eight retail units, also on North Quay. Other North Quay developments are likely to follow.
Town councillor Donal O'Sullivan asked whether the council should freeze granting any more planning permissions in the area for the time being.Until there is some proper infrastructural access to the North Quay should we as a council grant any more planning permissions down there?,' he asked.
We have to have a long, hard look at the accessibility of that site.'
Councillor Pat Fitzgerald said a new access route to the North Quay area would have to be found.
Arklow mayor Sylvester Bourke suggested putting a freeze on future planning applications to see what happens with traffic'.
But Town Clerk Des Nicholls said there would be problems building a new access road to the quayside.
Seaview Avenue or Stringers Lane ar the most suitable points from which to build a new link road to the quays, but the council had made committments to local residents in the past to limit traffic flows there.
Mr Nichols said the Bridgewater roundabout had been designed to cater for shoppers as well as all other existing developments on the North Quay.
Wicklow People
Residents distressed' by Bridgewater traffic
Arklow Town Council acted quickly last week to assuage Ferrybank residents choked by Bridgewater Centre traffic, extending the double yellow lines of both sides of the Dublin Road to ease the congestion.But residents are looking for more action, last week's town council meeting was told.
Arklow Town Council acted quickly last week to assuage Ferrybank residents choked by Bridgewater Centre traffic, extending the double yellow lines of both sides of the Dublin Road to ease the congestion.
But residents are looking for more action, last week's town council meeting was told.
Councillor Donal O'Sullivan said some residents were very, very, very irate' at shoppers parking in neighbouring streets and that parking regulations and enforcement should be extended onto Ferrybank.
We have to extend our traffic management beyond the bridge,' he said.
He said Seaview Avenue should be residents' parking only. But he said a balance needed to be struck between parking restrictions and resident amenity, especially on Ferrybank, where the double yellow lines mean many reisdents can't park outside their own houses.
You have to remember that people live on Ferrybank and we want them to continue living on Ferrybank.'
The council also received two letters from local residents angry at the state of the traffic situation last weekend.
One Marina Village resident wrote that she was extremely distressed' to see cars exiting the Bridgewater car park being directed into Marina Village before turning back along North Quay to the main roundabout belching carbon monoxide outside our homes'.
Liam Keogh and Declan Fitzgerald from the Ferrybank Residents Association wrote that vehicles parking on the footpath, especially near the corner of Ferrybank and Stringer's Lane were a life threatening danger'.
This results in vehicles leaving Stringer's Lane having no field of vision...from either Templerainey or Bridge Street directions.'
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald said there is going to be someone killed there' one day.
Town Clerk Des Nichols said Bridgewater Centre management said they would not divert car park traffic through Marina Village in future.
Mr Nichols said the council was also considering installing barriers at the swimming pool car park, and opening up a space near the leisure centre for Bridgewater staff parking.
He said further parking enforcement on Ferrybank during peak weekend shopping times wouldn't be possible without extra funding to pay for traffic wardens.
Wicklow People
Arklow Town Council acted quickly last week to assuage Ferrybank residents choked by Bridgewater Centre traffic, extending the double yellow lines of both sides of the Dublin Road to ease the congestion.
But residents are looking for more action, last week's town council meeting was told.
Councillor Donal O'Sullivan said some residents were very, very, very irate' at shoppers parking in neighbouring streets and that parking regulations and enforcement should be extended onto Ferrybank.
We have to extend our traffic management beyond the bridge,' he said.
He said Seaview Avenue should be residents' parking only. But he said a balance needed to be struck between parking restrictions and resident amenity, especially on Ferrybank, where the double yellow lines mean many reisdents can't park outside their own houses.
You have to remember that people live on Ferrybank and we want them to continue living on Ferrybank.'
The council also received two letters from local residents angry at the state of the traffic situation last weekend.
One Marina Village resident wrote that she was extremely distressed' to see cars exiting the Bridgewater car park being directed into Marina Village before turning back along North Quay to the main roundabout belching carbon monoxide outside our homes'.
Liam Keogh and Declan Fitzgerald from the Ferrybank Residents Association wrote that vehicles parking on the footpath, especially near the corner of Ferrybank and Stringer's Lane were a life threatening danger'.
This results in vehicles leaving Stringer's Lane having no field of vision...from either Templerainey or Bridge Street directions.'
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald said there is going to be someone killed there' one day.
Town Clerk Des Nichols said Bridgewater Centre management said they would not divert car park traffic through Marina Village in future.
Mr Nichols said the council was also considering installing barriers at the swimming pool car park, and opening up a space near the leisure centre for Bridgewater staff parking.
He said further parking enforcement on Ferrybank during peak weekend shopping times wouldn't be possible without extra funding to pay for traffic wardens.
Wicklow People
Dunlavin presents wish list' to County Council
Dunlavin residents have made their feelings clear with a wishlist for the upcoming town plan, with demands for better water and sewerage services being their main concerns.Six members of the Dunlavin and District Forum handed in the community document to members of the county council executive at a meeting on Tuesday evening. The document had been distributed to every home in t
Dunlavin residents have made their feelings clear with a wishlist for the upcoming town plan, with demands for better water and sewerage services being their main concerns.
Six members of the Dunlavin and District Forum handed in the community document to members of the county council executive at a meeting on Tuesday evening. The document had been distributed to every home in the area in order to collect everyone's input.
While water and sewerage were the two main issues highlighted, other recommendations revolved around the economy, social life, education, recreation, sport, housing and architecture.
The documents represents the feelings of everyone living in Dunlavin. Other local organisations also met with council members to outline their concerns.
A further meeting is also in the pipe line though no fixed date has been organised.
Wicklow People
Dunlavin residents have made their feelings clear with a wishlist for the upcoming town plan, with demands for better water and sewerage services being their main concerns.
Six members of the Dunlavin and District Forum handed in the community document to members of the county council executive at a meeting on Tuesday evening. The document had been distributed to every home in the area in order to collect everyone's input.
While water and sewerage were the two main issues highlighted, other recommendations revolved around the economy, social life, education, recreation, sport, housing and architecture.
The documents represents the feelings of everyone living in Dunlavin. Other local organisations also met with council members to outline their concerns.
A further meeting is also in the pipe line though no fixed date has been organised.
Wicklow People
Couple told to demolish part of dream home
A couple who went over the top in the design of their dream home have been told by a judge they will have to knock some of it or go to jail.
Interior and property designers Tom and Antoinette Darcy kept adding on bits for which they did not have planning permission, Judge Jacqueline Linnane heard in the Circuit Civil Court. On occasion they had been granted permission by the local authority to retain changes they made to officially agreed plans, but Fingal County Council dug in its heels when the Darcys literally went through the roof with things.
Now they have to demolish part of a glass atrium-style addition to the front of their new €3m home, Woodview, which has sea views from Grey's Lane, Howth, Co Dublin. They will also have to make changes to areas where they also overstepped planning permission at the back of the house.
When the couple came before Judge Linnane yesterday, facing imprisonment for contempt of court for having failed to carry out the changes months ago, she was told it would mean opening up the front and back of the house to the elements to bring the house in line with planning permission.
Judge Linnane said they had ignored orders from another Circuit Court Judge to fully comply with the planning permission and had failed to lodge sworn written evidence as to how they were going to set about making the changes.
Mr Damian Keaney, counsel for Fingal County Council, told the court the local authority was seeking to have the Darcys, who previously lived at Knightsbridge, Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin, attached and committed to prison for contempt. The court was asked to consider the imposition of a severe financial penalty on the Darcys -- who are both designers who ran a company, Concept Homes Ltd. -- or sequestration of some of their assets.
Judge Linnane granted the Darcys another week before deciding what she will do with them.
Ray Managh
Irish Independent
Interior and property designers Tom and Antoinette Darcy kept adding on bits for which they did not have planning permission, Judge Jacqueline Linnane heard in the Circuit Civil Court. On occasion they had been granted permission by the local authority to retain changes they made to officially agreed plans, but Fingal County Council dug in its heels when the Darcys literally went through the roof with things.
Now they have to demolish part of a glass atrium-style addition to the front of their new €3m home, Woodview, which has sea views from Grey's Lane, Howth, Co Dublin. They will also have to make changes to areas where they also overstepped planning permission at the back of the house.
When the couple came before Judge Linnane yesterday, facing imprisonment for contempt of court for having failed to carry out the changes months ago, she was told it would mean opening up the front and back of the house to the elements to bring the house in line with planning permission.
Judge Linnane said they had ignored orders from another Circuit Court Judge to fully comply with the planning permission and had failed to lodge sworn written evidence as to how they were going to set about making the changes.
Mr Damian Keaney, counsel for Fingal County Council, told the court the local authority was seeking to have the Darcys, who previously lived at Knightsbridge, Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin, attached and committed to prison for contempt. The court was asked to consider the imposition of a severe financial penalty on the Darcys -- who are both designers who ran a company, Concept Homes Ltd. -- or sequestration of some of their assets.
Judge Linnane granted the Darcys another week before deciding what she will do with them.
Ray Managh
Irish Independent
Incinerators spark clash between Ahern and Green Party
THE NUMBER of incinerators needed in the future sparked a clash between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Green Party yesterday.
Mr Ahern said four incinerators would be needed, a fortnight after Green Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley declared Ireland might need only two.
There are no fewer than eight incinerator projects at various stages of the planning process, however -- and Mr Gormley has declared that he cannot interfere with that conveyor belt.
Mr Ahern said: "There are major applications for incinerators in the planning process. Perhaps we will not need eight incinerators -- four was the number mentioned in a number of reports."
In two applications, the capacity being sought is higher than what was originally planned, the taoiseach noted.
But he added: "If we go with the most modern technology we would not need the number that had been envisaged."
The difference led to Opposition claims that the taoiseach was "talking up" the number of incinerators needed, whereas Mr Gormley had been talking it down.
Fine Gael spokesman Phil Hogan said there was a split between the coalition partners on incineration. The Government's waste management strategy was "in complete disarray," he said.
"There is a rift between John Gormley and Bertie Ahern a mile wide," he added.
Irish Independent
Mr Ahern said four incinerators would be needed, a fortnight after Green Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley declared Ireland might need only two.
There are no fewer than eight incinerator projects at various stages of the planning process, however -- and Mr Gormley has declared that he cannot interfere with that conveyor belt.
Mr Ahern said: "There are major applications for incinerators in the planning process. Perhaps we will not need eight incinerators -- four was the number mentioned in a number of reports."
In two applications, the capacity being sought is higher than what was originally planned, the taoiseach noted.
But he added: "If we go with the most modern technology we would not need the number that had been envisaged."
The difference led to Opposition claims that the taoiseach was "talking up" the number of incinerators needed, whereas Mr Gormley had been talking it down.
Fine Gael spokesman Phil Hogan said there was a split between the coalition partners on incineration. The Government's waste management strategy was "in complete disarray," he said.
"There is a rift between John Gormley and Bertie Ahern a mile wide," he added.
Irish Independent
EU ruling may force clean-up of landfill sites
THE Government will be forced to clean up abandoned landfill sites around the country that are leaking into the groundwater and polluting it or face massive fines following a ruling from the European Court of Justice.
EU members are supposed to ensure that dangerous substances do not leak from waste and contaminate the groundwater from which most of the country’s drinking water comes.
But the court found that the Ballymurtagh landfill site in Co Wicklow has been leaching into the groundwater and the river Avoca nearby. The poisonous substances include mercury and cadmium from old batteries, which is cancer-causing This would not have happened had the site been properly lined but the authorities decided against this at the time on the basis that the river was already poisoned by heavy metals from a nearby disused mine.
The case has wider implications however, according to Labour MEP, Proinsias De Rossa, because it proves the Government has not been complying with the Groundwater Directive.
“Should the commission in the future be presented with evidence of pollution of groundwater by landfills, it has the right to ask the court to impose substantial fines against Ireland, possibly amounting to tens of millions of euro,” he said.
The case should also force the Environmental Protection Agency to review the way it does its job as the court found it had breached the directive by granting a licence for the Ballymurtagh landfill in April 2001 without carrying out a full examination of the local environment first.
“The EPA must now review its procedures for licensing landfills on foot of this ruling,” said Mr De Rossa. The authorities were also found guilty of allowing septic tanks attached to commercial ventures to pollute groundwater in Wexford and endanger the lakes of Killarney. However the court said they were not shown enough evidence by the European Commission that septic tanks were contaminating drinking water around the country.
The commission says it may return to the court with fresh evidence such as the cryptosporium found in Galway during the summer and EPA reports that 57% of groundwater samples were contaminated with faecal coliforms.
Mr De Rossa said the minister for the environment could not take any comfort from the fact that the court turned down the commission’s claim that Ireland had not done enough to prevent groundwater pollution from commercial septic tanks.
“It should be bourne in mind that Ireland had not taken all possible steps to prevent such pollution. There is still clearly a need for the minister for environment to take further action on groundwater pollution from septic tanks,” he said.
The Department of the Environment, who has been fighting this case for the past five years, said they were studying the court decision.
Irish Examiner
EU members are supposed to ensure that dangerous substances do not leak from waste and contaminate the groundwater from which most of the country’s drinking water comes.
But the court found that the Ballymurtagh landfill site in Co Wicklow has been leaching into the groundwater and the river Avoca nearby. The poisonous substances include mercury and cadmium from old batteries, which is cancer-causing This would not have happened had the site been properly lined but the authorities decided against this at the time on the basis that the river was already poisoned by heavy metals from a nearby disused mine.
The case has wider implications however, according to Labour MEP, Proinsias De Rossa, because it proves the Government has not been complying with the Groundwater Directive.
“Should the commission in the future be presented with evidence of pollution of groundwater by landfills, it has the right to ask the court to impose substantial fines against Ireland, possibly amounting to tens of millions of euro,” he said.
The case should also force the Environmental Protection Agency to review the way it does its job as the court found it had breached the directive by granting a licence for the Ballymurtagh landfill in April 2001 without carrying out a full examination of the local environment first.
“The EPA must now review its procedures for licensing landfills on foot of this ruling,” said Mr De Rossa. The authorities were also found guilty of allowing septic tanks attached to commercial ventures to pollute groundwater in Wexford and endanger the lakes of Killarney. However the court said they were not shown enough evidence by the European Commission that septic tanks were contaminating drinking water around the country.
The commission says it may return to the court with fresh evidence such as the cryptosporium found in Galway during the summer and EPA reports that 57% of groundwater samples were contaminated with faecal coliforms.
Mr De Rossa said the minister for the environment could not take any comfort from the fact that the court turned down the commission’s claim that Ireland had not done enough to prevent groundwater pollution from commercial septic tanks.
“It should be bourne in mind that Ireland had not taken all possible steps to prevent such pollution. There is still clearly a need for the minister for environment to take further action on groundwater pollution from septic tanks,” he said.
The Department of the Environment, who has been fighting this case for the past five years, said they were studying the court decision.
Irish Examiner
EPA launches €100m project
THE Environmental Protection Agency is to invest €100 million over the next five years in a new research and innovation programme which will see more than 1,000 researchers employed to engage in cutting-edge projects which, it hopes, will greatly improve and protect the natural environment.
The new EPA Science, Technology, Research & Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) programme is open to researchers and companies, will support environmental policy development and implementation, and will run up until 2013.
As part of the first phase of the programme, the EPA yesterday launched the search for research proposals in the areas of:
* Environmental technologies;
* Waste, resource management and chemicals;
* Sustainable development and environmental socio-economics;
* Environment and health;
* Environmental research data management.
According to the EPA, the STRIVE programme will continue the expansion of Irish environmental research. Its success will depend on the collaboration of a range of agencies, research performers and industry partners, working together.
A combination of projects will be funded, ranging from short-desk studies to large multi-annual capability development projects involving several organisations. The programme will involve more than 1,000 researchers and industrial innovators focusing on key national and international environmental priorities.
Dr Mary Kelly, director general of the EPA, said: “The importance of research and innovation across the Irish economy is well recognised and is extremely important in the environmental area. Good quality research can provide the foundation for credible decision-making, while technology and innovation can provide solutions to environmental problems. The EPA STRIVE programme will support research and innovation in key areas of environmental importance and will help to build capacity and capability in Irish institutions as well as delivering world class results in an Irish context.”
Irish Examiner
The new EPA Science, Technology, Research & Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) programme is open to researchers and companies, will support environmental policy development and implementation, and will run up until 2013.
As part of the first phase of the programme, the EPA yesterday launched the search for research proposals in the areas of:
* Environmental technologies;
* Waste, resource management and chemicals;
* Sustainable development and environmental socio-economics;
* Environment and health;
* Environmental research data management.
According to the EPA, the STRIVE programme will continue the expansion of Irish environmental research. Its success will depend on the collaboration of a range of agencies, research performers and industry partners, working together.
A combination of projects will be funded, ranging from short-desk studies to large multi-annual capability development projects involving several organisations. The programme will involve more than 1,000 researchers and industrial innovators focusing on key national and international environmental priorities.
Dr Mary Kelly, director general of the EPA, said: “The importance of research and innovation across the Irish economy is well recognised and is extremely important in the environmental area. Good quality research can provide the foundation for credible decision-making, while technology and innovation can provide solutions to environmental problems. The EPA STRIVE programme will support research and innovation in key areas of environmental importance and will help to build capacity and capability in Irish institutions as well as delivering world class results in an Irish context.”
Irish Examiner
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Over-supply of planners?
Here's an email. One of a few I have received in recent weeks:
Dear Brendan,
What advice would you give to the significant number of planning graduates currently unemployed or 'badly employed' i.e not working within the planning sector? Anecdotally, I've heard that over 60 people applied for a recently advertised graduate position in Ennis; few graduates from the '07 class in UCD are as yet employed; and due to the glut of 1 year courses in Britain (essentially doubling graduate numbers there) opportunities in the U.K just aren't there like they were a couple of years ago. Also, to what extent do you think the IPI, or indeed Minister Gormley should intervene in order to alleviate the situation?
There is currently 1 Graduate Job advertised nationally...(NRA)
Kind Regards.
My response was:
Hi,
This predicament has arisen due to oversupply. I qualified when around 16-20 planners trained each year at UCD (for the whole country). Now the numbers are out of control, with courses at UCD, DIT, UCC all containing large numbers. My advice is go where the jobs are - that is, go to the UK. I worked in Scotland as a planner in the past. The experience will place you ahead when you apply for jobs in Ireland.
Ten years ago no one expected a planning job in Ireland when they graduated. You obviously expect one now. I think given the numbers of qualified planners in Ireland now, your expectations are high.
It takes many people years to get the planning job they want.
Best wishes,
Brendan
Dear Brendan,
What advice would you give to the significant number of planning graduates currently unemployed or 'badly employed' i.e not working within the planning sector? Anecdotally, I've heard that over 60 people applied for a recently advertised graduate position in Ennis; few graduates from the '07 class in UCD are as yet employed; and due to the glut of 1 year courses in Britain (essentially doubling graduate numbers there) opportunities in the U.K just aren't there like they were a couple of years ago. Also, to what extent do you think the IPI, or indeed Minister Gormley should intervene in order to alleviate the situation?
There is currently 1 Graduate Job advertised nationally...(NRA)
Kind Regards.
My response was:
Hi,
This predicament has arisen due to oversupply. I qualified when around 16-20 planners trained each year at UCD (for the whole country). Now the numbers are out of control, with courses at UCD, DIT, UCC all containing large numbers. My advice is go where the jobs are - that is, go to the UK. I worked in Scotland as a planner in the past. The experience will place you ahead when you apply for jobs in Ireland.
Ten years ago no one expected a planning job in Ireland when they graduated. You obviously expect one now. I think given the numbers of qualified planners in Ireland now, your expectations are high.
It takes many people years to get the planning job they want.
Best wishes,
Brendan
EPA waste tip-off phoneline receives 2,184 calls
The Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘Dump the Dumpers’ phoneline had 2,184 calls in its first year of operation, the agency said yesterday.
Fly-tipping and burning of waste accounted for 75% of the calls received, with 522 complaints made in Dublin, 349 in Wicklow and 266 in Cork.
The phoneline — 1850 365 121 — was made operational on June 28, 2006, initially for a six-month period in response to the high levels of waste being dumped around the country, particularly in Border areas. Large amounts were also being transported into the North. That upsurge was blamed on the increase in the cost of legal dumping in this country.
When it was found to be so successful, the scheme was extended beyond the six-month period.
The results for the phoneline were announced ahead of the EPA’s fourth annual environmental enforcement network waste conference, which began in Wexford yesterday and continues today.
Enforcement officers will review the results of action taken against illegal operators over the past year and decide the next move against illegal waste activities.
The EPA said the numbers of inspections doubled to more than 32,000 in 2006, carried out by 317 staff from 34 local authorities.
It said the types of enforcement undertaken by local authorities had changed radically in recent years, with the likes of Cork County Council using a helicopter survey to identify 60 unauthorised car scrapyards which were subsequently inspected.
Of those sites, 40% have either closed or are closing and more are upgrading their facilities to appropriate standards. Enforcement action is planned against a number of facilities.
Other case studies detail sting operations against illegal collectors of waste and against those burning waste. Kilkenny County Council secured a landfill levy of €170,000 in respect of an unauthorised landfilling activity.
Elsewhere, the EPA in taking part in major investigations into illegal sites in North which are being filled by southern operators.
Authorities on both sides of the Border are co-operating and sharing intelligence.
Lines of enquiry are being followed and investigators in the Republic are examining the suspected producers, collectors and transporters of the waste.
Enforcement officers dealing with illegal waste activities are meeting in Wexford today and tomorrow. They will review the results of enforcement action taken against illegal operators over the past year and decide the next offensive against illegal waste activities.
Dara Lynott, director of the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) in the EPA, & said problems are being tackled but added there was no room for complacency. He said challenges — such as increased illegal collection, fly tipping of waste and poor management of construction and demolition waste — remain serious areas of concern.
Irish Examiner
Fly-tipping and burning of waste accounted for 75% of the calls received, with 522 complaints made in Dublin, 349 in Wicklow and 266 in Cork.
The phoneline — 1850 365 121 — was made operational on June 28, 2006, initially for a six-month period in response to the high levels of waste being dumped around the country, particularly in Border areas. Large amounts were also being transported into the North. That upsurge was blamed on the increase in the cost of legal dumping in this country.
When it was found to be so successful, the scheme was extended beyond the six-month period.
The results for the phoneline were announced ahead of the EPA’s fourth annual environmental enforcement network waste conference, which began in Wexford yesterday and continues today.
Enforcement officers will review the results of action taken against illegal operators over the past year and decide the next move against illegal waste activities.
The EPA said the numbers of inspections doubled to more than 32,000 in 2006, carried out by 317 staff from 34 local authorities.
It said the types of enforcement undertaken by local authorities had changed radically in recent years, with the likes of Cork County Council using a helicopter survey to identify 60 unauthorised car scrapyards which were subsequently inspected.
Of those sites, 40% have either closed or are closing and more are upgrading their facilities to appropriate standards. Enforcement action is planned against a number of facilities.
Other case studies detail sting operations against illegal collectors of waste and against those burning waste. Kilkenny County Council secured a landfill levy of €170,000 in respect of an unauthorised landfilling activity.
Elsewhere, the EPA in taking part in major investigations into illegal sites in North which are being filled by southern operators.
Authorities on both sides of the Border are co-operating and sharing intelligence.
Lines of enquiry are being followed and investigators in the Republic are examining the suspected producers, collectors and transporters of the waste.
Enforcement officers dealing with illegal waste activities are meeting in Wexford today and tomorrow. They will review the results of enforcement action taken against illegal operators over the past year and decide the next offensive against illegal waste activities.
Dara Lynott, director of the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) in the EPA, & said problems are being tackled but added there was no room for complacency. He said challenges — such as increased illegal collection, fly tipping of waste and poor management of construction and demolition waste — remain serious areas of concern.
Irish Examiner
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Limerick rail link to airport ruled out in study
Consultants say cost of project would be €700m.
The prospect of a rail link to Shannon airport from Limerick appeared doomed yesterday following confirmation by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, that Iarnród Éireann has no plans to undertake any further work on the proposal at this stage.
In reply to a parliamentary question Mr Dempsey stated that a feasibility study carried out on behalf of Iarnród Éireann, with input from a steering group representative of local interests, concluded that the economic case for the rail link is poor.
Stating that the rail link is not included in the Government's Transport 21 programme, Mr Dempsey told Limerick East Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell that Iarnród Éireann "has no plans to undertake any further work on the proposal at this stage".
The feasibility study by MVA Consultants has put a cost of €700 million on constructing the rail link. However, this has been disputed by the locally-based Shannon Rail Partnership which claims that the rail link will cost €240 million.
Business development manager with Iarnród Éireann Jim Gallivan confirmed that the feasibility study found that "the costs of the construction of the rail link are out of proportion to the benefits to be gained".
Mr Gallivan said: "Milan has three airports and no rail link with a population of eight to 10 million and the greater Limerick-Shannon area has a population of 150,000 and the current population densities do not justify the project at the moment.
"The figures don't stack up and maybe in 15 to 20 years' time, the population density might be there," he added.
The draft feasibility study states that "in the early years there would be significant deficit on the operating account, but with a buoyant air travel market for the whole 30-year period, revenues could potentially cover operating costs, taking a longer-term view".
The Shannon Rail Partnership wrote to former minister for transport Martin Cullen on the need for the rail link and urged him to reserve a line for the development of the rail link in order to avoid houses being built on the line ahead of the population densities being in place in the future.
The draft feasibility study anticipates that there will be adverse environmental and severance impacts, particularly where the line runs through Shannon town.
Shannon Town Council member Cllr Seán Hillery (Fianna Fáil) confirmed yesterday that he did not receive a response from the then minister.
He said: "The Shannon Rail Partnership will be meeting soon and we will be seeking to reactivate our request to freeze the route for rail line development as it would avoid larger costs down the line."
He added: "This is not going to happen this year or next year and will depend on population increases."
Gordon Deegan
The Irish Times
The prospect of a rail link to Shannon airport from Limerick appeared doomed yesterday following confirmation by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, that Iarnród Éireann has no plans to undertake any further work on the proposal at this stage.
In reply to a parliamentary question Mr Dempsey stated that a feasibility study carried out on behalf of Iarnród Éireann, with input from a steering group representative of local interests, concluded that the economic case for the rail link is poor.
Stating that the rail link is not included in the Government's Transport 21 programme, Mr Dempsey told Limerick East Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell that Iarnród Éireann "has no plans to undertake any further work on the proposal at this stage".
The feasibility study by MVA Consultants has put a cost of €700 million on constructing the rail link. However, this has been disputed by the locally-based Shannon Rail Partnership which claims that the rail link will cost €240 million.
Business development manager with Iarnród Éireann Jim Gallivan confirmed that the feasibility study found that "the costs of the construction of the rail link are out of proportion to the benefits to be gained".
Mr Gallivan said: "Milan has three airports and no rail link with a population of eight to 10 million and the greater Limerick-Shannon area has a population of 150,000 and the current population densities do not justify the project at the moment.
"The figures don't stack up and maybe in 15 to 20 years' time, the population density might be there," he added.
The draft feasibility study states that "in the early years there would be significant deficit on the operating account, but with a buoyant air travel market for the whole 30-year period, revenues could potentially cover operating costs, taking a longer-term view".
The Shannon Rail Partnership wrote to former minister for transport Martin Cullen on the need for the rail link and urged him to reserve a line for the development of the rail link in order to avoid houses being built on the line ahead of the population densities being in place in the future.
The draft feasibility study anticipates that there will be adverse environmental and severance impacts, particularly where the line runs through Shannon town.
Shannon Town Council member Cllr Seán Hillery (Fianna Fáil) confirmed yesterday that he did not receive a response from the then minister.
He said: "The Shannon Rail Partnership will be meeting soon and we will be seeking to reactivate our request to freeze the route for rail line development as it would avoid larger costs down the line."
He added: "This is not going to happen this year or next year and will depend on population increases."
Gordon Deegan
The Irish Times
Planning deferral system abused
SENIOR officials on Kerry County Council have claimed that a deferral system for planning applications is being abused.
A deferral on a decision is allowed when more time is sought to deal with a problem on a site, or with the application.
However, councillors are being put under undue pressure to push through planning applications even when there is little hope of getting planning, according to the county manager Tom Curran.
He said deferrals were being sought by applicants and agents in cases where there was no prospect of problems being resolved.
Mr Curran said planners and senior management were being put under pressure to meet applicants and agents to discuss issues even though it might be clear the granting of permission would be inappropriate.
"When an applicant gets an inkling they will not be granted permission, they then put pressure on councillors to change management's mind," he said.
In future, he stated, extensions of time or deferrals should only be requested where it was likely problems could be solved in a planning application and permission granted.
The council's planning department deals with about 5,000 applications each year. In some cases, people are putting in applications for one-off houses on sites which are completely unsuitable, according to planners.
For the past year in Kerry, on-site pre-planning consultations have been held between applicants and planning officials.
Senior planning engineer Tom Sheehy said such consultations were "very helpful" and applicants could be given an indication of their chances of getting permission to build a house.
"It certainly helps when applicants can be told of the possibilities at an early stage when they have not, as yet, any money spent on preparing an application. The process can save applicants a lot of money, maybe €5,000 to €6,000," he said.
Mr Sheehy also said it would be helpful if applicants were prepared to consider alternative sites for a house on their own land.
Donal Hickey
Irish Examiner
A deferral on a decision is allowed when more time is sought to deal with a problem on a site, or with the application.
However, councillors are being put under undue pressure to push through planning applications even when there is little hope of getting planning, according to the county manager Tom Curran.
He said deferrals were being sought by applicants and agents in cases where there was no prospect of problems being resolved.
Mr Curran said planners and senior management were being put under pressure to meet applicants and agents to discuss issues even though it might be clear the granting of permission would be inappropriate.
"When an applicant gets an inkling they will not be granted permission, they then put pressure on councillors to change management's mind," he said.
In future, he stated, extensions of time or deferrals should only be requested where it was likely problems could be solved in a planning application and permission granted.
The council's planning department deals with about 5,000 applications each year. In some cases, people are putting in applications for one-off houses on sites which are completely unsuitable, according to planners.
For the past year in Kerry, on-site pre-planning consultations have been held between applicants and planning officials.
Senior planning engineer Tom Sheehy said such consultations were "very helpful" and applicants could be given an indication of their chances of getting permission to build a house.
"It certainly helps when applicants can be told of the possibilities at an early stage when they have not, as yet, any money spent on preparing an application. The process can save applicants a lot of money, maybe €5,000 to €6,000," he said.
Mr Sheehy also said it would be helpful if applicants were prepared to consider alternative sites for a house on their own land.
Donal Hickey
Irish Examiner
Architect survey rejects U2 hotel
U2 should not be allowed to go ahead with their ambitious plans to transform the Clarence Hotel, according to a survey of architects.
Online architecture discussion board, Archiseek, found that more than three-quarters of those canvassed felt that planning officials should not allow the €150m revamp of the Dublin hotel, owned by Bono and The Edge.
The supergroup has applied to Dublin City Council to demolish four neighbouring listed buildings to make the Clarence "the most spectacular hotel in Europe", erecting a skycatcher atrium, resembling a spaceship, visible from all over the city. Objectors include An Taisce and the Irish Georgian Society.
Those who logged onto Archiseek were asked: "Should the Clarence Hotel redevelopment get permission?"
The answer was a vehement 'no', with 78pc against it and just 22pc in favour.
Those who logged on blasted the plans as "awful" "rubbish" and "hideous."
One urged: "Object, object, object. It is far too bulky and would dominate everything. We have made this mistake too many times.''
Larissa Nolan
Irish Independent
Online architecture discussion board, Archiseek, found that more than three-quarters of those canvassed felt that planning officials should not allow the €150m revamp of the Dublin hotel, owned by Bono and The Edge.
The supergroup has applied to Dublin City Council to demolish four neighbouring listed buildings to make the Clarence "the most spectacular hotel in Europe", erecting a skycatcher atrium, resembling a spaceship, visible from all over the city. Objectors include An Taisce and the Irish Georgian Society.
Those who logged onto Archiseek were asked: "Should the Clarence Hotel redevelopment get permission?"
The answer was a vehement 'no', with 78pc against it and just 22pc in favour.
Those who logged on blasted the plans as "awful" "rubbish" and "hideous."
One urged: "Object, object, object. It is far too bulky and would dominate everything. We have made this mistake too many times.''
Larissa Nolan
Irish Independent
Ryanair challenge to 'costly' terminal
RYANAIR yesterday kicked off a legal challenge against the decision to grant planning permission to Dublin Airport's second terminal.
The low-fares airline says the terminal plans should be overthrown because they are too costly.
If the challenge succeeds, work on the terminal could be halted until a new design can be approved, causing untold delays and additional costs.
But Dublin Airport director Robert Hilliard insisted that work would continue on the €395m project "until there's an injunction", adding that Ryanair's legal challenge had "the smallest of small" chances of success.
Meanwhile Ryanair said last night it was "confident of success" in the action.
Ryanair's challenge centres on An Bord Pleanala's August decision to grant planning permission to the first phase of the airport's second terminal.
At the time, Ryanair slammed the plans as "gold-plated" and said they would lead to "a doubling of the already high passenger charges".
In legal documents lodged yesterday, Ryanair says the planning board's decision to grant permission was "unreasonable and irrational''. Ryanair's filings also claim the terminal will cost at least €609m, while the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) puts its cost at €395m.
In addition, the low-cost airline says An Bord Pleanala exceeded its jurisdiction by increasing the terminal's capacity by two million passengers a year, to 32 million.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday admitted Ryanair's challenge to the big business division of the High Court, the Commercial Court.
Laura Noonan and Diarmaid McDermott
Irish Independent
The low-fares airline says the terminal plans should be overthrown because they are too costly.
If the challenge succeeds, work on the terminal could be halted until a new design can be approved, causing untold delays and additional costs.
But Dublin Airport director Robert Hilliard insisted that work would continue on the €395m project "until there's an injunction", adding that Ryanair's legal challenge had "the smallest of small" chances of success.
Meanwhile Ryanair said last night it was "confident of success" in the action.
Ryanair's challenge centres on An Bord Pleanala's August decision to grant planning permission to the first phase of the airport's second terminal.
At the time, Ryanair slammed the plans as "gold-plated" and said they would lead to "a doubling of the already high passenger charges".
In legal documents lodged yesterday, Ryanair says the planning board's decision to grant permission was "unreasonable and irrational''. Ryanair's filings also claim the terminal will cost at least €609m, while the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) puts its cost at €395m.
In addition, the low-cost airline says An Bord Pleanala exceeded its jurisdiction by increasing the terminal's capacity by two million passengers a year, to 32 million.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday admitted Ryanair's challenge to the big business division of the High Court, the Commercial Court.
Laura Noonan and Diarmaid McDermott
Irish Independent
Airport's €120m Pier D ready for take off
RELIEF could finally be on hand for some of the long-suffering travelling public using Dublin Airport, as the €120m Pier D opens.
The airport is spending some €250m this year on upgrading the airport which has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
This Sunday the public will finally begin to see some return for that outlay.
It is estimated that five million people a year will avail of the new facility.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) hopes the opening will improve the airport's image which has taken a battering over its crowded hallways.
Dublin Airport boss Robert Hilliard agrees there was room for improvement: "The best I think we can say at the moment is that it works."
Pier D, the DAA hopes, will start redressing the balance, as part of the overall €2bn 10-year plan for a complete modernisation.
Just four flights will go through the pier on its first day, before it "starts proper" on Tuesday.
"We want to make sure that any tweaks that are there will be worked through," says Mr Hilliard.
Pier D can ultimately handle 12 flights at a time, but the facility will offer only six gates until next April. That's because the DAA needs to dismantle existing infrastructure on one side of the pier before that side can take planes, Hilliard says.
"What we're trying to do is cause as little disruption as possible," he adds.
Pier D will be used almost exclusively by short-haul planes, with Ryanair and Aer Lingus likely to be the most frequent users.
For the short-haul passengers who do make it to the new pier, the DAA promises spacious surrounds, complete with a Soho Coffee Co coffee shop, a Thomas Read's bar and a Hughes & Hughes bookshop. For the plane-gazers, there are near panoramic views of the airfield. It is a bit of a hike away -- some 350m -- but this will be traversed using new travelators through a corridor dubbed the "Skybridge".
Looking at Pier D this week, it's a mite difficult to see much of the vision the DAA waxes so lyrically about. The magnificent views are there for all to behold and the spaciousness of the place can't be denied, but beyond that, Pier D is quite literally a hard-hat building site.
The DAA, however, is completely confident of the Pier's opening next week "on time and on budget".
Laura Noonan
Irish Independent
The airport is spending some €250m this year on upgrading the airport which has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
This Sunday the public will finally begin to see some return for that outlay.
It is estimated that five million people a year will avail of the new facility.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) hopes the opening will improve the airport's image which has taken a battering over its crowded hallways.
Dublin Airport boss Robert Hilliard agrees there was room for improvement: "The best I think we can say at the moment is that it works."
Pier D, the DAA hopes, will start redressing the balance, as part of the overall €2bn 10-year plan for a complete modernisation.
Just four flights will go through the pier on its first day, before it "starts proper" on Tuesday.
"We want to make sure that any tweaks that are there will be worked through," says Mr Hilliard.
Pier D can ultimately handle 12 flights at a time, but the facility will offer only six gates until next April. That's because the DAA needs to dismantle existing infrastructure on one side of the pier before that side can take planes, Hilliard says.
"What we're trying to do is cause as little disruption as possible," he adds.
Pier D will be used almost exclusively by short-haul planes, with Ryanair and Aer Lingus likely to be the most frequent users.
For the short-haul passengers who do make it to the new pier, the DAA promises spacious surrounds, complete with a Soho Coffee Co coffee shop, a Thomas Read's bar and a Hughes & Hughes bookshop. For the plane-gazers, there are near panoramic views of the airfield. It is a bit of a hike away -- some 350m -- but this will be traversed using new travelators through a corridor dubbed the "Skybridge".
Looking at Pier D this week, it's a mite difficult to see much of the vision the DAA waxes so lyrically about. The magnificent views are there for all to behold and the spaciousness of the place can't be denied, but beyond that, Pier D is quite literally a hard-hat building site.
The DAA, however, is completely confident of the Pier's opening next week "on time and on budget".
Laura Noonan
Irish Independent
Construction cost and quality to be investigated
CONSUMER watchdogs are to investigate whether tougher laws are needed to protect homeowners from builders and repairers.
Yesterday, the National Consumer Agency began an investigation into whether Ireland’s construction industry is working to the detriment of the public.
The study will also see if homeowners are overpaying for work on their homes and what can be done to address the issue.
Last year, the NCA’s predecessor, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, fielded 2,120 complaints about construction work or buying a home.
Now the consumer watchdog is inviting the public and the trade to contribute to its home construction industry study.
“Given the costs and complexity of buying or renovating a home, we want to evaluate the consumer’s experience when purchasing a home or when engaging in construction, maintenance and renovations,” said chief executive Anne Fitzgerald.
“Our study will identify if there are specific issues where we may need to intervene on behalf of consumers and if there are areas requiring legislative or regulatory change.”
Among the topics the study will cover are:
* quality control and how builders put right problems.
* the planning applications process and how building laws are enforced.
* whether consumers are able to get enough information before employing a builder.
The NCA said the construction industry was chosen for the agency’s latest investigation as the trade had undergone massive expansion on the back of the booming economy.
The cost of buying a new home or getting work done presents consumers with tough choices so the NCA wants to see if the law offers enough protection.
The NCA aims to finish its report by March, 2008, and hand its findings to Trade and Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin, who will study the recommendations.
* Anyone wishing to comment is asked to write by November 16 to John Maher, the Home Construction Industry Study, the National Consumer Agency, 4 Harcourt Road, Dublin 2.
Comments may also be sent by e-mail to construction@nca.ie.
Irish Examiner
Yesterday, the National Consumer Agency began an investigation into whether Ireland’s construction industry is working to the detriment of the public.
The study will also see if homeowners are overpaying for work on their homes and what can be done to address the issue.
Last year, the NCA’s predecessor, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, fielded 2,120 complaints about construction work or buying a home.
Now the consumer watchdog is inviting the public and the trade to contribute to its home construction industry study.
“Given the costs and complexity of buying or renovating a home, we want to evaluate the consumer’s experience when purchasing a home or when engaging in construction, maintenance and renovations,” said chief executive Anne Fitzgerald.
“Our study will identify if there are specific issues where we may need to intervene on behalf of consumers and if there are areas requiring legislative or regulatory change.”
Among the topics the study will cover are:
* quality control and how builders put right problems.
* the planning applications process and how building laws are enforced.
* whether consumers are able to get enough information before employing a builder.
The NCA said the construction industry was chosen for the agency’s latest investigation as the trade had undergone massive expansion on the back of the booming economy.
The cost of buying a new home or getting work done presents consumers with tough choices so the NCA wants to see if the law offers enough protection.
The NCA aims to finish its report by March, 2008, and hand its findings to Trade and Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin, who will study the recommendations.
* Anyone wishing to comment is asked to write by November 16 to John Maher, the Home Construction Industry Study, the National Consumer Agency, 4 Harcourt Road, Dublin 2.
Comments may also be sent by e-mail to construction@nca.ie.
Irish Examiner
Monday, 22 October 2007
Design competition for new national theatre in Dublin's Docklands
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Séamus Brennan T.D., has announced that that an International Design Competition will be held over the coming months to select a design for the new National Theatre (the Abbey) to be built in the Dublin Dockland's at George's Dock.
Minister Brennan said that, when completed, the new waterside building will give Dublin an iconic and dynamic structure reflecting the city's growing reputation as a global capital of culture and creativity.
Minister Brennan also unveiled the 13 members of the jury for the International Design Competition that includes architects from Ireland, Great Britain and Holland with vast experience of - and involvement in - high-profile design projects, as well as eminent figures from the theatrical world with many years' experience and outstanding achievement in the theatre.
It is intended that the public will be given the opportunity to make known their views when a shortlist of submitted designs are put on public display ahead of a decision on a final design for the new National Theatre.
The new National Theatre will be a centrepiece of a new wave of cultural, social and economic amenities that are being developed in the Dublin Docklands - including the new National Convention Centre, the Grand Canal Theatre, the CHQ building, the Point Village and the U2 Tower.
The new Abbey Theatre will be over 24,000 square metres and will have three theatres, several rehearsal spaces, public and social spaces - including shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, facilities for performers and staff, gallery and exhibition facilities - and a cinema/lecture facility.
The three different auditoria will provide diverse opportunities for artists and writers. Currently, the Abbey can provide an average of 632 seats (across two auditoria) on any one night. The new building will provide audiences with more choices and a greater opportunity to see more diverse work with plans for some 1,000 seats across three auditoria. It is envisaged that each of the theatres will have their own foyer, auditorium, stage, dressing rooms, crew/staff rooms and technical control rooms.
The Minister said the appointment of the jury - and the publication of a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in the Official Journal of the European Union announcing outline details of the International Competition - marks significant progress in the development of the new National Theatre.
It is expected that the design competition will be completed by the middle of 2008.
Minister Brennan said that, when completed, the new waterside building will give Dublin an iconic and dynamic structure reflecting the city's growing reputation as a global capital of culture and creativity.
Minister Brennan also unveiled the 13 members of the jury for the International Design Competition that includes architects from Ireland, Great Britain and Holland with vast experience of - and involvement in - high-profile design projects, as well as eminent figures from the theatrical world with many years' experience and outstanding achievement in the theatre.
It is intended that the public will be given the opportunity to make known their views when a shortlist of submitted designs are put on public display ahead of a decision on a final design for the new National Theatre.
The new National Theatre will be a centrepiece of a new wave of cultural, social and economic amenities that are being developed in the Dublin Docklands - including the new National Convention Centre, the Grand Canal Theatre, the CHQ building, the Point Village and the U2 Tower.
The new Abbey Theatre will be over 24,000 square metres and will have three theatres, several rehearsal spaces, public and social spaces - including shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, facilities for performers and staff, gallery and exhibition facilities - and a cinema/lecture facility.
The three different auditoria will provide diverse opportunities for artists and writers. Currently, the Abbey can provide an average of 632 seats (across two auditoria) on any one night. The new building will provide audiences with more choices and a greater opportunity to see more diverse work with plans for some 1,000 seats across three auditoria. It is envisaged that each of the theatres will have their own foyer, auditorium, stage, dressing rooms, crew/staff rooms and technical control rooms.
The Minister said the appointment of the jury - and the publication of a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in the Official Journal of the European Union announcing outline details of the International Competition - marks significant progress in the development of the new National Theatre.
It is expected that the design competition will be completed by the middle of 2008.
Roof garden wins top award
SAP Landscapes Ltd. took the top award at the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) Awards for their roof-top garden project at the SAS Radisson Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin.
SAP Landscapes won the Annual Bog Oak Trophy 2007 for Outstanding Achievements in Landscaping & Design 2007.
Each year, the ALCI presents awards recognising the excellent standard of landscaping and garden design achieved by its members. The awards are presented at the annual awards ceremony to the contractors who are deemed to have completed projects - both large and small - to an extremely high standard.
The judgement is based on a number of criteria such as -
* Original concept and design
* Standard of work in both hard and soft landscaping
* Integration and suitability
* Efficiency - and
* Overall presentation.
Dublin City Council's decision, 5 years ago, to replace the 100-year-old London Plane trees in the city's main thoroughfare, was endorsed when O'Connell Street's landscaping won a merit award for outstanding tree planting.
The panel of judges, noted the 27 boxed lime trees bordered a new plaza, while eight weeping birch trees gave a 'sense of movement even in the gentlest breeze'.
The ALCI Bog Oak Trophy is a highly prestigious award presented for Landscaping projects which are judged to be exceptional in design and completion.
The panel of judges visits each and every project submitted - and, as this year's entries were of a particularly high standard - noted that some very tough decisions had to be made.
SAP Landscapes won the Annual Bog Oak Trophy 2007 for Outstanding Achievements in Landscaping & Design 2007.
Each year, the ALCI presents awards recognising the excellent standard of landscaping and garden design achieved by its members. The awards are presented at the annual awards ceremony to the contractors who are deemed to have completed projects - both large and small - to an extremely high standard.
The judgement is based on a number of criteria such as -
* Original concept and design
* Standard of work in both hard and soft landscaping
* Integration and suitability
* Efficiency - and
* Overall presentation.
Dublin City Council's decision, 5 years ago, to replace the 100-year-old London Plane trees in the city's main thoroughfare, was endorsed when O'Connell Street's landscaping won a merit award for outstanding tree planting.
The panel of judges, noted the 27 boxed lime trees bordered a new plaza, while eight weeping birch trees gave a 'sense of movement even in the gentlest breeze'.
The ALCI Bog Oak Trophy is a highly prestigious award presented for Landscaping projects which are judged to be exceptional in design and completion.
The panel of judges visits each and every project submitted - and, as this year's entries were of a particularly high standard - noted that some very tough decisions had to be made.
Fáilte Ireland and Heritage Council call for urgent introduction of Landscape Plan
Two state agencies - The Heritage Council and Fáilte Ireland - have jointly called for the urgent introduction of a National Framework for Landscape Management in Ireland to safeguard quality of life, tourism, cultural and natural heritage and to provide more clarity in the planning system.
Welcoming the recent announcement by Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley T.D., regarding the first steps in honouring the Government commitment to develop a National Landscape Strategy, Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council expressed the hope that the results of their collaboration would help inform the process.
Separate studies conclude that responsibility for Ireland's landscapes should clearly lie with one organisation with the ability to advise on and influence the management of our landscapes on a national level and provide clear guidelines on land use for amenity, heritage, tourism, housing and infrastructure development, traditional farming and other uses.
Development of a national landscape strategy is a commitment in the new Programme for Government and the two state bodies want to see the strategy completed as quickly as possible.
The studies found that Ireland is now the only country in Western Europe that has not specifically legislated for the planning and management of its landscapes on a consistent national level. This view is supported by recent European Environment Agency digital mapping, which shows that Ireland has experienced unprecedented urbanisation and landscape fragmentation over the past number of years - due to extensive new housing, major road and other infrastructure projects.
This has affected open countryside, villages and towns in all parts of the country and the extent of the impact on the landscape is greater than in other parts of Europe.
The Fáilte Ireland study found that the 29 County Councils in the country each use different approaches to identify, designate and protect scenic landscapes and this disjointed approach precludes the identification of Ireland's most important scenic landscapes.
Our scenery has been a cornerstone of international tourism marketing campaigns for decades - and, in 2006, 80% of visitors rated Ireland's scenery as an important reason for visiting Ireland. The study also found that 72% of respondents in local authorities would prefer and welcome a national approach to the identification of nationally important scenic landscapes.
The Heritage Council study advises that a National Framework for Landscape Management in Ireland is urgently needed if we are to honour our commitments under the European Landscape Convention, which Ireland signed in 2002 and which came in to force in 2004.
The Heritage Council has called for a National Landscape Characterisation map and the clear requirement to have one national body or authority with responsibility for managing our landscapes. It also recommends new guidelines and training on landscape for local authorities that will improve planning decisions and provide more clarity for landowners, farmers, foresters and developers.
In welcoming the Government commitment to begin the process of consultation on the development of the national landscape strategy, both agencies consider the new reports will make a major and positive contribution to that process. The following recommendations need to be put in place urgently -
* Managing landscapes should be the clear responsibility of one body or Government Department
* A National Landscape Characterisation Map should be developed
* A National Landscape Values Map should be developed
* New landscape Guidelines should be prepared for local authorities, planners, farmers, landowners, foresters and developers
* A major national awareness programme should be launched - and
* Training programmes put place with relevant professional institutes
Welcoming the recent announcement by Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley T.D., regarding the first steps in honouring the Government commitment to develop a National Landscape Strategy, Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council expressed the hope that the results of their collaboration would help inform the process.
Separate studies conclude that responsibility for Ireland's landscapes should clearly lie with one organisation with the ability to advise on and influence the management of our landscapes on a national level and provide clear guidelines on land use for amenity, heritage, tourism, housing and infrastructure development, traditional farming and other uses.
Development of a national landscape strategy is a commitment in the new Programme for Government and the two state bodies want to see the strategy completed as quickly as possible.
The studies found that Ireland is now the only country in Western Europe that has not specifically legislated for the planning and management of its landscapes on a consistent national level. This view is supported by recent European Environment Agency digital mapping, which shows that Ireland has experienced unprecedented urbanisation and landscape fragmentation over the past number of years - due to extensive new housing, major road and other infrastructure projects.
This has affected open countryside, villages and towns in all parts of the country and the extent of the impact on the landscape is greater than in other parts of Europe.
The Fáilte Ireland study found that the 29 County Councils in the country each use different approaches to identify, designate and protect scenic landscapes and this disjointed approach precludes the identification of Ireland's most important scenic landscapes.
Our scenery has been a cornerstone of international tourism marketing campaigns for decades - and, in 2006, 80% of visitors rated Ireland's scenery as an important reason for visiting Ireland. The study also found that 72% of respondents in local authorities would prefer and welcome a national approach to the identification of nationally important scenic landscapes.
The Heritage Council study advises that a National Framework for Landscape Management in Ireland is urgently needed if we are to honour our commitments under the European Landscape Convention, which Ireland signed in 2002 and which came in to force in 2004.
The Heritage Council has called for a National Landscape Characterisation map and the clear requirement to have one national body or authority with responsibility for managing our landscapes. It also recommends new guidelines and training on landscape for local authorities that will improve planning decisions and provide more clarity for landowners, farmers, foresters and developers.
In welcoming the Government commitment to begin the process of consultation on the development of the national landscape strategy, both agencies consider the new reports will make a major and positive contribution to that process. The following recommendations need to be put in place urgently -
* Managing landscapes should be the clear responsibility of one body or Government Department
* A National Landscape Characterisation Map should be developed
* A National Landscape Values Map should be developed
* New landscape Guidelines should be prepared for local authorities, planners, farmers, landowners, foresters and developers
* A major national awareness programme should be launched - and
* Training programmes put place with relevant professional institutes
Sunday, 21 October 2007
Recorded monuments found on Hill of Allen
The campaign by the Hill of Allen Action Group in relation to the quarrying of the hill by Roadstone took a new twist last week, with the claim that two recorded monuments are located at the summit of the hill. In a statement on Friday last, the action group said that "shocking new evidence" had been uncovered, in the form of an ancient burial chamber (cist) and a burial mound (tumulus) at the summit.
Moreover, the monuments are listed on documentation held in Kildare County Council's own heritage section, although no reference to them has been made to date in any of the council's statements on the Roadstone issue.
The action group's statement continued: "These ancient and fragile monuments, protected by the National Monuments Acts, are within the boundaries of the quarry operated by Roadstone at the hill."
It went on to claim that while the monuments in question were listed in the statutory Record of Monuments and Places (a list compliled by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland), they did not appear on Roadstone's registration papers or maps when they registered the quarry with Kildare County Council in 2006.
According to Miriam Mulcahy from the action group, the only monument of any significance in the vicinity of the hill acknowledged by Roadstone in their quarry registration was the tower.
"In a letter to senior planner George Perry, dated 31 January 2006, Roadstone said: ‘The only archaeological monument or other archaeological remains located on or within 500 metres of the quarry site is the tower situate on the Hill of Allen, known as Aylmer's Folly.'"
She added that the company also included in its supporting documentation a map locating Aylmer's Folly as the only monument on the site. "In the planning file, there is no acknowledgment by Kildare County Council of the burial chamber and burial mound monuments, and no indication that the planners have consulted with or intend to consult with the National Monuments Service or any other statutory bodies," said Ms. Mulcahy.
Any monument listed in the RMP is protected under the National Monuments Acts and the onus is on the landowner to be informed of the existence of recorded monuments on their land. Damage to a monument listed in the RMP is a criminal offence, subject to steep fines and possible imprisonment.
"Archaeologists could tell without any digging, just by looking at the landscape, that there is at least one burial site there. With a formal assessment, who knows what more they might find?" said Ms. Mulcahy.
"It appears that Roadstone and Kildare County Council are simply pretending that the monuments do not exist. If the parties do not acknowledge them, they are not protecting them either," she added. "We have already argued that a planning application and an environmental impact assessment were absolutely required in the case of Roadstone's Allen quarry, under both Irish and European law. A planning application would have set in motion the mechanism that requires planners to check the RMP for undisclosed monuments, and an environmental impact assessment would necessarily have included a detailed archaeological assessment carried out by a qualified archaeologist," Ms. Mulcahy stated.
Kildare County Council said last week (prior to the claim in respect of the monuments) that an agreement recently negotiated with Roadstone in relation to the Allen quarry would be signed in the near future and would then form an entry on the planning register and become public information.
Asked this week for a comment on the latest developments, a council spokesperson said: "The Hill of Allen Action Group has not made the council aware of any findings and it would be advised to do so. As things stand, Kildare County Council cannot comment on the issue."
Yet the Hill of Allen Action Group maintains that the existence of the burial chamber and mound is verified by documents held in the council's own offices. "The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) should be held by the planning or heritage offices in each local authority. We asked in Kildare County Council's planning section and were told it was not available there. Then we tried the heritage officer and initially she didn't seem sure what we were talking about, but then she produced the RMP."
The documents, including maps and listings, clearly identify the Hill of Allen as the location of "Tumulus, possible site" and "Cist site."
In a letter to all of Kildare's county councillors, the Hill of Allen Action Group has stated: "Please do not stand by and allow the desecration of these Monuments, which are the graves of our ancestors. We respectfully request that you demand immediate answers from the planning department, refuse to support this material contravention of the development plan, and, if necessary, reject their agreement with Roadstone under section 3 of the City and County Management Act, 1955."
Vicki Weller
Kildare Nationalist
Moreover, the monuments are listed on documentation held in Kildare County Council's own heritage section, although no reference to them has been made to date in any of the council's statements on the Roadstone issue.
The action group's statement continued: "These ancient and fragile monuments, protected by the National Monuments Acts, are within the boundaries of the quarry operated by Roadstone at the hill."
It went on to claim that while the monuments in question were listed in the statutory Record of Monuments and Places (a list compliled by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland), they did not appear on Roadstone's registration papers or maps when they registered the quarry with Kildare County Council in 2006.
According to Miriam Mulcahy from the action group, the only monument of any significance in the vicinity of the hill acknowledged by Roadstone in their quarry registration was the tower.
"In a letter to senior planner George Perry, dated 31 January 2006, Roadstone said: ‘The only archaeological monument or other archaeological remains located on or within 500 metres of the quarry site is the tower situate on the Hill of Allen, known as Aylmer's Folly.'"
She added that the company also included in its supporting documentation a map locating Aylmer's Folly as the only monument on the site. "In the planning file, there is no acknowledgment by Kildare County Council of the burial chamber and burial mound monuments, and no indication that the planners have consulted with or intend to consult with the National Monuments Service or any other statutory bodies," said Ms. Mulcahy.
Any monument listed in the RMP is protected under the National Monuments Acts and the onus is on the landowner to be informed of the existence of recorded monuments on their land. Damage to a monument listed in the RMP is a criminal offence, subject to steep fines and possible imprisonment.
"Archaeologists could tell without any digging, just by looking at the landscape, that there is at least one burial site there. With a formal assessment, who knows what more they might find?" said Ms. Mulcahy.
"It appears that Roadstone and Kildare County Council are simply pretending that the monuments do not exist. If the parties do not acknowledge them, they are not protecting them either," she added. "We have already argued that a planning application and an environmental impact assessment were absolutely required in the case of Roadstone's Allen quarry, under both Irish and European law. A planning application would have set in motion the mechanism that requires planners to check the RMP for undisclosed monuments, and an environmental impact assessment would necessarily have included a detailed archaeological assessment carried out by a qualified archaeologist," Ms. Mulcahy stated.
Kildare County Council said last week (prior to the claim in respect of the monuments) that an agreement recently negotiated with Roadstone in relation to the Allen quarry would be signed in the near future and would then form an entry on the planning register and become public information.
Asked this week for a comment on the latest developments, a council spokesperson said: "The Hill of Allen Action Group has not made the council aware of any findings and it would be advised to do so. As things stand, Kildare County Council cannot comment on the issue."
Yet the Hill of Allen Action Group maintains that the existence of the burial chamber and mound is verified by documents held in the council's own offices. "The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) should be held by the planning or heritage offices in each local authority. We asked in Kildare County Council's planning section and were told it was not available there. Then we tried the heritage officer and initially she didn't seem sure what we were talking about, but then she produced the RMP."
The documents, including maps and listings, clearly identify the Hill of Allen as the location of "Tumulus, possible site" and "Cist site."
In a letter to all of Kildare's county councillors, the Hill of Allen Action Group has stated: "Please do not stand by and allow the desecration of these Monuments, which are the graves of our ancestors. We respectfully request that you demand immediate answers from the planning department, refuse to support this material contravention of the development plan, and, if necessary, reject their agreement with Roadstone under section 3 of the City and County Management Act, 1955."
Vicki Weller
Kildare Nationalist
Dublin high-rise schemes rejected
An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for two high-rise schemes in Dublin's Digital Hub in the Liberties, saying that they would "seriously injure the residential amenities of the area". Manor Park Homes and P. Elliott and Co had both acquired sites previously owned by the State on either side of Thomas Street. The deals, involving the transfer of more than five acres of land in November 2005, netted €118 million for the Government. But Manor Park was refused permission by Dublin City Council for a "mini-Manhattan" scheme on the south side of Thomas Street. It would have included a cluster of high-rise buildings of up to 53 storeys, flanked by lower buildings on the street frontage.
Upholding the council's decision, An Bord Pleanála noted that the 2.5-acre site was "located in the historic core of Dublin city and fronts on to . . . one of the city's oldest streets", which is also designated a conservation area in the current Dublin City Development Plan. The board also referred to the council's policy of protecting the skyline of the inner city, in line with the criteria regarding building heights set out in the 2000 study by London-based urban designers DEGW, which put forward a strategy for building heights in the city. In its ruling, the board said that the proposed development would contravene these policies because of the "excessive height of the proposed buildings generally . . . ranging from 11 storeys on Thomas Street to 53 storeys at the southern end of the site".It also cited the "unsatisfactory nature and form of development based on a podium with full site coverage", saying that this would be "significantly out of character with the area". The board considered that the proposed development "would seriously injure the residential amenities of the area and/or development potential of property in the vicinity by reason of overlooking, overshadowing and visual intrusion". Dealing with the P. Elliott scheme for a three-acre site on the north side of Thomas Street, which involved another high-rise cluster up to 16 storeys, An Bord Pleanála gave similar reasons for refusing permission - including "excessive" scale and height.Notwithstanding the city council's objective to support the Digital Hub, it considered that the development "would not represent an appropriate redevelopment of this area, or a form of development that is sufficiently sympathetic to its historic character". It said that the proposed 16-storey tower would seriously detract from the setting of the 18th century Guinness windmill, which is a protected structure, while the height of a second block would seriously detract from a protected period house at 164 Thomas Street. The board also said that the "excessive reliance" on roof gardens (as opposed to internal courtyards) for private open space by future residents was "not acceptable in residential amenity terms, having regard to the difficulty of access and the lack of security of such spaces".
Frank McDonald
2007 The Irish Times
Upholding the council's decision, An Bord Pleanála noted that the 2.5-acre site was "located in the historic core of Dublin city and fronts on to . . . one of the city's oldest streets", which is also designated a conservation area in the current Dublin City Development Plan. The board also referred to the council's policy of protecting the skyline of the inner city, in line with the criteria regarding building heights set out in the 2000 study by London-based urban designers DEGW, which put forward a strategy for building heights in the city. In its ruling, the board said that the proposed development would contravene these policies because of the "excessive height of the proposed buildings generally . . . ranging from 11 storeys on Thomas Street to 53 storeys at the southern end of the site".It also cited the "unsatisfactory nature and form of development based on a podium with full site coverage", saying that this would be "significantly out of character with the area". The board considered that the proposed development "would seriously injure the residential amenities of the area and/or development potential of property in the vicinity by reason of overlooking, overshadowing and visual intrusion". Dealing with the P. Elliott scheme for a three-acre site on the north side of Thomas Street, which involved another high-rise cluster up to 16 storeys, An Bord Pleanála gave similar reasons for refusing permission - including "excessive" scale and height.Notwithstanding the city council's objective to support the Digital Hub, it considered that the development "would not represent an appropriate redevelopment of this area, or a form of development that is sufficiently sympathetic to its historic character". It said that the proposed 16-storey tower would seriously detract from the setting of the 18th century Guinness windmill, which is a protected structure, while the height of a second block would seriously detract from a protected period house at 164 Thomas Street. The board also said that the "excessive reliance" on roof gardens (as opposed to internal courtyards) for private open space by future residents was "not acceptable in residential amenity terms, having regard to the difficulty of access and the lack of security of such spaces".
Frank McDonald
2007 The Irish Times
Save Lough Ree campaign set to go global
THE CAMPAIGN to protect the integrity of Lough Ree and oppose plans by Dublin City Council to extract vast volumes of water to serve the growing demands of the greater Dublin area is going global.
The Shannon Protection Alliance (SPA), which is behind the campaign of opposition is lobbying for support in the UK and US and is making moves to establish campaign offices in London and New York.
“We are seeking the support of ex-pats in the UK and US with a view to setting up a support mechanism and campaign offices in London and New York. We are polarising ex-pats from counties along the Shannon basin and this is as much about moral support for our campaign as it is about fundraising,” PJ Walsh PRO for the group said.
“When you take into consideration the costs of scientific reports and the associated legal costs, we estimate that we will need at least €100,000 and that costs could run to as much as €250,000 for this campaign, which could continue for a number of years,” Mr Walsh added. Members of the group have already met with ex-pats and other interested parties in London and are currently in New York drumming up support for their campaign to protect Lough Ree and the River Shannon.
Friends of the Irish Environment
The Shannon Protection Alliance (SPA), which is behind the campaign of opposition is lobbying for support in the UK and US and is making moves to establish campaign offices in London and New York.
“We are seeking the support of ex-pats in the UK and US with a view to setting up a support mechanism and campaign offices in London and New York. We are polarising ex-pats from counties along the Shannon basin and this is as much about moral support for our campaign as it is about fundraising,” PJ Walsh PRO for the group said.
“When you take into consideration the costs of scientific reports and the associated legal costs, we estimate that we will need at least €100,000 and that costs could run to as much as €250,000 for this campaign, which could continue for a number of years,” Mr Walsh added. Members of the group have already met with ex-pats and other interested parties in London and are currently in New York drumming up support for their campaign to protect Lough Ree and the River Shannon.
Friends of the Irish Environment
Planning officials may be breaching the property rules
LOCAL authority planners in Kerry and other parts of the country may be breaching private property rights by insisting that a person must live where they build, it has been claimed.
Senator Paul Coghlan said it is his view that restrictions imposed by a number of planning authorities may be illegal and unconstitutional.
He successfully called for an adjournment debate on planning with the Minister for the Environment in the Seanad.
The Kerry Fine Gael senator remarked: “I put it to the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Batt O’Keeffe, that restrictions on residence as a condition of planning are misplaced and have nothing to do with planning.
“I pointed out that one county council has inserted a planning condition that a person must reside in the domicile for up to 10 years before he or she is permitted to sell on the property.”
He said considering planning permissions only obtain for a period of five years, it is clear this situation is “ludicrous”.
“These are very unfair impositions and do not serve any legitimate planning aim,” Senator Coghlan complained.
“The minister confirmed that the European Commission has written to the Department of the Environment seeking a view on the compatibility of certain county development plans’ provisions with articles in the European Community Treaty on the freedom of establishment and the free movement of capital.
“I accept that the minister is precluded from publishing correspondence from the Commission by legal advice. However, I made the point that, in the context of European law, the European Convention on Human Rights recognises the right to private property,” Senator Coghlan remarked.
“I believe that local authorities by imposing ownership restrictions as outlined above are breaching those rights in a blatant manner,” he added.
Friends of the Irish Environment
Senator Paul Coghlan said it is his view that restrictions imposed by a number of planning authorities may be illegal and unconstitutional.
He successfully called for an adjournment debate on planning with the Minister for the Environment in the Seanad.
The Kerry Fine Gael senator remarked: “I put it to the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Batt O’Keeffe, that restrictions on residence as a condition of planning are misplaced and have nothing to do with planning.
“I pointed out that one county council has inserted a planning condition that a person must reside in the domicile for up to 10 years before he or she is permitted to sell on the property.”
He said considering planning permissions only obtain for a period of five years, it is clear this situation is “ludicrous”.
“These are very unfair impositions and do not serve any legitimate planning aim,” Senator Coghlan complained.
“The minister confirmed that the European Commission has written to the Department of the Environment seeking a view on the compatibility of certain county development plans’ provisions with articles in the European Community Treaty on the freedom of establishment and the free movement of capital.
“I accept that the minister is precluded from publishing correspondence from the Commission by legal advice. However, I made the point that, in the context of European law, the European Convention on Human Rights recognises the right to private property,” Senator Coghlan remarked.
“I believe that local authorities by imposing ownership restrictions as outlined above are breaching those rights in a blatant manner,” he added.
Friends of the Irish Environment
Reopening of Dunleer station under threat
An Taisce has told An Bord Pleanála that the proposed re-opening of Dunleer train station will be jeopardised if it approves two planning applications which together involve the development of three parcels of land that adjoin the station.
The station closed in 1984 but its reopening is a stated objective of the Louth county development plan. Iarnród Éireann has said it is in talks with the council about options for additional stations in Louth including Dunleer.
The largest development is proposed by Dunleer Co-Ownership and is for a new town centre as well as 162 residential units. The existing small access road to the disused station would be a key access road for the scheme.
The second development by local landowner Tony Mallon is for 26 apartments and retail units.
Dunleer's population rose by 43 per cent between 2002 and 2006 due to its location beside the M1 motorway and the higher house prices in Drogheda forcing buyers further up the motorway.
In her report on the Dunleer Co-ownership application, the council's senior executive, planner Emer O'Callaghan, said: "A park-and-ride facility would be ideal here where commuters from the mid-Louth area could travel to Dunleer, park and then take the train."
An Taisce said the applicant "did not provide any such facility as part of this application. This issue was not raised by Louth County Council in its further information request."
The council's senior planner Gerry Duffy said: "The proposed development does not reflect the scale and character of Dunleer village and seems more appropriate for a much larger town or city, having regard to density, design and height of buildings, in particular."
He said the density of 122 units a hectare "is excessive and inappropriate in terms of Dunleer village and again seems more appropriate to Dublin city context."
However, the council granted permission subject to conditions.
An Taisce says An Bord Pleanála should not decide on the appeals until a master plan is prepared for the entire site or else risk effectively inhibiting "any coherent and efficient reopening of the railway station".
Louth Green Party councillor Mark Deary has made a submission to the board saying Dunleer's "rapid growth demands that the station be reopened in the interests of sustainable development".
"It can only benefit from the reopening of the station through the linkages it creates to the two biggest cities on the island, Dublin and Belfast, and two of the largest towns," Mr Deary added. "Reducing car dependency among the new commuters in Dunleer will assist in our meeting Kyoto commitments."
The appeals are due to be decided on by early next year.
Elaine Keogh
The Irish Times
The station closed in 1984 but its reopening is a stated objective of the Louth county development plan. Iarnród Éireann has said it is in talks with the council about options for additional stations in Louth including Dunleer.
The largest development is proposed by Dunleer Co-Ownership and is for a new town centre as well as 162 residential units. The existing small access road to the disused station would be a key access road for the scheme.
The second development by local landowner Tony Mallon is for 26 apartments and retail units.
Dunleer's population rose by 43 per cent between 2002 and 2006 due to its location beside the M1 motorway and the higher house prices in Drogheda forcing buyers further up the motorway.
In her report on the Dunleer Co-ownership application, the council's senior executive, planner Emer O'Callaghan, said: "A park-and-ride facility would be ideal here where commuters from the mid-Louth area could travel to Dunleer, park and then take the train."
An Taisce said the applicant "did not provide any such facility as part of this application. This issue was not raised by Louth County Council in its further information request."
The council's senior planner Gerry Duffy said: "The proposed development does not reflect the scale and character of Dunleer village and seems more appropriate for a much larger town or city, having regard to density, design and height of buildings, in particular."
He said the density of 122 units a hectare "is excessive and inappropriate in terms of Dunleer village and again seems more appropriate to Dublin city context."
However, the council granted permission subject to conditions.
An Taisce says An Bord Pleanála should not decide on the appeals until a master plan is prepared for the entire site or else risk effectively inhibiting "any coherent and efficient reopening of the railway station".
Louth Green Party councillor Mark Deary has made a submission to the board saying Dunleer's "rapid growth demands that the station be reopened in the interests of sustainable development".
"It can only benefit from the reopening of the station through the linkages it creates to the two biggest cities on the island, Dublin and Belfast, and two of the largest towns," Mr Deary added. "Reducing car dependency among the new commuters in Dunleer will assist in our meeting Kyoto commitments."
The appeals are due to be decided on by early next year.
Elaine Keogh
The Irish Times
Architecture policy to be reviewed
The Government's architecture policy is to be reviewed, with more emphasis on sustainable development and urban design, Minister for the Environment John Gormley announced yesterday.
Speaking at the launch of the Irish Architecture Foundation's Open House Dublin 2007, which allows the public to visit a diverse range of buildings this weekend, he said that it was important not only to recognise the social and cultural importance of architecture, but also the changing nature of issues relating to the built environment.
The new policy would continue to encourage and support high-quality, modern architecture and incorporate architectural heritage in a "holistic, integrated manner", as well as developing an a plan that would promote more public awareness of these areas.
The Minister said that in the coming weeks he would appoint a steering committee drawn from a broad spectrum of public and private sector nominees, which would oversee the development of the policy, as well as three focus groups dealing with the main themes. There would also be extensive public consultation, including a number of broader nationwide seminars or "think-ins", where a range of individuals and organisations involved in the built environment and members of the public would be brought together.
Mr Gormley said that the new architecture policy would replace the present Action on Architecture programme, which was adopted in 2002. That programme pledged that architectural quality would become one of the key criteria for all publicly funded building projects in Ireland.
Turning to Open House Dublin 2007, the Minister said the first of these events last year had captured the public imagination, with up to 10,000 people visiting a diverse range of buildings, including Liberty Hall.
The theme of this year's event is The Living City, focusing on buildings that make a vibrant contribution to Dublin life.
Thirty buildings will be open to the public over the weekend, including residential buildings such as the Wooden Building in Temple Bar.
Further information on Open House can be obtained at http://www.architecturefoundation.ie/
Irish Times
Speaking at the launch of the Irish Architecture Foundation's Open House Dublin 2007, which allows the public to visit a diverse range of buildings this weekend, he said that it was important not only to recognise the social and cultural importance of architecture, but also the changing nature of issues relating to the built environment.
The new policy would continue to encourage and support high-quality, modern architecture and incorporate architectural heritage in a "holistic, integrated manner", as well as developing an a plan that would promote more public awareness of these areas.
The Minister said that in the coming weeks he would appoint a steering committee drawn from a broad spectrum of public and private sector nominees, which would oversee the development of the policy, as well as three focus groups dealing with the main themes. There would also be extensive public consultation, including a number of broader nationwide seminars or "think-ins", where a range of individuals and organisations involved in the built environment and members of the public would be brought together.
Mr Gormley said that the new architecture policy would replace the present Action on Architecture programme, which was adopted in 2002. That programme pledged that architectural quality would become one of the key criteria for all publicly funded building projects in Ireland.
Turning to Open House Dublin 2007, the Minister said the first of these events last year had captured the public imagination, with up to 10,000 people visiting a diverse range of buildings, including Liberty Hall.
The theme of this year's event is The Living City, focusing on buildings that make a vibrant contribution to Dublin life.
Thirty buildings will be open to the public over the weekend, including residential buildings such as the Wooden Building in Temple Bar.
Further information on Open House can be obtained at http://www.architecturefoundation.ie/
Irish Times
Naomi Klein's critique of neo-liberalism - The Shock Doctrine
I read this book over the last week and I advise anyone to have a read. Over the past few decades, many of the ideas of the far left have found new homes on the right. Lenin believed that it was in conditions of catastrophic upheaval that humanity advances most rapidly and the idea that economic progress can be achieved through the devastation of entire societies has been a key part of the neo-liberal cult of the free market.
Soviet-style economies left an inheritance of human and ecological devastation, while neo-liberal policies have had results that are not radically dissimilar in many countries. Yet, while the Marxist faith in central planning is now confined to a few dingy sects, a quasi-religious belief in free markets continues to shape the policies of governments.
Many writers have pointed to the havoc and ruin that have accompanied the imposition of free markets across the world. Whether in Africa, Asia, Latin America or post-communist Europe, policies of wholesale privatisation and structural adjustment have led to declining economic activity and social dislocation on a massive scale. Anyone who has watched a country lurch from one crisis to another as the bureaucrats of the IMF impose cut after cut in pursuit of the holy grail of stabilisation will recognise the process Naomi Klein describes in her latest and most important book to date.
In Argentina not long before the economic collapse of 2002, the government was struggling to implement an IMF diktat to roll back public spending at a time when the economy was already rapidly contracting. The result was predictable and the country was plunged into a depression, with calamitous consequences in terms of poverty and social breakdown.
Klein believes that neo-liberalism belongs among "the closed, fundamentalist doctrines that cannot co-exist with other belief-systems . . . The world as it is must be erased to make way for their purist invention. Rooted in biblical fantasies of great floods and great fires, it is a logic that leads ineluctably towards violence."
As Klein sees it, the social breakdowns that have accompanied neo-liberal economic policies are not the result of incompetence or mismanagement. They are integral to the free-market project, which can only advance against a background of disasters. At times, writing in a populist vein that echoes her first book No Logo, published seven years ago, Klein seems to suggest that these disasters are manufactured as part of a deliberate policy framed by corporations with hidden influence in government.
Soviet-style economies left an inheritance of human and ecological devastation, while neo-liberal policies have had results that are not radically dissimilar in many countries. Yet, while the Marxist faith in central planning is now confined to a few dingy sects, a quasi-religious belief in free markets continues to shape the policies of governments.
Many writers have pointed to the havoc and ruin that have accompanied the imposition of free markets across the world. Whether in Africa, Asia, Latin America or post-communist Europe, policies of wholesale privatisation and structural adjustment have led to declining economic activity and social dislocation on a massive scale. Anyone who has watched a country lurch from one crisis to another as the bureaucrats of the IMF impose cut after cut in pursuit of the holy grail of stabilisation will recognise the process Naomi Klein describes in her latest and most important book to date.
In Argentina not long before the economic collapse of 2002, the government was struggling to implement an IMF diktat to roll back public spending at a time when the economy was already rapidly contracting. The result was predictable and the country was plunged into a depression, with calamitous consequences in terms of poverty and social breakdown.
Klein believes that neo-liberalism belongs among "the closed, fundamentalist doctrines that cannot co-exist with other belief-systems . . . The world as it is must be erased to make way for their purist invention. Rooted in biblical fantasies of great floods and great fires, it is a logic that leads ineluctably towards violence."
As Klein sees it, the social breakdowns that have accompanied neo-liberal economic policies are not the result of incompetence or mismanagement. They are integral to the free-market project, which can only advance against a background of disasters. At times, writing in a populist vein that echoes her first book No Logo, published seven years ago, Klein seems to suggest that these disasters are manufactured as part of a deliberate policy framed by corporations with hidden influence in government.
New energy plan fuels cancer fears
Fears are growing in the north Leinster area that State plans for more power lines to supply the spiralling population could put thousands of people at risk from cancer.
The overhead power lines will traverse thousands of homes, schools and businesses in the densely populated area.
Protest groups are being formed as a growing body of residents fear the power lines will run too close to homes and schools, endangering health by exposing them to electro-magnetic radiation.
The use of underground cables, which would eliminate this risk, is believed to have been ruled out as too expensive.
Eirgrid plans to site the cables between 25 and 50 metres from homes and schools in Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, despite studies in Britain having warned that even at 600 metres, there is still a high risk of serious illness for residents.
Eirgrid, which manages the national electricity grid, now faces huge resistance to plans to run 45 kilometres of high voltage inter-connector to link Ireland's electricity to the North and a 58 kilometre power line across Meath.
Some international studies have shown that living beside power lines increases the risk of cancers, miscarriages and childhood leukaemia. Eirgrid says there is no conclusive evidence of health risks.
Gary Carville, a Fine Gael councillor in Monaghan, said there has been an appalling lack of information about the project.
"It raises serious environmental and health issues for the people in all areas through which the scheme is envisaged," he said.
Eirgrid told one public meeting in Cavan that the power lines will be built to within 25 metres, according to one concerned local resident.
In a statement to the Sunday Independent the company said the "design aim" was not to go closer than 50 metres to existing structures.
However, a British government advisory group said in April that the best option for reducing childhood leukaemia deaths was to ban the building of new homes and schools within 60 metres of power lines.
It also warned that houses should not be built under electricity pylons because the risks of cancer, brain tumours, miscarriages and motor neurone disease "cannot be ruled out".
Another British study, the Draper Report of 2004, found that children living within 200 metres of a power line were 69 per cent more likely to develop leukaemia and those living between 200 and 600 metres away had a 23 per cent increased risk.
The protest is likely to echo deeply divisive rows between the ESB with rural land-owners over attempts to force pylons on their land. It falls into the lap of Eamon Ryan, the Green Party's energy minister, and John Gormley, the environment minister.
A spokesperson for Eamon Ryan said yesterday: "All local concerns will be dealt with as part of the process." No comment was available from Mr Gormley.
The new high-voltage inter-connecter requires 80km of new power line running from Tyrone, through Monaghan to Kingscourt in Cavan, where a substation will also be built.
The Meath power line, which will boost supply to the north east, will run from Woodland, near Dunboyne, outside Dublin, to Kingscourt, Cavan -- a further 58km.
The €300m energy project is enormously important to ensuring Ireland's future electricity supplies, and promises to cut electricity prices by boosting competition and guaranteeing security of supply.
Maeve Sheehan
Irish Independent
The overhead power lines will traverse thousands of homes, schools and businesses in the densely populated area.
Protest groups are being formed as a growing body of residents fear the power lines will run too close to homes and schools, endangering health by exposing them to electro-magnetic radiation.
The use of underground cables, which would eliminate this risk, is believed to have been ruled out as too expensive.
Eirgrid plans to site the cables between 25 and 50 metres from homes and schools in Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, despite studies in Britain having warned that even at 600 metres, there is still a high risk of serious illness for residents.
Eirgrid, which manages the national electricity grid, now faces huge resistance to plans to run 45 kilometres of high voltage inter-connector to link Ireland's electricity to the North and a 58 kilometre power line across Meath.
Some international studies have shown that living beside power lines increases the risk of cancers, miscarriages and childhood leukaemia. Eirgrid says there is no conclusive evidence of health risks.
Gary Carville, a Fine Gael councillor in Monaghan, said there has been an appalling lack of information about the project.
"It raises serious environmental and health issues for the people in all areas through which the scheme is envisaged," he said.
Eirgrid told one public meeting in Cavan that the power lines will be built to within 25 metres, according to one concerned local resident.
In a statement to the Sunday Independent the company said the "design aim" was not to go closer than 50 metres to existing structures.
However, a British government advisory group said in April that the best option for reducing childhood leukaemia deaths was to ban the building of new homes and schools within 60 metres of power lines.
It also warned that houses should not be built under electricity pylons because the risks of cancer, brain tumours, miscarriages and motor neurone disease "cannot be ruled out".
Another British study, the Draper Report of 2004, found that children living within 200 metres of a power line were 69 per cent more likely to develop leukaemia and those living between 200 and 600 metres away had a 23 per cent increased risk.
The protest is likely to echo deeply divisive rows between the ESB with rural land-owners over attempts to force pylons on their land. It falls into the lap of Eamon Ryan, the Green Party's energy minister, and John Gormley, the environment minister.
A spokesperson for Eamon Ryan said yesterday: "All local concerns will be dealt with as part of the process." No comment was available from Mr Gormley.
The new high-voltage inter-connecter requires 80km of new power line running from Tyrone, through Monaghan to Kingscourt in Cavan, where a substation will also be built.
The Meath power line, which will boost supply to the north east, will run from Woodland, near Dunboyne, outside Dublin, to Kingscourt, Cavan -- a further 58km.
The €300m energy project is enormously important to ensuring Ireland's future electricity supplies, and promises to cut electricity prices by boosting competition and guaranteeing security of supply.
Maeve Sheehan
Irish Independent
After the tree protests, street wins major landscape award
WHEN Dublin city bosses started removing trees to allow a major refurbishment of the capital's main thoroughfare five years ago, such was the public outrage that some Green Party TDs chained themselves to the trunks to stop further carnage.
But yesterday it emerged that the council's decision was correct, after O'Connell Street's landscaping won a merit award for the "outstanding" tree planting at the annual Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland.
The judges noted that 27 boxed lime trees bordered a new plaza while eight weeping birch trees gave a "sense of movement even in the gentlest breeze".
And it will be a long-lived legacy, as the trees will last 200 years. The outcry back in 2002 surrounded the council's decision to remove 100-year-old London Plane trees, in order to create a streetscape to rival Paris' Champs Elysee.
SAP Landscapes was the overall winner this year, for the roof garden at SAS Radisson in Dublin 8.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
But yesterday it emerged that the council's decision was correct, after O'Connell Street's landscaping won a merit award for the "outstanding" tree planting at the annual Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland.
The judges noted that 27 boxed lime trees bordered a new plaza while eight weeping birch trees gave a "sense of movement even in the gentlest breeze".
And it will be a long-lived legacy, as the trees will last 200 years. The outcry back in 2002 surrounded the council's decision to remove 100-year-old London Plane trees, in order to create a streetscape to rival Paris' Champs Elysee.
SAP Landscapes was the overall winner this year, for the roof garden at SAS Radisson in Dublin 8.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
All-Ireland plan opens up waterways
BOATING enthusiasts will be able to navigate Ireland's 700 km of inland waterways north and south of the border under an ambitious plan to be unveiled today.
Rural Affairs Minister Eamon O'Cuiv and his northern counterpart, Edwin Poots, will announce that planning can begin on restoring the Ulster Canal, which would give mariners unfettered access to all the country's canals.
For the first time, boaters will be able to travel from Coleraine in the north to Limerick and New Ross without leaving their barges. Enthusiasts say it's the realisation of a 300-year-old dream, and the first time that both canal systems will be connected.
Colin Becker, from the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, said a 'slight' re-routing of both ends of the canal was likely to avoid road crossings and motorway bridges.
"It's the missing link. It connects the two networks at Lough Neath and the Shannon. They never operated contemporaneously so it will be the realisation of a 300-year-old dream.
"The locks on the Ulster Canal were built to a narrower width, which meant it wasn't commercially viable.
"Depending on how you count it, there is over 700 km of waterway.
"Travelling from Limerick to Coleraine would take about 10 days."
Once complete, boaters could leave Coleraine and travel to Lough Neagh through the Lower Bann river. From there, through the redeveloped Ulster Canal (via the River Blackwater) and Lough Erne, through the Shannon Erne Waterway before joining the River Shannon at Leitrim and continuing onto the sea at Limerick.
And alternative route -- which will be available from 2009 -- would allow boaters to use the Ulster Canal and join the Shannon system, before heading to Tarmonbarry in Longford and travelling the Royal Canal in Dublin.
An announcement that preliminary engineering and design work on re-opening the 46-mile Ulster Canal is expected to be made at a press conference. The cost is likely to run into tens of millions of euro -- the only estimates to date for restoring 20 miles of the canal put it at over €50m.
Irish Independent
Rural Affairs Minister Eamon O'Cuiv and his northern counterpart, Edwin Poots, will announce that planning can begin on restoring the Ulster Canal, which would give mariners unfettered access to all the country's canals.
For the first time, boaters will be able to travel from Coleraine in the north to Limerick and New Ross without leaving their barges. Enthusiasts say it's the realisation of a 300-year-old dream, and the first time that both canal systems will be connected.
Colin Becker, from the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, said a 'slight' re-routing of both ends of the canal was likely to avoid road crossings and motorway bridges.
"It's the missing link. It connects the two networks at Lough Neath and the Shannon. They never operated contemporaneously so it will be the realisation of a 300-year-old dream.
"The locks on the Ulster Canal were built to a narrower width, which meant it wasn't commercially viable.
"Depending on how you count it, there is over 700 km of waterway.
"Travelling from Limerick to Coleraine would take about 10 days."
Once complete, boaters could leave Coleraine and travel to Lough Neagh through the Lower Bann river. From there, through the redeveloped Ulster Canal (via the River Blackwater) and Lough Erne, through the Shannon Erne Waterway before joining the River Shannon at Leitrim and continuing onto the sea at Limerick.
And alternative route -- which will be available from 2009 -- would allow boaters to use the Ulster Canal and join the Shannon system, before heading to Tarmonbarry in Longford and travelling the Royal Canal in Dublin.
An announcement that preliminary engineering and design work on re-opening the 46-mile Ulster Canal is expected to be made at a press conference. The cost is likely to run into tens of millions of euro -- the only estimates to date for restoring 20 miles of the canal put it at over €50m.
Irish Independent
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Controversial incinerator decision
DUBLIN'S rubbish could be sent to Meath to be burnt following a decision yesterday which gives the go-ahead for the massive expansion of a controversial incinerator and allows it to take in waste from outside the county.
Indaver has plans for another plant in Co Cork, and between both could process 400,000 tonnes of waste a year.
The Poolbeg plant is designed to handle up to 700,000 tonnes of waste a year, and a decision on whether it will go-ahead is expected by the end of the month.
An Bord Pleanala yesterday approved an increase in the Indaver Ireland plant, which will allow it process 200,000 tonnes of household rubbish a year instead of the 150,000 tonnes approved earlier.
The decision was greeted with dismay by objectors, with the Labour Party saying it gave Indaver "carte blanche" to burn rubbish from other regions which would turn Meath into a "dumping ground for Dublin".
Green party councillor Mark Dearey accused the board of taking "no account" of Minister Gormley's opposition to incineration, while Fine Gael claimed that local roads could not handle the increased volume of traffic that would arise.
The No Incineration Alliance, which includes local residents, said it was a "great disappointment" that it was approved, adding it would continue to oppose incineration.
The planning board's decision includes 31 conditions, the most significant of which allows Indaver to accept waste from other counties in the North East region.
But the so-called 'proximity principle' also clears the way for the Meath plant to take waste from the capital. But Dublin City Council said there was "no plan" to bring the capital's waste to Meath.
Yesterday, CEO of Indaver Ireland, John Ahern, said work would begin on the €100m plant next year with a view to opening for business in 2011.
A review of waste management policy to be undertaken next year would explore alternatives to incineration including mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) and other technologies.
However, another seven incinerators are planned for Ireland, including the Poolbeg proposal. A spokesman for Environment Minister John Gormley said last night that he had no statutory power to interfere with the granting of planning permission to incinerators -- even though a queue of heat treatment plants are already in the process. He admitted there could be an over-supply of incinerators if all the planned establishments were built, since An Bord Pleanala is independent of the political process.
Irish Independent
Indaver has plans for another plant in Co Cork, and between both could process 400,000 tonnes of waste a year.
The Poolbeg plant is designed to handle up to 700,000 tonnes of waste a year, and a decision on whether it will go-ahead is expected by the end of the month.
An Bord Pleanala yesterday approved an increase in the Indaver Ireland plant, which will allow it process 200,000 tonnes of household rubbish a year instead of the 150,000 tonnes approved earlier.
The decision was greeted with dismay by objectors, with the Labour Party saying it gave Indaver "carte blanche" to burn rubbish from other regions which would turn Meath into a "dumping ground for Dublin".
Green party councillor Mark Dearey accused the board of taking "no account" of Minister Gormley's opposition to incineration, while Fine Gael claimed that local roads could not handle the increased volume of traffic that would arise.
The No Incineration Alliance, which includes local residents, said it was a "great disappointment" that it was approved, adding it would continue to oppose incineration.
The planning board's decision includes 31 conditions, the most significant of which allows Indaver to accept waste from other counties in the North East region.
But the so-called 'proximity principle' also clears the way for the Meath plant to take waste from the capital. But Dublin City Council said there was "no plan" to bring the capital's waste to Meath.
Yesterday, CEO of Indaver Ireland, John Ahern, said work would begin on the €100m plant next year with a view to opening for business in 2011.
A review of waste management policy to be undertaken next year would explore alternatives to incineration including mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) and other technologies.
However, another seven incinerators are planned for Ireland, including the Poolbeg proposal. A spokesman for Environment Minister John Gormley said last night that he had no statutory power to interfere with the granting of planning permission to incinerators -- even though a queue of heat treatment plants are already in the process. He admitted there could be an over-supply of incinerators if all the planned establishments were built, since An Bord Pleanala is independent of the political process.
Irish Independent
Moyross revamp scheme to begin
THE huge regeneration plan for Moyross kicks into action tonight.
A master plan will be ready within 10 weeks.
Hundreds of vandalised houses will be levelled and a whole new estate design implemented.
The Northside Regeneration Committee will be launched in Moyross Community Centre.
Limerick businessman and broadcaster Michael McNamara has been appointed as the independent chairperson of the newly established regeneration committee.
The committee will be responsible for the planning and implementation of the regeneration scheme for Moyross and the surrounding area and will report to the Board of the Northside Regeneration Agency chaired by former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald.
Michael McNamara said: “I was honoured to be asked to take on such a challenge and as a Limerick man I intend to make every effort to ensure that the committee works as efficiently and as effectively as possible. By that I mean that the committee will be very much focused on action and delivery and I intend to draw on my own experience in business to work towards achieving our targets.”
Brendan Kenny, director of the regeneration programme, said his agency would have a vision for Moyross published by Christmas.
Mr Kenny said: “This vision will set out the changes envisaged for the regeneration of the area and will bring clarity to residents in regard to what our plans are.
“Already we have engaged in Moyross on an extensive consultation process which is giving the people who live in the area an opportunity to have their say. We are very pleased with the caliber and commitment of the people who have volunteered to participate on the committee and are delighted to have such a successful and respected Limerick man like Michael McNamara as independent chairman.”
The Moyross committee is primarily drawn from the local community and also includes officials from the Northside Regeneration Agency, Limerick City Council and An Garda Síochána.
Irish Examiner
A master plan will be ready within 10 weeks.
Hundreds of vandalised houses will be levelled and a whole new estate design implemented.
The Northside Regeneration Committee will be launched in Moyross Community Centre.
Limerick businessman and broadcaster Michael McNamara has been appointed as the independent chairperson of the newly established regeneration committee.
The committee will be responsible for the planning and implementation of the regeneration scheme for Moyross and the surrounding area and will report to the Board of the Northside Regeneration Agency chaired by former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald.
Michael McNamara said: “I was honoured to be asked to take on such a challenge and as a Limerick man I intend to make every effort to ensure that the committee works as efficiently and as effectively as possible. By that I mean that the committee will be very much focused on action and delivery and I intend to draw on my own experience in business to work towards achieving our targets.”
Brendan Kenny, director of the regeneration programme, said his agency would have a vision for Moyross published by Christmas.
Mr Kenny said: “This vision will set out the changes envisaged for the regeneration of the area and will bring clarity to residents in regard to what our plans are.
“Already we have engaged in Moyross on an extensive consultation process which is giving the people who live in the area an opportunity to have their say. We are very pleased with the caliber and commitment of the people who have volunteered to participate on the committee and are delighted to have such a successful and respected Limerick man like Michael McNamara as independent chairman.”
The Moyross committee is primarily drawn from the local community and also includes officials from the Northside Regeneration Agency, Limerick City Council and An Garda Síochána.
Irish Examiner
Corrib gas objectors to meet Ryan
AN unprecedented meeting will take place today between objectors to the Corrib gas project and Energy Minister Eamon Ryan where they will outline their concerns over the Shell-led project. The talks will centre on objections to the gas project’s refinery, planned for Bellinaboy, in north Mayo.
An eight-person committee, made up of Shell to Sea campaigners and locals are scheduled to meet Mr Ryan at Leinster House.
Shell to Sea said the meeting was the first of its kind.
“It’s the first meeting of representatives from the community, who up until now have been sidelined. We have always been opposed to the land refinery but this has been off the table for a while. We have some questions for him
[Mr Ryan] on his remit for the project,” explained campaign spokesman and Mayo man John Monaghan.
An independent report by Peter Cassells, former general secretary ICTU, is expected to be raised with Mr Ryan. In July last year, it made a number of recommendations including that Shell modify the planned onshore gas pipeline route and that Bord Gáis come on board. The report found a majority in Rossport, the wider Erris area and Co Mayo were in favour of the project. One of the Rossport Five — the men jailed for 94 days after protesting over the project — will be among those meeting Mr Ryan today.
This is the first meeting a government minister has had with any of the Rossport Five since their release.
Discussions on the Advantica report, commissioned on the safety of the pipeline, are also expected to take place. The continued Garda presence at the refinery site where protesters have gathered will also be raised.
“This is the strangest policing operation within the State and a complete waste of resources,” said Shell to Sea’s John Monaghan.
Figures released last week show the security bill for continued Garda presence at the refinery has grown to more than €8 million.
Irish Examiner
An eight-person committee, made up of Shell to Sea campaigners and locals are scheduled to meet Mr Ryan at Leinster House.
Shell to Sea said the meeting was the first of its kind.
“It’s the first meeting of representatives from the community, who up until now have been sidelined. We have always been opposed to the land refinery but this has been off the table for a while. We have some questions for him
[Mr Ryan] on his remit for the project,” explained campaign spokesman and Mayo man John Monaghan.
An independent report by Peter Cassells, former general secretary ICTU, is expected to be raised with Mr Ryan. In July last year, it made a number of recommendations including that Shell modify the planned onshore gas pipeline route and that Bord Gáis come on board. The report found a majority in Rossport, the wider Erris area and Co Mayo were in favour of the project. One of the Rossport Five — the men jailed for 94 days after protesting over the project — will be among those meeting Mr Ryan today.
This is the first meeting a government minister has had with any of the Rossport Five since their release.
Discussions on the Advantica report, commissioned on the safety of the pipeline, are also expected to take place. The continued Garda presence at the refinery site where protesters have gathered will also be raised.
“This is the strangest policing operation within the State and a complete waste of resources,” said Shell to Sea’s John Monaghan.
Figures released last week show the security bill for continued Garda presence at the refinery has grown to more than €8 million.
Irish Examiner
No plans to cut affordable house prices despite drop
CORK County Council has no immediate plans to reduce the cost of its affordable houses, despite a price drop on the general housing market.
In light of the recent slump on the open market, Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) asked council officials if they were prepared to drop the cost of affordable houses, which are designed to be within the price range of lower income families.
Assistant county manager for the north Cork region, Tim Lucey, said he couldn’t see any change coming in the foreseeable future, especially as the price of affordable homes was way below the market value, sometimes by up to €90,000.
Mr O’Flynn also maintained the fall-off in building represented an ideal opportunity for the local authority to get more affordable houses built by developers who had slacker worksheets.
“We’re not in the market to start bailing out developers who are slowing down. We’re in the market for houses,” Mr Lucey replied. He said that at present the county council had 46 affordable houses available in the north Cork area.
“The houses range in price from €133,000 to €177,000. On the open market they would sell from €225,000 to €280,000. These houses are way cheaper than the open market. It is a very attractive scheme,” said Mr Lucey.
The assistant county manager said the only way he envisaged dropping the price of affordable houses was if the cost of building material plummeted.
Irish Examiner
In light of the recent slump on the open market, Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) asked council officials if they were prepared to drop the cost of affordable houses, which are designed to be within the price range of lower income families.
Assistant county manager for the north Cork region, Tim Lucey, said he couldn’t see any change coming in the foreseeable future, especially as the price of affordable homes was way below the market value, sometimes by up to €90,000.
Mr O’Flynn also maintained the fall-off in building represented an ideal opportunity for the local authority to get more affordable houses built by developers who had slacker worksheets.
“We’re not in the market to start bailing out developers who are slowing down. We’re in the market for houses,” Mr Lucey replied. He said that at present the county council had 46 affordable houses available in the north Cork area.
“The houses range in price from €133,000 to €177,000. On the open market they would sell from €225,000 to €280,000. These houses are way cheaper than the open market. It is a very attractive scheme,” said Mr Lucey.
The assistant county manager said the only way he envisaged dropping the price of affordable houses was if the cost of building material plummeted.
Irish Examiner
Permission to expand Meath incinerator sparks outrage
ANTI-INCINERATION groups have criticised An Bord Pleanála’s decision yesterday to grant permission to Indaver Ireland to increase the size of its Co Meath incinerator by a third.
Following yesterday’s decision, the plant at Carronstown can now cater for 200,000 tonnes of waste per year — instead of 150,000 tonnes. Indaver says the waste-to-energy plant will generate enough energy for 19,000 homes.
Anti-incineration campaigners and opposition parties have warned that Meath is about to become Dublin’s “dumping ground” as in its conditions, An Bord Pleanála said that Indaver can take waste from outside the north-east.
However, Dublin City Council last night issued a statement saying it “will need to find its own solution to its waste problem” and that it has no plan to ship Dublin’s waste to Co Meath.
The No Incineration Alliance said the decision rendered the Programme for Government useless while their Cork-based counterparts, Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE), said the decision “flew in the face of government declarations that incineration is no longer the cornerstone of Irish Waste Management Policy”.
“The Programme for Government states the cornerstone of a waste management strategy will be based on reduction, re-use and recycling, with the introduction of brown bins, pay by weight and the investigation of technologies such as MBT (mechanical biological treatment). The only mention of incineration in the Programme for Government is to note that there will be no introduction of a landfill levy,” said the alliance’s Aine Walsh.
Indaver welcomed the move saying the project was one of the most scrutinised planning proposals in the history of the State.
“Two Bord Pleanála rulings, two High Court rulings, a Supreme Court ruling and an EPA licensing ruling have all found in favour of the project,” a spokesman said. Construction of the incinerator is due to begin next year.
Sinn Féin environment spokesman Martin Ferris accused Environment Minister John Gormley of taking a NIMBY (not in my back yard) approach to incineration.
“It’s clear the minister was talking about the incinerators in Meath and Cork, and not the one in his own constituency, when he spoke last week of the State needing to burn 400,000 tonnes of rubbish as this will now be the combined capacity of the Meath and Cork plants,” he said.
The Labour Party’s East Meath Senator, Dominic Hannigan, said “government waste management policy is in complete disarray. Before the general election the Green Party were vehemently against incineration but now they are accepting incineration will continue to be a part of Ireland’s answer to waste disposal”.
CHASE opposes the construction of a 100,000 tonne toxic waste incinerator and 100,000 tonne municipal waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy. Planning, which applies only to the toxic waste incinerator, is being appealed. Their case against the toxic waste division will be heard at the High Court at the end of the month.
Irish Examiner
Following yesterday’s decision, the plant at Carronstown can now cater for 200,000 tonnes of waste per year — instead of 150,000 tonnes. Indaver says the waste-to-energy plant will generate enough energy for 19,000 homes.
Anti-incineration campaigners and opposition parties have warned that Meath is about to become Dublin’s “dumping ground” as in its conditions, An Bord Pleanála said that Indaver can take waste from outside the north-east.
However, Dublin City Council last night issued a statement saying it “will need to find its own solution to its waste problem” and that it has no plan to ship Dublin’s waste to Co Meath.
The No Incineration Alliance said the decision rendered the Programme for Government useless while their Cork-based counterparts, Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE), said the decision “flew in the face of government declarations that incineration is no longer the cornerstone of Irish Waste Management Policy”.
“The Programme for Government states the cornerstone of a waste management strategy will be based on reduction, re-use and recycling, with the introduction of brown bins, pay by weight and the investigation of technologies such as MBT (mechanical biological treatment). The only mention of incineration in the Programme for Government is to note that there will be no introduction of a landfill levy,” said the alliance’s Aine Walsh.
Indaver welcomed the move saying the project was one of the most scrutinised planning proposals in the history of the State.
“Two Bord Pleanála rulings, two High Court rulings, a Supreme Court ruling and an EPA licensing ruling have all found in favour of the project,” a spokesman said. Construction of the incinerator is due to begin next year.
Sinn Féin environment spokesman Martin Ferris accused Environment Minister John Gormley of taking a NIMBY (not in my back yard) approach to incineration.
“It’s clear the minister was talking about the incinerators in Meath and Cork, and not the one in his own constituency, when he spoke last week of the State needing to burn 400,000 tonnes of rubbish as this will now be the combined capacity of the Meath and Cork plants,” he said.
The Labour Party’s East Meath Senator, Dominic Hannigan, said “government waste management policy is in complete disarray. Before the general election the Green Party were vehemently against incineration but now they are accepting incineration will continue to be a part of Ireland’s answer to waste disposal”.
CHASE opposes the construction of a 100,000 tonne toxic waste incinerator and 100,000 tonne municipal waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy. Planning, which applies only to the toxic waste incinerator, is being appealed. Their case against the toxic waste division will be heard at the High Court at the end of the month.
Irish Examiner
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Council strikes €141m deal with consortium for 'new town' plan
Agreement has been reached for €141m worth of infrastructure -- including a link road to the M1 motorway -- for the expansion of Drogheda.
The North Drogheda Environs Group (NDEG), which consists of a number of property developers, including Manor Park Homes and Euro Construction, own 90pc of the 254 hectare landbank that makes up the Drogheda North Environs local area plan.
Under the package agreed between the NDEG and the council, a 30 acre regional sports campus, as well as significant upgrades of Drogheda's water and waste water infrastructure, will also be provided.
However, the construction of the port access northern cross road, between the M1 motorway on the northside of Drogheda and Drogheda Port, is the most significant piece of infrastructure included in the deal.
The new road will remove over 3,000 heavy goods vehicles which currently drive through Drogheda town centre on a daily basis.
Opposition
In the past, the trucks making their way from the port have used rat runs through residential areas.
The environmental impact statement for the road is in draft form at the moment but will be published before the end of the month and will, with the compulsory purchase order, be submitted to An Bord Pleanala.
If an oral hearing is held by the board it could delay the start of construction, but the council is hopeful that it will begin next year and the road could be open for use in 2010.
A number of planning applications have been lodged with the council in the past two months for various developments in the Drogheda north environs.
At yesterday's council meeting, director of services for infrastructure, Joan Martin, told councillors that there would be no development of the lands by the consortium until work on the road starts.
"I assure members that the legal agreement will contain all the items contained in the master plan as agreed by you.
"The road will be built as a single contract and no development can commence until the road has commenced," she said.
Irish Independent
The North Drogheda Environs Group (NDEG), which consists of a number of property developers, including Manor Park Homes and Euro Construction, own 90pc of the 254 hectare landbank that makes up the Drogheda North Environs local area plan.
Under the package agreed between the NDEG and the council, a 30 acre regional sports campus, as well as significant upgrades of Drogheda's water and waste water infrastructure, will also be provided.
However, the construction of the port access northern cross road, between the M1 motorway on the northside of Drogheda and Drogheda Port, is the most significant piece of infrastructure included in the deal.
The new road will remove over 3,000 heavy goods vehicles which currently drive through Drogheda town centre on a daily basis.
Opposition
In the past, the trucks making their way from the port have used rat runs through residential areas.
The environmental impact statement for the road is in draft form at the moment but will be published before the end of the month and will, with the compulsory purchase order, be submitted to An Bord Pleanala.
If an oral hearing is held by the board it could delay the start of construction, but the council is hopeful that it will begin next year and the road could be open for use in 2010.
A number of planning applications have been lodged with the council in the past two months for various developments in the Drogheda north environs.
At yesterday's council meeting, director of services for infrastructure, Joan Martin, told councillors that there would be no development of the lands by the consortium until work on the road starts.
"I assure members that the legal agreement will contain all the items contained in the master plan as agreed by you.
"The road will be built as a single contract and no development can commence until the road has commenced," she said.
Irish Independent
Stage set for competition to design theatre
INTERNATIONAL architects will be asked to design the new Abbey Theatre on George's Dock in Dublin city centre.
Arts Minister Seamus Brennan yesterday appointed a 13-member jury which will choose the final design after an international architectural competition begins this month. This means the national theatres's move from its current home on Lower Abbey Street will finally go ahead.
Yesterday the minister said the new Abbey on the George's Dock site would be the "centrepiece of a new wave of cultural, social and economic amenities" in the Docklands.
"I am confident that when the international design competition is complete we will have a world-class design for a new iconic landmark building for the city," he said.
"It must be a design that reflects and embraces the great surges in creativity and culture we are witnessing in the Ireland of the 21st century, while at the same time acknowledging the historic significance of the Abbey to Irish life over more than a century."
Iconic
When completed the new waterside building would give Dublin an "iconic and dynamic structure" which would reflect the city's position as a "global capital of culture and creativity".
The new Abbey will be over 24,000 square metres and include three theatres, rehearsal spaces, shops, bars, restaurants, gallery and exhibition facilities and a cinema and lecture hall.
Currently the national theatre has 632 seats across its two auditoria -- the Abbey and the Peacock -- but the new building will provide space for 1,000 seats across three auditoria. Each theatre will have its own foyer, auditorium, stage, dressing rooms and technical control rooms.The building will be financed under a public, private partnership deal, meaning the private sector will pay for construction. The cost of the new theatre is not yet known.
Abbey director Fiach Mac Conghail, who sits on the jury, said it would provide "world-class" theatre space.
"The facilities it will boast, such as three new theatres, state -of-the-art production resources, proper back-stage services and enhanced rehearsal space, will serve and support the best of Irish and international theatre while providing Ireland's present-day and future theatre audiences Irish audiences with a thrilling, qualitative experience," he said.
Judge Bryan McMahon, chairman of the Abbey Theatre board, who is also a jury member, said a jury would ensure that an "exceptional design, representative of a national theatre in the 21st century", would be delivered.
The new theatre is among a range of new buildings for the Docklands, including a National Convention Centre, the Grand Canal Theatre, the CHQ building, the Point Village and the U2 Tower.
Other jury members include Sean Benton, chairman of the OPW; former Dublin City architect Jim Barrett; John McLoughlin, of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; Mels Crouwel, national architect of the Netherlands; and actress Fiona Shaw.
Irish Independent
Arts Minister Seamus Brennan yesterday appointed a 13-member jury which will choose the final design after an international architectural competition begins this month. This means the national theatres's move from its current home on Lower Abbey Street will finally go ahead.
Yesterday the minister said the new Abbey on the George's Dock site would be the "centrepiece of a new wave of cultural, social and economic amenities" in the Docklands.
"I am confident that when the international design competition is complete we will have a world-class design for a new iconic landmark building for the city," he said.
"It must be a design that reflects and embraces the great surges in creativity and culture we are witnessing in the Ireland of the 21st century, while at the same time acknowledging the historic significance of the Abbey to Irish life over more than a century."
Iconic
When completed the new waterside building would give Dublin an "iconic and dynamic structure" which would reflect the city's position as a "global capital of culture and creativity".
The new Abbey will be over 24,000 square metres and include three theatres, rehearsal spaces, shops, bars, restaurants, gallery and exhibition facilities and a cinema and lecture hall.
Currently the national theatre has 632 seats across its two auditoria -- the Abbey and the Peacock -- but the new building will provide space for 1,000 seats across three auditoria. Each theatre will have its own foyer, auditorium, stage, dressing rooms and technical control rooms.The building will be financed under a public, private partnership deal, meaning the private sector will pay for construction. The cost of the new theatre is not yet known.
Abbey director Fiach Mac Conghail, who sits on the jury, said it would provide "world-class" theatre space.
"The facilities it will boast, such as three new theatres, state -of-the-art production resources, proper back-stage services and enhanced rehearsal space, will serve and support the best of Irish and international theatre while providing Ireland's present-day and future theatre audiences Irish audiences with a thrilling, qualitative experience," he said.
Judge Bryan McMahon, chairman of the Abbey Theatre board, who is also a jury member, said a jury would ensure that an "exceptional design, representative of a national theatre in the 21st century", would be delivered.
The new theatre is among a range of new buildings for the Docklands, including a National Convention Centre, the Grand Canal Theatre, the CHQ building, the Point Village and the U2 Tower.
Other jury members include Sean Benton, chairman of the OPW; former Dublin City architect Jim Barrett; John McLoughlin, of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; Mels Crouwel, national architect of the Netherlands; and actress Fiona Shaw.
Irish Independent
EPA-backed initiative leads to eco-savings for ‘green’ hotels
THE Environmental Protection Agency yesterday said the Greener Irish Hotels initiative involving 56 Irish hotels has resulted in the diversion of thousands of tonnes of waste to landfill and also reduced carbon dioxide output drastically.
Developed by the Irish Hospitality Institute Greener Irish Hotels was one of a number of initiatives part-funded between 2005 and 2007 under phase two of the EPA’s Cleaner Greener Production Programme.
More than 3,000 employees were given training and by the end of 2006, the 56 hotels in 20 countries had diverted 1,113 tonnes of waste from landfill, reduced CO2 output by 3,000 tonnes and cut water consumption by 5,000 tonnes.
The EPA said the programme had also resulted in reduced costs for hotels, giving a win-win outcome for business and the environment.
The hotels involved included three to five star properties ranging in size from 30 to 255 bedrooms.
It said that if spread to the other hotels around the country, it could result in savings for the sector of €81.4 million per annum at 2005 prices and result in:
The diversion of 56,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.
The reduction of 162,000 tonnes of CO2 output.
The reduction of more than 4,500,000 tonnes in water consumption.
“The Irish Hotel Industry has been environmentally benchmarked for the first time in this pilot programme, which has delivered the blueprint for better, greener business for Irish hotels.” said Larry Stapleton, director at the EPA Office of Environmental Assessment. “What we would like to see happen now is that the momentum from this programme will be carried forward.
“The programme has engaged the hotel industry and created an effective environmental focus.
“It is replicable across the whole accommodation and catering sectors. Not only that, but the leadership shown by the hotels sector through this programme can also serve as an example for other service sectors of the value of a coordinated approach, and thus play an important role in promoting the greening of the Irish economy overall.”
Irish Examiner
Developed by the Irish Hospitality Institute Greener Irish Hotels was one of a number of initiatives part-funded between 2005 and 2007 under phase two of the EPA’s Cleaner Greener Production Programme.
More than 3,000 employees were given training and by the end of 2006, the 56 hotels in 20 countries had diverted 1,113 tonnes of waste from landfill, reduced CO2 output by 3,000 tonnes and cut water consumption by 5,000 tonnes.
The EPA said the programme had also resulted in reduced costs for hotels, giving a win-win outcome for business and the environment.
The hotels involved included three to five star properties ranging in size from 30 to 255 bedrooms.
It said that if spread to the other hotels around the country, it could result in savings for the sector of €81.4 million per annum at 2005 prices and result in:
The diversion of 56,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.
The reduction of 162,000 tonnes of CO2 output.
The reduction of more than 4,500,000 tonnes in water consumption.
“The Irish Hotel Industry has been environmentally benchmarked for the first time in this pilot programme, which has delivered the blueprint for better, greener business for Irish hotels.” said Larry Stapleton, director at the EPA Office of Environmental Assessment. “What we would like to see happen now is that the momentum from this programme will be carried forward.
“The programme has engaged the hotel industry and created an effective environmental focus.
“It is replicable across the whole accommodation and catering sectors. Not only that, but the leadership shown by the hotels sector through this programme can also serve as an example for other service sectors of the value of a coordinated approach, and thus play an important role in promoting the greening of the Irish economy overall.”
Irish Examiner
Monday, 15 October 2007
Target for carbon emissions 'bizarre' - ESRI
The Government's target to cut carbon emissions by 3 per cent per annum between 2007 and 2012 is "bizarre", inappropriate and should be abandoned, economists from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said in Kenmare.
ESRI economists Colm McCarthy and Sue Scott told the Dublin Economic Workshop that a carbon tax of €20 per tonne would be a much more efficient way of reducing carbon emissions because it does not favour any one type of energy-producing technology.
A carbon tax set at this rate would add approximately 5 cent to a litre of petrol, which they said was "hardly punitive".
"The real inconvenient truth in climate policy is that, one way or another, the price of carbon must rise," they said in a paper presented to the conference on controlling the economic cost of climate policy.
A universal carbon tax, where everyone pays the same price for each unit of damage they do, would be fairer than setting specific reduction targets, Mr McCarthy said. Ideally, this tax would be introduced gradually, starting at a rate of €5 per tonne.
He also called for a comprehensive economic study to examine the cost of the Republic's ban on nuclear energy, and questioned the economic rationale behind the Government's target to source 33 per cent of power from renewable energy by 2020, which will require a sharp increase in wind penetration.
Ms Scott said carbon emissions should be reduced in the most economically-efficient manner but not enough attention had been paid to these costs.
Tax breaks on biofuels, which risk pushing up food prices by encouraging farmers to use land to produce alternative energy instead of food, are "a very good example of what you end up with if you don't do any economic analysis".
Laura Slattery
The Irish Times
ESRI economists Colm McCarthy and Sue Scott told the Dublin Economic Workshop that a carbon tax of €20 per tonne would be a much more efficient way of reducing carbon emissions because it does not favour any one type of energy-producing technology.
A carbon tax set at this rate would add approximately 5 cent to a litre of petrol, which they said was "hardly punitive".
"The real inconvenient truth in climate policy is that, one way or another, the price of carbon must rise," they said in a paper presented to the conference on controlling the economic cost of climate policy.
A universal carbon tax, where everyone pays the same price for each unit of damage they do, would be fairer than setting specific reduction targets, Mr McCarthy said. Ideally, this tax would be introduced gradually, starting at a rate of €5 per tonne.
He also called for a comprehensive economic study to examine the cost of the Republic's ban on nuclear energy, and questioned the economic rationale behind the Government's target to source 33 per cent of power from renewable energy by 2020, which will require a sharp increase in wind penetration.
Ms Scott said carbon emissions should be reduced in the most economically-efficient manner but not enough attention had been paid to these costs.
Tax breaks on biofuels, which risk pushing up food prices by encouraging farmers to use land to produce alternative energy instead of food, are "a very good example of what you end up with if you don't do any economic analysis".
Laura Slattery
The Irish Times
State defends 'local needs' planning rules to avert EU action
The Government has told the EU that local planning regulations based on criteria such as a person's bloodline or ability to speak Irish are "well balanced and proportionate". It has also argued that such "local needs" restrictions, which exist in 23 county development plans in the Republic, are necessary to maintain the rural fabric of society, achieve balanced regional development and reverse rural population decline.
This robust defence of local planning regulations is contained in a Government dossier sent to the European Commission this month in an attempt to stave off EU legal action. The dossier, which has been seen by The Irish Times , also highlights Ireland's "dynamic property market" as a reason why the restrictions do not breach rules that guarantee the freedom of establishment and the free movement of capital.
About half of the State's local authorities include "local needs" restrictions in their development plans.
The move restricts planning permission and sometimes ownership of homes to those who can demonstrate a local need - either that they are working in the area or already live in the area in a home which is not their own.
In June EU internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy wrote to the Government expressing concerns about conditions for planning based on residency, bloodline, local employment, agricultural activities and linguistic ability. His action followed a complaint by an EU citizen unable to buy land in Wicklow with planning permission attached.
Mr McCreevy said applying conditions such as residency, family members or local employment were not directly linked to the objective of preserving specific areas from development. The practice in Donegal and Galway of granting planning permission only to Irish speakers was "not only disproportionate but also discriminatory", he added. "Promotion of the language could easily be pursued through less restrictive measures, for example a commitment to learn and use the language. Such a requirement would not exclude nationals from other member states," wrote Mr McCreevy, who invited the State to respond to his concerns before he decides on whether to take legal action.
The Government response, sanctioned by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, says a planning applicant does not have to meet all the "local needs" criteria to be eligible for permission to build a house.
As long as at least one of the criteria applies to the applicant, a person can be deemed eligible under "local needs". It says current regulations allow rural communities to "meet their housing requirements in their areas, while avoiding unsustainable urban sprawl".
Even with the restrictions there are still significant opportunities for Irish citizens and other nationalities to settle in a rural or urban setting by buying a property due to "a substantial stock of existing houses" and a "dynamic property market" in Ireland. The dossier notes restrictions based on residency or former residency of a country are numerous in the planning rules in other EU member states. Bloodline or family member rules provide a "vital and intrinsic link to the local community", while local employment conditions ensure that people who directly contribute to and participate in the local economy can continue to live in the rural countryside.
The dossier says language experts predict Irish will cease to exist as a community language due to the dominance of English unless there are specific and strong policies to defend it. It also notes that linguistic-related planning policies also exist in Belgium. The Government says its policy is supported by the Irish Planning Institute, and signs off the letter by saying it trusts its arguments "adequately address the commission's concerns".
Fianna Fáil MEP Seán Ó Neachtáin said he welcomed the Government's vigorous defence of Irish planning laws, including restrictions allowing local authorities to use language as a basis for giving preferential treatment to grant planning permission. The commission will decide whether to take legal action in a matter of months.
Jamie Smyth
The Irish Times
This robust defence of local planning regulations is contained in a Government dossier sent to the European Commission this month in an attempt to stave off EU legal action. The dossier, which has been seen by The Irish Times , also highlights Ireland's "dynamic property market" as a reason why the restrictions do not breach rules that guarantee the freedom of establishment and the free movement of capital.
About half of the State's local authorities include "local needs" restrictions in their development plans.
The move restricts planning permission and sometimes ownership of homes to those who can demonstrate a local need - either that they are working in the area or already live in the area in a home which is not their own.
In June EU internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy wrote to the Government expressing concerns about conditions for planning based on residency, bloodline, local employment, agricultural activities and linguistic ability. His action followed a complaint by an EU citizen unable to buy land in Wicklow with planning permission attached.
Mr McCreevy said applying conditions such as residency, family members or local employment were not directly linked to the objective of preserving specific areas from development. The practice in Donegal and Galway of granting planning permission only to Irish speakers was "not only disproportionate but also discriminatory", he added. "Promotion of the language could easily be pursued through less restrictive measures, for example a commitment to learn and use the language. Such a requirement would not exclude nationals from other member states," wrote Mr McCreevy, who invited the State to respond to his concerns before he decides on whether to take legal action.
The Government response, sanctioned by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, says a planning applicant does not have to meet all the "local needs" criteria to be eligible for permission to build a house.
As long as at least one of the criteria applies to the applicant, a person can be deemed eligible under "local needs". It says current regulations allow rural communities to "meet their housing requirements in their areas, while avoiding unsustainable urban sprawl".
Even with the restrictions there are still significant opportunities for Irish citizens and other nationalities to settle in a rural or urban setting by buying a property due to "a substantial stock of existing houses" and a "dynamic property market" in Ireland. The dossier notes restrictions based on residency or former residency of a country are numerous in the planning rules in other EU member states. Bloodline or family member rules provide a "vital and intrinsic link to the local community", while local employment conditions ensure that people who directly contribute to and participate in the local economy can continue to live in the rural countryside.
The dossier says language experts predict Irish will cease to exist as a community language due to the dominance of English unless there are specific and strong policies to defend it. It also notes that linguistic-related planning policies also exist in Belgium. The Government says its policy is supported by the Irish Planning Institute, and signs off the letter by saying it trusts its arguments "adequately address the commission's concerns".
Fianna Fáil MEP Seán Ó Neachtáin said he welcomed the Government's vigorous defence of Irish planning laws, including restrictions allowing local authorities to use language as a basis for giving preferential treatment to grant planning permission. The commission will decide whether to take legal action in a matter of months.
Jamie Smyth
The Irish Times
Advertising company responsible for 119 illegal hoardings
New free-standing advertising panels which JC Decaux is seeking to erect at 120 locations across Dublin in exchange for a city bike scheme, would constitute a "traffic hazard" the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) has told a Bord Pleanála hearing.
The board is holding an appeals hearing on permission granted by Dublin City Council for 24 of the 120 panels. However, the DTO told the hearing that it is opposed to the scheme in its entirety.
DTO chief executive John Henry said that the purpose of the street-side advertising panels was clearly to attract the attention of drivers. "Anything which is designed to attract a driver's attention must therefore distract their attention from the road. Anything which distracts a driver's attention is unacceptable."
JC Decaux, one of the world largest advertising companies, has sought permission for 70 panels of 7sq m which will stand just over 2m off the ground, and 50 panels of 2.59sq m, similar in size to a bus shelter. All of the panels will be illuminated and can carry scrolling images.
Illuminated signs adjacent to the roadside were particularly dangerous, Mr Henry said.
"The DTO is totally opposed to the provision of on-street illuminated outdoor signage as it is considered to constitute a traffic hazard." Scrolling images were "even more distracting", he said.
The DTO's position was supported, Mr Henry said, by a recent Bord Pleanála refusal of permission for an illuminated scrolling advertising panel at Long Mile Road in west Dublin on the grounds that it would distract drivers.
The DTO was also concerned about the panels that were proposed for pedestrian areas, on the grounds that they might impede pedestrians, particularly the visually impaired.
RPS consulting engineers, representing JC Decaux, told the hearing the assertion that the signs would cause a traffic hazard was "inaccurate and without substance". "The suggestion of the appellant that the proposed advertising structure will act as a distraction and consequently a hazard to motorists implies that all signage, including public information signage should be banned. This is patently unreasonable," Angela Grady of RPS said.
Illuminated signage was part of the regular driving environment for city drivers, she said.
"The suggestion of the appellant that the proposed illuminated signage will constitute a traffic hazard is considered inaccurate and without substance."
JC Decaux and the council had gone to considerable effort to ensure the structures would not affect pedestrian movement, she said.
In exchange for allowing JC Decaux to erect 120 signs for a 15-year period, instead of the normal three-year planning permission, the council will receive 450 bikes, four public toilets, and a number of tourism and public information signs.
The advertising company which is to provide a city bike scheme for Dublin in exchange for free advertising at 120 city locations is responsible for 119 illegal advertising hoardings across the State, An Taisce has told a Bord Pleane1la hearing.
The planning board yesterday opened an appeals hearing against 24 of the 120 planning permissions granted by Dublin City Council to one of the world's largest advertising companies, JC Decaux
The council has granted permission to erect 70 panels of 7sq m (8.37sq yards) and 50 panels of 2.59sq m (similar in size to a bus shelter) at locations around the city for a period of 15 years. All panels will be free-standing, double-sided, can be illuminated at night and can carry moving images.
The council is to receive no revenue from the advertising or rental of the advertising spaces, but will get 450 bicycles, reduced from an original 500, which will be available for hire by the public at a fee yet to be decided.
Under the contract with the council, JC Decaux will also provide four public toilets, a number of signposts, freestanding maps and "heritage trail" posts.
The council has also secured a commitment from the company to remove 100 of its 18sq m advertising hoardings from the sides of buildings in the city.
However, An Taisce told the hearing that these older style hoardings were no longer lucrative and many were likely to be illegal and should be forcibly removed by the council.
An Taisce representative John Stewart said the heritage body had identified 119 locations across the State where JC Decaux was responsible for illegal advertising billboards. These were advertising panels that had either been erected without permission, or had been altered, extended or illuminated without permission.
In 28 cases so far, An Taisce has secured declarations from the relevant local authorities that the developments are unauthorised, eight of which relate to developments in Dublin. JC Decaux had also failed to comply with orders from An Bord Pleanala and various local authorities, Mr Stewart said.
"JC Decaux are in contempt of the board, in contempt of the local authorities and in competent of the people of Ireland as a whole."
An Taisce heritage officer Ian Lumley said the contract between the council and JC Decaux should not go ahead because it conflicted with EU and Irish law. Under an EU directive the project should have been subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA), he said.
It also conflicted with Irish property law, which stated that property owners had rights to a portion of the public road. He added that the applications were "premature" because the city council was preparing an outdoor advertising strategy. The contract should not be allowed to proceed until this strategy was adopted, he said.
Senior planner with the council Mary Conway said the applications did not fall within the EIA remit. JC Decaux has said that Mr Stewart's assertions were untrue and defamatory. The hearing continues today.
Olivia Kelly
The Irish Times
The board is holding an appeals hearing on permission granted by Dublin City Council for 24 of the 120 panels. However, the DTO told the hearing that it is opposed to the scheme in its entirety.
DTO chief executive John Henry said that the purpose of the street-side advertising panels was clearly to attract the attention of drivers. "Anything which is designed to attract a driver's attention must therefore distract their attention from the road. Anything which distracts a driver's attention is unacceptable."
JC Decaux, one of the world largest advertising companies, has sought permission for 70 panels of 7sq m which will stand just over 2m off the ground, and 50 panels of 2.59sq m, similar in size to a bus shelter. All of the panels will be illuminated and can carry scrolling images.
Illuminated signs adjacent to the roadside were particularly dangerous, Mr Henry said.
"The DTO is totally opposed to the provision of on-street illuminated outdoor signage as it is considered to constitute a traffic hazard." Scrolling images were "even more distracting", he said.
The DTO's position was supported, Mr Henry said, by a recent Bord Pleanála refusal of permission for an illuminated scrolling advertising panel at Long Mile Road in west Dublin on the grounds that it would distract drivers.
The DTO was also concerned about the panels that were proposed for pedestrian areas, on the grounds that they might impede pedestrians, particularly the visually impaired.
RPS consulting engineers, representing JC Decaux, told the hearing the assertion that the signs would cause a traffic hazard was "inaccurate and without substance". "The suggestion of the appellant that the proposed advertising structure will act as a distraction and consequently a hazard to motorists implies that all signage, including public information signage should be banned. This is patently unreasonable," Angela Grady of RPS said.
Illuminated signage was part of the regular driving environment for city drivers, she said.
"The suggestion of the appellant that the proposed illuminated signage will constitute a traffic hazard is considered inaccurate and without substance."
JC Decaux and the council had gone to considerable effort to ensure the structures would not affect pedestrian movement, she said.
In exchange for allowing JC Decaux to erect 120 signs for a 15-year period, instead of the normal three-year planning permission, the council will receive 450 bikes, four public toilets, and a number of tourism and public information signs.
The advertising company which is to provide a city bike scheme for Dublin in exchange for free advertising at 120 city locations is responsible for 119 illegal advertising hoardings across the State, An Taisce has told a Bord Pleane1la hearing.
The planning board yesterday opened an appeals hearing against 24 of the 120 planning permissions granted by Dublin City Council to one of the world's largest advertising companies, JC Decaux
The council has granted permission to erect 70 panels of 7sq m (8.37sq yards) and 50 panels of 2.59sq m (similar in size to a bus shelter) at locations around the city for a period of 15 years. All panels will be free-standing, double-sided, can be illuminated at night and can carry moving images.
The council is to receive no revenue from the advertising or rental of the advertising spaces, but will get 450 bicycles, reduced from an original 500, which will be available for hire by the public at a fee yet to be decided.
Under the contract with the council, JC Decaux will also provide four public toilets, a number of signposts, freestanding maps and "heritage trail" posts.
The council has also secured a commitment from the company to remove 100 of its 18sq m advertising hoardings from the sides of buildings in the city.
However, An Taisce told the hearing that these older style hoardings were no longer lucrative and many were likely to be illegal and should be forcibly removed by the council.
An Taisce representative John Stewart said the heritage body had identified 119 locations across the State where JC Decaux was responsible for illegal advertising billboards. These were advertising panels that had either been erected without permission, or had been altered, extended or illuminated without permission.
In 28 cases so far, An Taisce has secured declarations from the relevant local authorities that the developments are unauthorised, eight of which relate to developments in Dublin. JC Decaux had also failed to comply with orders from An Bord Pleanala and various local authorities, Mr Stewart said.
"JC Decaux are in contempt of the board, in contempt of the local authorities and in competent of the people of Ireland as a whole."
An Taisce heritage officer Ian Lumley said the contract between the council and JC Decaux should not go ahead because it conflicted with EU and Irish law. Under an EU directive the project should have been subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA), he said.
It also conflicted with Irish property law, which stated that property owners had rights to a portion of the public road. He added that the applications were "premature" because the city council was preparing an outdoor advertising strategy. The contract should not be allowed to proceed until this strategy was adopted, he said.
Senior planner with the council Mary Conway said the applications did not fall within the EIA remit. JC Decaux has said that Mr Stewart's assertions were untrue and defamatory. The hearing continues today.
Olivia Kelly
The Irish Times
'Mismatch' in green image sold to tourists and reality
There is a mismatch between the green image of Ireland being sold to tourists and the reality that greets them when they arrive, Fáilte Ireland's environmental unit manager Paddy Mathews said yesterday.
He said a survey found that 80 per cent of visitors who came here last year were drawn by the scenery, and the vast majority were satisfied by what they saw.
However, the same visitors' attitudes survey found that 60 per cent of tourists believed the streets were cleaner in their own countries. Only 39 per cent agreed that the litter bins in Irish towns were emptied regularly.
"There's a mismatch between image and reality, between some of the images which are peddled in the marketplace and what we are actually serving up when they arrive," said Mr Mathews.
He was speaking at a conference on planning and heritage organised by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
Mr Mathews said while tourists may continue to come to Ireland in the short term even if the image and reality did not match, this could not continue in the long term. "The environmental image will track environmental quality."
He also called on tourism providers to look at their own environmental performance and reduce any negative impacts.
Mr Mathews pointed to a reluctance among some tourism providers to carry environmental rating labels because they feared that it suggested a reduction in quality, luxury and standards.
Earlier the conference heard that some people were using heritage as a weapon to stop planning developments.
Tim Carey, heritage officer with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said he regularly received calls from people asking if there was heritage in a certain area. "When the conversation continues it becomes apparent that their only interest in heritage is that it will stop the development."
He pointed to the proposed prison site at Thornton Hall, and said there had recently been "a huge increase" in interest in the heritage of the Co Dublin area.
"Was it because they particularly cared about the heritage of the area, or was it because people wanted to find something that would stop the development of the new prison?"
Mr Carey warned that the use of heritage to stifle development "rarely advances the cause of that heritage".
While much attention had focused on the damage caused to heritage by large infrastructural developments, it was the smaller residential and commercial schemes that had a larger incremental effect, "something akin to death by a thousand cuts".
The conference heard a call from Prof Gabriel Cooney of the UCD school of archaeology for a national landscape policy.
He said archaeology and landscape was often only considered when a problem arose in a development, such as the proposed motorway through Meath.
A national policy would help to avoid such controversies by elevating the profile of landscape issues and informing decision-making.
The conference continues today.
Alison Healy
The Irish Times
He said a survey found that 80 per cent of visitors who came here last year were drawn by the scenery, and the vast majority were satisfied by what they saw.
However, the same visitors' attitudes survey found that 60 per cent of tourists believed the streets were cleaner in their own countries. Only 39 per cent agreed that the litter bins in Irish towns were emptied regularly.
"There's a mismatch between image and reality, between some of the images which are peddled in the marketplace and what we are actually serving up when they arrive," said Mr Mathews.
He was speaking at a conference on planning and heritage organised by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
Mr Mathews said while tourists may continue to come to Ireland in the short term even if the image and reality did not match, this could not continue in the long term. "The environmental image will track environmental quality."
He also called on tourism providers to look at their own environmental performance and reduce any negative impacts.
Mr Mathews pointed to a reluctance among some tourism providers to carry environmental rating labels because they feared that it suggested a reduction in quality, luxury and standards.
Earlier the conference heard that some people were using heritage as a weapon to stop planning developments.
Tim Carey, heritage officer with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said he regularly received calls from people asking if there was heritage in a certain area. "When the conversation continues it becomes apparent that their only interest in heritage is that it will stop the development."
He pointed to the proposed prison site at Thornton Hall, and said there had recently been "a huge increase" in interest in the heritage of the Co Dublin area.
"Was it because they particularly cared about the heritage of the area, or was it because people wanted to find something that would stop the development of the new prison?"
Mr Carey warned that the use of heritage to stifle development "rarely advances the cause of that heritage".
While much attention had focused on the damage caused to heritage by large infrastructural developments, it was the smaller residential and commercial schemes that had a larger incremental effect, "something akin to death by a thousand cuts".
The conference heard a call from Prof Gabriel Cooney of the UCD school of archaeology for a national landscape policy.
He said archaeology and landscape was often only considered when a problem arose in a development, such as the proposed motorway through Meath.
A national policy would help to avoid such controversies by elevating the profile of landscape issues and informing decision-making.
The conference continues today.
Alison Healy
The Irish Times
Taxis take the plunge in River Liffey
Taxis have taken to the water with the launch of a new river taxi in Dublin's Docklands.
The floating taxi - named the Liffey Ferry - takes passengers across the River Liffey - from Sir John Rogerson's Quay to North Wall Quay.Operated by Killary Cruises, who also run the successful Liffey Voyage river tour service, the ferry will be in operation each day during the week.
David Higgins, Project Director, Docklands Authority, said - "The Docklands Authority is delighted to launch Dublin's first river ferry service for over twenty years and we're confident it will be a success - particularly given the number of requests we have had to introduce such a service. The ferry will be a real asset to both workers and residents of Docklands, as well as those visiting the area."
The 12.5 metre-long Liffey Ferry seats 12 people and will initially operate from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Tickets for the minute-long journey across the river will cost €2 or €10 for a book of ten tickets. Passengers board the boat at the diving bell on the south side of the river and at the Cill Airne pontoon on the north side.
The Liffey Ferry is an initiative of the Dockland Authority's River Regeneration Strategy, which aims to bring back life to the River Liffey. Other projects include the recent Docklands Maritime Festival, which attracted over 30,000 people to the Docklands area.
The floating taxi - named the Liffey Ferry - takes passengers across the River Liffey - from Sir John Rogerson's Quay to North Wall Quay.Operated by Killary Cruises, who also run the successful Liffey Voyage river tour service, the ferry will be in operation each day during the week.
David Higgins, Project Director, Docklands Authority, said - "The Docklands Authority is delighted to launch Dublin's first river ferry service for over twenty years and we're confident it will be a success - particularly given the number of requests we have had to introduce such a service. The ferry will be a real asset to both workers and residents of Docklands, as well as those visiting the area."
The 12.5 metre-long Liffey Ferry seats 12 people and will initially operate from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Tickets for the minute-long journey across the river will cost €2 or €10 for a book of ten tickets. Passengers board the boat at the diving bell on the south side of the river and at the Cill Airne pontoon on the north side.
The Liffey Ferry is an initiative of the Dockland Authority's River Regeneration Strategy, which aims to bring back life to the River Liffey. Other projects include the recent Docklands Maritime Festival, which attracted over 30,000 people to the Docklands area.
Docklands Authority announces provisional preferred bidder for U2 Tower
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has announced that Geranger Ltd - a consortium consisting of Ballymore Properties, Patrick McKillen and August Partners (U2 Band members and management) - has been selected as the provisional preferred bidder to design, construct and finance the U2 Tower and Britain Quay Building - one of the most significant projects in the regeneration of the Docklands area.
The consortium's architects, Foster + Partners, have proposed a stunning design for the 120 metre high tower and adjacent Britain Quay site uniquely situated at the confluence of three waterways - the River Liffey, River Dodder and Grand Canal.
The inspirational building will include a public viewing platform at 100 metres, a public amenity area at the base - together with hotel, retail and residential accommodation including 20% social and affordable housing. At the top of the Tower, the U2 studio is included as a suspended egg shape pod.
Paul Maloney, Chief Executive of the Docklands Authority, said that Geranger Ltd had been selected because its submission exceeded the expectations of the brief with the emergence of a breathtaking design, uniquely suited to this prominent Docklands site.
The announcement of preferred bidder status for Geranger Ltd follows a rigorous EU tendering process, where submissions from four short-listed consortia were considered. The winning tender was for the new design by Foster + Partners.
The Docklands Authority appointed three architectural consultants - Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Shih-Fu Peng of Heneghan Peng Architects and Michael O'Doherty, former principal architect at the OPW - to evaluate the architectural and design elements of the proposals.
Since the original design competition, the parameters of the development changed. The Burdon Craig Dunne Henry design concept was for a 60 metre tower on a smaller footprint - but, following the recent planning amendment for the Grand Canal Dock Planning Scheme area, the tower was increased to 120 metres in height, with an adjoining multi-storey building moving from what was considered a local landmark to a city landmark.
Developers were required to submit bids to develop the U2 Tower architectural concept, designed by Burdon Craig Dunne Henry (bcdh) - and were also offered the option of submitting a variant design for both the U2 Tower and the Britain Quay building. Two consortia opted to submit a variant design alongside a proposal for the original. In total, six schemes were assessed across criteria of architecture and design, project execution plans and financial offers.
Taking all those considerations into account, the Docklands Authority - advised by project consultants - selected the Foster design as the most appropriate.
It is estimated that the U2 Tower development will cost over €200 million to design and build. Construction is expected to start in 2008 and be completed by 2011.
Solicitors, A&L Goodbody, provided legal advice throughout the tender process.
The U2 Tower is located in the Grand Canal Dock area, where the Docklands Authority is working with some of the world's leading architects on projects such as the Studio Libeskind-designed Grand Canal Theatre, the Manuel Aires Mateus-designed five-star hotel and the recently opened Martha Schwartz-designed Grand Canal Square.
The consortium's architects, Foster + Partners, have proposed a stunning design for the 120 metre high tower and adjacent Britain Quay site uniquely situated at the confluence of three waterways - the River Liffey, River Dodder and Grand Canal.
The inspirational building will include a public viewing platform at 100 metres, a public amenity area at the base - together with hotel, retail and residential accommodation including 20% social and affordable housing. At the top of the Tower, the U2 studio is included as a suspended egg shape pod.
Paul Maloney, Chief Executive of the Docklands Authority, said that Geranger Ltd had been selected because its submission exceeded the expectations of the brief with the emergence of a breathtaking design, uniquely suited to this prominent Docklands site.
The announcement of preferred bidder status for Geranger Ltd follows a rigorous EU tendering process, where submissions from four short-listed consortia were considered. The winning tender was for the new design by Foster + Partners.
The Docklands Authority appointed three architectural consultants - Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Shih-Fu Peng of Heneghan Peng Architects and Michael O'Doherty, former principal architect at the OPW - to evaluate the architectural and design elements of the proposals.
Since the original design competition, the parameters of the development changed. The Burdon Craig Dunne Henry design concept was for a 60 metre tower on a smaller footprint - but, following the recent planning amendment for the Grand Canal Dock Planning Scheme area, the tower was increased to 120 metres in height, with an adjoining multi-storey building moving from what was considered a local landmark to a city landmark.
Developers were required to submit bids to develop the U2 Tower architectural concept, designed by Burdon Craig Dunne Henry (bcdh) - and were also offered the option of submitting a variant design for both the U2 Tower and the Britain Quay building. Two consortia opted to submit a variant design alongside a proposal for the original. In total, six schemes were assessed across criteria of architecture and design, project execution plans and financial offers.
Taking all those considerations into account, the Docklands Authority - advised by project consultants - selected the Foster design as the most appropriate.
It is estimated that the U2 Tower development will cost over €200 million to design and build. Construction is expected to start in 2008 and be completed by 2011.
Solicitors, A&L Goodbody, provided legal advice throughout the tender process.
The U2 Tower is located in the Grand Canal Dock area, where the Docklands Authority is working with some of the world's leading architects on projects such as the Studio Libeskind-designed Grand Canal Theatre, the Manuel Aires Mateus-designed five-star hotel and the recently opened Martha Schwartz-designed Grand Canal Square.
Minister Gormley addresses Conference - 'Generating Energy from Residual Waste'
Mr John Gormley T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government addressed the Recycling and Waste World Conference on the theme of 'Generating Energy from Residual Waste'.
The conference - which took place in the Radisson Hotel, Dublin - examined the range of technologies available to generate energy from residual waste, which could assist in achieving Ireland's diversions targets under the 1999 EU Landfill Directive, while also contributing to our renewable energy needs.
"On Tuesday I presented new figures - drawn up by experts in my department - to my Government colleagues at Cabinet, on the potential of alternative technologies and the use of thermal treatment" - said Minister Gormley.
These figures show that, based on predicted waste arisings, planned waste minimisation, recycling, composting, MBT (Mechanical Biological Treatment) and current and emerging technologies, the existing regional waste management plans provide for a very substantial over-capacity for incineration. The calculations would suggest that, with a developed MBT system, the quantity of residual waste requiring disposal other than landfill, would be reduced to some 400,000 tonnes by 2016. The existing regional plans and proposed private industry thermal treatment plants provide for over two million tonnes of incineration capacity.
When the Minister presented the latest figures to his cabinet colleagues, he also brought forward the proposals for the international review on waste management policy. This review will be one of the most comprehensive pieces of research ever on waste in Ireland. It will cover a wide range of issues - including how best to promote alternative technologies such as MBT and what standards should apply.
It will identify how best to proceed with further efforts to reduce waste levels and improve recycling rates and will also advise on how best to regulate the sector and what reforms may be needed in this regard.
In addition, it will also address the social and societal issues surrounding waste management - including waivers, recycling costs and universal service.
The Minister's officials will be establishing a steering group in the coming weeks and it is hoped that the review - to be carried out by independent consultants - will be underway by early next year. Other measures - including the proximity principle and the power to direct waste - will also be examined in the review.
"In dealing with our waste, we have made considerable progress in some areas in the last decade. We have closed down many of our older and poorly-run landfills. We have increased our recycling rate from near zero - ten years ago - to 35 per cent last year. Through pay-by-weight and other measures, we have also ensured that growth in waste volumes has begun to taper-off. In short, we have embraced the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle - but, we have huge challenges ahead" - said the Minister.
Outlining the challenging targets contained in the Programme for Government in relation to waste management, the Minister stated that - "the fundamentals of waste management policy are unchanged. The cornerstones of prevention, minimisation, re-use, recycling and final disposal, will still apply. But, incineration is no longer the cornerstone of our national waste policy. I aim to ensure that we have a waste policy that works and ensures a sustainable society and economy in this country" - Minister Gormley added.
"Previous policy and its over-reliance on incineration - exemplified in many regional waste management plans - is not working. It has not delivered the necessary infrastructure. But I am positive that the shift to alternative technologies, such as composting and mechanical biological treatment, is the way forward" - continued the Minister.
Despite the excellent progress in recent years, the Minister noted that meeting the targets to divert biodegradable waste from landfill - required under the 1999 EU Landfill Directive - and avoiding the risk of infringement proceedings before the European Court of Justice, with the potential for fines, is one of the key challenges that Ireland faces in the coming years.
"Under the landfill directive, we are we are committed to reducing the amount of waste going to landfill by 2010. It will mean reducing - or finding alternative treatment for - at least 700,000 tonnes of waste by the end of 2010" - said Minister Gormley.
The Minister also noted that, while all technologies have a part to play in an integrated waste management system - "I firmly believe that we can achieve our diversion targets without an over reliance on incineration. The Programme for Government copper-fastens this move away from a dependence on incineration or landfill, by aiming for world class standards in terms of recycling levels and greater emphasis on technologies to mechanically and biologically manage our waste".
Finally, the Minister expressed confidence that, by working together, the Government, the local authorities and the private sector can continue to deliver the solutions that are required to deliver a world-class integrated waste management system - while also contributing to our renewable energy needs and the necessary steps needed to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The conference - which took place in the Radisson Hotel, Dublin - examined the range of technologies available to generate energy from residual waste, which could assist in achieving Ireland's diversions targets under the 1999 EU Landfill Directive, while also contributing to our renewable energy needs.
"On Tuesday I presented new figures - drawn up by experts in my department - to my Government colleagues at Cabinet, on the potential of alternative technologies and the use of thermal treatment" - said Minister Gormley.
These figures show that, based on predicted waste arisings, planned waste minimisation, recycling, composting, MBT (Mechanical Biological Treatment) and current and emerging technologies, the existing regional waste management plans provide for a very substantial over-capacity for incineration. The calculations would suggest that, with a developed MBT system, the quantity of residual waste requiring disposal other than landfill, would be reduced to some 400,000 tonnes by 2016. The existing regional plans and proposed private industry thermal treatment plants provide for over two million tonnes of incineration capacity.
When the Minister presented the latest figures to his cabinet colleagues, he also brought forward the proposals for the international review on waste management policy. This review will be one of the most comprehensive pieces of research ever on waste in Ireland. It will cover a wide range of issues - including how best to promote alternative technologies such as MBT and what standards should apply.
It will identify how best to proceed with further efforts to reduce waste levels and improve recycling rates and will also advise on how best to regulate the sector and what reforms may be needed in this regard.
In addition, it will also address the social and societal issues surrounding waste management - including waivers, recycling costs and universal service.
The Minister's officials will be establishing a steering group in the coming weeks and it is hoped that the review - to be carried out by independent consultants - will be underway by early next year. Other measures - including the proximity principle and the power to direct waste - will also be examined in the review.
"In dealing with our waste, we have made considerable progress in some areas in the last decade. We have closed down many of our older and poorly-run landfills. We have increased our recycling rate from near zero - ten years ago - to 35 per cent last year. Through pay-by-weight and other measures, we have also ensured that growth in waste volumes has begun to taper-off. In short, we have embraced the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle - but, we have huge challenges ahead" - said the Minister.
Outlining the challenging targets contained in the Programme for Government in relation to waste management, the Minister stated that - "the fundamentals of waste management policy are unchanged. The cornerstones of prevention, minimisation, re-use, recycling and final disposal, will still apply. But, incineration is no longer the cornerstone of our national waste policy. I aim to ensure that we have a waste policy that works and ensures a sustainable society and economy in this country" - Minister Gormley added.
"Previous policy and its over-reliance on incineration - exemplified in many regional waste management plans - is not working. It has not delivered the necessary infrastructure. But I am positive that the shift to alternative technologies, such as composting and mechanical biological treatment, is the way forward" - continued the Minister.
Despite the excellent progress in recent years, the Minister noted that meeting the targets to divert biodegradable waste from landfill - required under the 1999 EU Landfill Directive - and avoiding the risk of infringement proceedings before the European Court of Justice, with the potential for fines, is one of the key challenges that Ireland faces in the coming years.
"Under the landfill directive, we are we are committed to reducing the amount of waste going to landfill by 2010. It will mean reducing - or finding alternative treatment for - at least 700,000 tonnes of waste by the end of 2010" - said Minister Gormley.
The Minister also noted that, while all technologies have a part to play in an integrated waste management system - "I firmly believe that we can achieve our diversion targets without an over reliance on incineration. The Programme for Government copper-fastens this move away from a dependence on incineration or landfill, by aiming for world class standards in terms of recycling levels and greater emphasis on technologies to mechanically and biologically manage our waste".
Finally, the Minister expressed confidence that, by working together, the Government, the local authorities and the private sector can continue to deliver the solutions that are required to deliver a world-class integrated waste management system - while also contributing to our renewable energy needs and the necessary steps needed to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Dublin City Council to develop new vision for the Liberties
Dublin City Council has launched a new urban regeneration project for the Liberties area in Dublin's inner city, to be developed in close consultation with the local community.
The City Council will work with the local community to develop a regeneration framework plan for the area. The area extends from St James' Hospital to the west and Francis Street to the east. The northern boundary is Thomas Street and the southern boundary is Cork Street.
A project like this is bound to take time, so the timeframe the Council is looking at is between 8 and 10 years, at a minimum. The scale of the project is similar to Ballymun. A lot of the investment will come from public funding and from private investors - with the City Council releasing land in return for new social housing and other community amenities and facilities.
"Instead of us presenting the community with a draft scheme and asking for their views, the City Council and the community will work together to develop a vision for the area" - said John Tierney, Dublin City Manager. "This approach is already working well in Ballymun and gives the community the opportunity to plan the future they want for their area.
Evelyn Hanlon, who formerly worked on the Ballymun Regeneration project, has been assigned by Dublin City Council to project manage this new and important regeneration project.
A programme of community engagement will run throughout the autumn - having been launched at the Guinness Storehouse on Monday 8th October. The programme will start with three Neighbourhood Meetings - running from 3.30 pm to 7.00 pm - which will allow people who work in the area, as well as those living in the area, to come along and have their say. The first two meetings have already taken place, with the final meeting due to be held on 18th October in St James Parish Hall, St James Street. This meeting will deal with the Grand Canal Harbour/Basin Lane area.
The City Council has appointed John Thompson and Partners (JTP) - a firm of architects, urban designers and community planners - to work with the local stakeholders and residents to develop a vision for the area. The vision will be included in a Framework Plan for the area and will help to form the basis for regeneration.
The area has a tremendous heritage of urban history and planning - including the City Basin and the Grand Canal Harbour. It also has some very important historic sites, including the Abbey of St Thomas which was founded in 1177 to commemorate Thomas à Beckett and dissolved in 1539 by Henry V111. The area is visited by thousands of tourists each year.
One project already at design stage in the area is the re-introduction of water into the old Grand Canal Harbour (the harbour was used by Guinness boats until it was filled-in the 1960s and was originally built in 1785 and was the terminus of the Grand Canal). This new waterway will be surrounded by retail, offices and apartments and will be an important signal that the famous Liberties area is being restored to its former glory.
The area already has a thriving entertainment industry, with Vicar Street and the Tivoli Theatre. In recent years, architectural firms have moved into the area and the City Council hopes they will become actively involved in the consultation workshops - in their role as residents of the area.
John Thompson & Partners are architects, urban designers and community planners with substantial experience of residential and mixed-use development and regeneration in both the public and private sectors. Established in 1994, JTP work throughout the UK and Europe and have offices in London and Edinburgh.
The City Council will work with the local community to develop a regeneration framework plan for the area. The area extends from St James' Hospital to the west and Francis Street to the east. The northern boundary is Thomas Street and the southern boundary is Cork Street.
A project like this is bound to take time, so the timeframe the Council is looking at is between 8 and 10 years, at a minimum. The scale of the project is similar to Ballymun. A lot of the investment will come from public funding and from private investors - with the City Council releasing land in return for new social housing and other community amenities and facilities.
"Instead of us presenting the community with a draft scheme and asking for their views, the City Council and the community will work together to develop a vision for the area" - said John Tierney, Dublin City Manager. "This approach is already working well in Ballymun and gives the community the opportunity to plan the future they want for their area.
Evelyn Hanlon, who formerly worked on the Ballymun Regeneration project, has been assigned by Dublin City Council to project manage this new and important regeneration project.
A programme of community engagement will run throughout the autumn - having been launched at the Guinness Storehouse on Monday 8th October. The programme will start with three Neighbourhood Meetings - running from 3.30 pm to 7.00 pm - which will allow people who work in the area, as well as those living in the area, to come along and have their say. The first two meetings have already taken place, with the final meeting due to be held on 18th October in St James Parish Hall, St James Street. This meeting will deal with the Grand Canal Harbour/Basin Lane area.
The City Council has appointed John Thompson and Partners (JTP) - a firm of architects, urban designers and community planners - to work with the local stakeholders and residents to develop a vision for the area. The vision will be included in a Framework Plan for the area and will help to form the basis for regeneration.
The area has a tremendous heritage of urban history and planning - including the City Basin and the Grand Canal Harbour. It also has some very important historic sites, including the Abbey of St Thomas which was founded in 1177 to commemorate Thomas à Beckett and dissolved in 1539 by Henry V111. The area is visited by thousands of tourists each year.
One project already at design stage in the area is the re-introduction of water into the old Grand Canal Harbour (the harbour was used by Guinness boats until it was filled-in the 1960s and was originally built in 1785 and was the terminus of the Grand Canal). This new waterway will be surrounded by retail, offices and apartments and will be an important signal that the famous Liberties area is being restored to its former glory.
The area already has a thriving entertainment industry, with Vicar Street and the Tivoli Theatre. In recent years, architectural firms have moved into the area and the City Council hopes they will become actively involved in the consultation workshops - in their role as residents of the area.
John Thompson & Partners are architects, urban designers and community planners with substantial experience of residential and mixed-use development and regeneration in both the public and private sectors. Established in 1994, JTP work throughout the UK and Europe and have offices in London and Edinburgh.
Pollution of water sources is not acceptable - Gormley
"Water is a precious resource and it is just not acceptable that our ground waters are being polluted unnecessarily" - said The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, T.D.
Minister Gormley was speaking after he announced that he had signed new regulations which provide for the licensing and policing regime of sewage treatment facilities.
The new licensing system - which will be policed by the Environmental Protection Agency - will set strict limits on discharges allowed from these plants into our surface waters, such as rivers, canals and lakes, groundwater and coastal waters. The Regulations have been made to implement outstanding aspects of the EU Dangerous Substances and Water Framework Directives.
The Minister reiterated his commitment to preserving and enhancing environmental standards and the quality of natural water resources, in particular. "These new Regulations will form part of an overall strategy to protect the environment and improve quality of life" - the Minister said.
"The Regulations - in conjunction with the recently-announced provision of €4.7 billion in the National Development Plan for new and upgraded water services infrastructure - are a reflection of the Government's commitment to this aim" - he added,
The Environmental Protection Agency, in considering applications for authorisations, will stipulate conditions to ensure compliance with standards applying for various substances and to conform with obligations under applicable EU Directives - including the Water Framework, Dangerous Substances, Birds, Groundwater, Drinking Water, Urban Waste Water Treatment, Habitats and Bathing Water Directives.
The results of the EPA report - 'Water Quality in Ireland 2006' - just released, shows some improvements in water quality in rivers and lakes, but indicates a trend of decline in groundwater quality and calls for more stringent management of that resource.
"The report shows the very serious challenge which faces us in relation to curbing pollution of our water sources. Generally, our water quality is of a decent standard - but, there is a small pocket of persistent polluters who need to be tackled" - said Minister Gormley.
"My Department is continuing to take action to address the threats to water quality. I recently announced the 2007-2009 phase of the ongoing Water Services Investment Programme (Click Here), which provides for construction or upgrading of some 955 water supply and waste water treatment schemes, involving a total investment of €5.8 billion.
"This programme of investment in sewage infrastructure will greatly reduce the inputs of nutrients from municipal sources. Pollution of waters by agricultural sources will also be reduced through the good agricultural practices supported by the Nitrates Regulations. I am confident that these measures - among others being pursued by the Government - will ensure improvements in water quality in coming years.
"The key way to address our difficulties with pollution sources, is through the regulatory regime and the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 are only one element of a range of measures being taken to protect our water resources"added the Minister.
Nitrates Regulations (Farm Pollution Laws)
"The Nitrate Regulations - which were a long time coming and only finalised last year - will also play a major role in curbing pollution from farming sources. Under the Nitrates Regulations, I have increased maximum penalties to €5,000 and/or 3 months imprisonment for summary offences and €500,000 and/or 1 year imprisonment for indictable offences.
"The final part of the jigsaw - and the one thing that will stop this needless pollution of our water sources - is effective enforcement. I am currently working on further regulations - under the Nitrates Directive - which will require both the EPA and Local Authorities to effectively enforce the regulations. I want to see more inspections - I want to see enforcement and, if people are in breach of these regulations, I want to see the full rigours of the law applied to them" - concluded Minister Gormley.
The key changes in the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations include -
* the Environmental Protection Agency will be the competent authority for authorising a waste water discharge
* local authorities must apply to the EPA for a licence/certificate, authorising all waste water discharges from their sewage works
* in the conditions attaching to authorisations, the EPA will set emission limits for pollutants likely to be in waste water and the timeframe within which these are to be achieved
* the EPA will periodically review discharge authorisations granted
* failure by local authorities to comply with conditions attaching to an authorisation will be an offence.
The Regulations set specified dates, depending on the capacity of the waste water works, by which applications for licences must be received. In the case of discharges from smaller sewage systems, certificates will apply instead of licences.
The first licence applications - in respect of about 55 sewage systems serving populations greater than 10,000 - have to be made by 14th December next.
Minister Gormley was speaking after he announced that he had signed new regulations which provide for the licensing and policing regime of sewage treatment facilities.
The new licensing system - which will be policed by the Environmental Protection Agency - will set strict limits on discharges allowed from these plants into our surface waters, such as rivers, canals and lakes, groundwater and coastal waters. The Regulations have been made to implement outstanding aspects of the EU Dangerous Substances and Water Framework Directives.
The Minister reiterated his commitment to preserving and enhancing environmental standards and the quality of natural water resources, in particular. "These new Regulations will form part of an overall strategy to protect the environment and improve quality of life" - the Minister said.
"The Regulations - in conjunction with the recently-announced provision of €4.7 billion in the National Development Plan for new and upgraded water services infrastructure - are a reflection of the Government's commitment to this aim" - he added,
The Environmental Protection Agency, in considering applications for authorisations, will stipulate conditions to ensure compliance with standards applying for various substances and to conform with obligations under applicable EU Directives - including the Water Framework, Dangerous Substances, Birds, Groundwater, Drinking Water, Urban Waste Water Treatment, Habitats and Bathing Water Directives.
The results of the EPA report - 'Water Quality in Ireland 2006' - just released, shows some improvements in water quality in rivers and lakes, but indicates a trend of decline in groundwater quality and calls for more stringent management of that resource.
"The report shows the very serious challenge which faces us in relation to curbing pollution of our water sources. Generally, our water quality is of a decent standard - but, there is a small pocket of persistent polluters who need to be tackled" - said Minister Gormley.
"My Department is continuing to take action to address the threats to water quality. I recently announced the 2007-2009 phase of the ongoing Water Services Investment Programme (Click Here), which provides for construction or upgrading of some 955 water supply and waste water treatment schemes, involving a total investment of €5.8 billion.
"This programme of investment in sewage infrastructure will greatly reduce the inputs of nutrients from municipal sources. Pollution of waters by agricultural sources will also be reduced through the good agricultural practices supported by the Nitrates Regulations. I am confident that these measures - among others being pursued by the Government - will ensure improvements in water quality in coming years.
"The key way to address our difficulties with pollution sources, is through the regulatory regime and the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 are only one element of a range of measures being taken to protect our water resources"added the Minister.
Nitrates Regulations (Farm Pollution Laws)
"The Nitrate Regulations - which were a long time coming and only finalised last year - will also play a major role in curbing pollution from farming sources. Under the Nitrates Regulations, I have increased maximum penalties to €5,000 and/or 3 months imprisonment for summary offences and €500,000 and/or 1 year imprisonment for indictable offences.
"The final part of the jigsaw - and the one thing that will stop this needless pollution of our water sources - is effective enforcement. I am currently working on further regulations - under the Nitrates Directive - which will require both the EPA and Local Authorities to effectively enforce the regulations. I want to see more inspections - I want to see enforcement and, if people are in breach of these regulations, I want to see the full rigours of the law applied to them" - concluded Minister Gormley.
The key changes in the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations include -
* the Environmental Protection Agency will be the competent authority for authorising a waste water discharge
* local authorities must apply to the EPA for a licence/certificate, authorising all waste water discharges from their sewage works
* in the conditions attaching to authorisations, the EPA will set emission limits for pollutants likely to be in waste water and the timeframe within which these are to be achieved
* the EPA will periodically review discharge authorisations granted
* failure by local authorities to comply with conditions attaching to an authorisation will be an offence.
The Regulations set specified dates, depending on the capacity of the waste water works, by which applications for licences must be received. In the case of discharges from smaller sewage systems, certificates will apply instead of licences.
The first licence applications - in respect of about 55 sewage systems serving populations greater than 10,000 - have to be made by 14th December next.
€400m gas terminal likely as company and farmers reach agreement
THE building of a €400 million gas terminal near Ballylongford on the Shannon Estuary has moved a step closer following the agreement of a comprehensive package of measures between farmers and the terminal construction company Shannon LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
The company is applying for planning permission to build four major tanks on the 280-acre site, part of a 600-acre industrial landbank left undeveloped since the late 1960s.
Some of the issues discussed with farmers include the reinstatement of lands, the appointment of an agriculture liaison officer and the notification of entry onto lands.
It is expected that more than 350 jobs will be provided during the construction of the liquefied natural gas terminal. Fifty long-term staff will be employed when the terminal starts operating.
The plan is to bring liquefied natural gas from countries such as Algeria by tanker to the terminal where it will be stored in the tanks. A new 30-km pipeline will be built to transport the gas to the national gas pipeline system, east of the site.
The grid crosses the Shannon, west of Foynes, and the route of the high strength steel pipe will take it south of Tarbert, Co Kerry and Glin and Loughill, Co Limerick.
Shannon LNG is aiming to keep the local community informed at all stages of the plan and a steering group from the Ballylongford/Tarbert area has already visited similar LNG projects in Wales, Belgium and Spain.
An environmental impact statement (EIS) assessed the effects the development would have on the local ecology and on heritage and conservation sites.
The Shannon Estuary is an important location for bottlenose dolphins and acoustic devices have found that the dolphins pass through the proposed site for two jetties (small piers).
The site will be monitored during the construction of the jetties, which will be built on piles or deep foundations, to ensure dolphins can pass through.
Pile-driving work will be subject to agreement with the National Parks and Wildlife Service .
Small populations of pipestrelle bats were found in a derelict farmhouse, which is due for demolition, and it is hoped the bats will relocate to another roosting site.
Frogs will also lose habitat, but a pond offering them a breeding ground is to be created.
According to the EIS, construction will not impact on any recorded heritage sites, or monuments. A ring fort on the boundary will not be affected as a development-free zone will be created around it.
Kerry County Council has rezoned the site from rural general and secondary special amenity to industrial status.
With gas sources depleting at Kinsale Head and the North Sea, Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin has said the Ballylongford project has the potential to secure Ireland’s long-term supply of natural gas.
Irish Examiner
The company is applying for planning permission to build four major tanks on the 280-acre site, part of a 600-acre industrial landbank left undeveloped since the late 1960s.
Some of the issues discussed with farmers include the reinstatement of lands, the appointment of an agriculture liaison officer and the notification of entry onto lands.
It is expected that more than 350 jobs will be provided during the construction of the liquefied natural gas terminal. Fifty long-term staff will be employed when the terminal starts operating.
The plan is to bring liquefied natural gas from countries such as Algeria by tanker to the terminal where it will be stored in the tanks. A new 30-km pipeline will be built to transport the gas to the national gas pipeline system, east of the site.
The grid crosses the Shannon, west of Foynes, and the route of the high strength steel pipe will take it south of Tarbert, Co Kerry and Glin and Loughill, Co Limerick.
Shannon LNG is aiming to keep the local community informed at all stages of the plan and a steering group from the Ballylongford/Tarbert area has already visited similar LNG projects in Wales, Belgium and Spain.
An environmental impact statement (EIS) assessed the effects the development would have on the local ecology and on heritage and conservation sites.
The Shannon Estuary is an important location for bottlenose dolphins and acoustic devices have found that the dolphins pass through the proposed site for two jetties (small piers).
The site will be monitored during the construction of the jetties, which will be built on piles or deep foundations, to ensure dolphins can pass through.
Pile-driving work will be subject to agreement with the National Parks and Wildlife Service .
Small populations of pipestrelle bats were found in a derelict farmhouse, which is due for demolition, and it is hoped the bats will relocate to another roosting site.
Frogs will also lose habitat, but a pond offering them a breeding ground is to be created.
According to the EIS, construction will not impact on any recorded heritage sites, or monuments. A ring fort on the boundary will not be affected as a development-free zone will be created around it.
Kerry County Council has rezoned the site from rural general and secondary special amenity to industrial status.
With gas sources depleting at Kinsale Head and the North Sea, Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin has said the Ballylongford project has the potential to secure Ireland’s long-term supply of natural gas.
Irish Examiner
Council to build €40m civic centre near dump
A DUBLIN county council is to build a €40m civic centre near the site of an old landfill dump.
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council is to develop the state-of-the-art community facility just off the M50 motorway, which will also allow people to walk or cycle from Carrickmines to Stepaside through a public park.
The spend on the Samuel Beckett Civic Campus will be among the largest investments ever made by a local authority on community facilities in one location.
It will include a library, sports hall, swimming pool, creche and skatepark, while four synthetic football pitches and a 'fitness trail' will also be provided on an 18-acre site at Ballyogan.
Architects Bucholz McEvoy -- who designed the award-winning Fingal County Hall in Swords and Limerick County Council's offices in Dooradoyle -- will design the campus. The design cost amounts to €3.6m.
"Construction will begin in 18 months or so, but we have to get planning approval and it (the final design) will go to the councillors for approval," council spokesman Rory O'Sullivan said.
Irish Independent
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council is to develop the state-of-the-art community facility just off the M50 motorway, which will also allow people to walk or cycle from Carrickmines to Stepaside through a public park.
The spend on the Samuel Beckett Civic Campus will be among the largest investments ever made by a local authority on community facilities in one location.
It will include a library, sports hall, swimming pool, creche and skatepark, while four synthetic football pitches and a 'fitness trail' will also be provided on an 18-acre site at Ballyogan.
Architects Bucholz McEvoy -- who designed the award-winning Fingal County Hall in Swords and Limerick County Council's offices in Dooradoyle -- will design the campus. The design cost amounts to €3.6m.
"Construction will begin in 18 months or so, but we have to get planning approval and it (the final design) will go to the councillors for approval," council spokesman Rory O'Sullivan said.
Irish Independent
No ladders big enough for a high-rise concrete jungle, say fire experts
AS Dublin city and county go 'high rise' there are fears that the Fire Brigade have been stranded on the ground floor. The emergency services are for the most part using fire tenders best suited to working in a low-rise Georgian landscape.
Forensic scientists who specialise in the causes of urban fires have privately raised fears about a host of safety issues, ranging from poor water pressure in the street-side hydrants, to fire brigade ladders that can no longer reach the top of Dublin's taller buildings.
With a raft of plans for impressive skyscrapers on the drawing boards experts say that equipment will have to be beefed up to cope with a new cityscape.
One of the new generation of skyscrapers is the 32-storey Heuston Gate Tower which will rise to 386 feet. The Watch Tower in the docklands, at 390 feet, will be another addition to the city's increasingly cloud-bound skyline.
"In taller buildings you can't get everybody out, you hold them above and below the fire. You won't be able to pump water up that height and what you do is, fight the fire from inside the building.
"If you have a 50-storey building you build features into it to deal with a fire. Features such as fire mains, and protected escape routes such as stairs and lift shafts," explains Colm Traynor, assistant Chief Fire Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade.
In the advent of a fire, those trapped on the upper floors out of the reach of ladders, would have to contend with the perils of smoke inhalation, and just hope that water can be pumped upwards to the site of the fire to extinguish the blaze.
"We have two turntable ladders in Dublin with a reach of 3O metres. However, in New York or London they don't have high-reach appliances to reach these buildings either," explains Colm Traynor.
An ongoing concern is the constant water outages in Dublin City, where the supply in entire districts can dry up to a mere trickle; a problem acknowledged by the Dublin Fire Brigade. Fire tenders normally only carry 300 gallons of water, which can be used up very quickly.
Another concern are gated apartments, which can pose a problem in emergencies. "There are some concerns there, it's something we need to keep an eye on -- but the City Council is looking at it."
Irish Independent
Forensic scientists who specialise in the causes of urban fires have privately raised fears about a host of safety issues, ranging from poor water pressure in the street-side hydrants, to fire brigade ladders that can no longer reach the top of Dublin's taller buildings.
With a raft of plans for impressive skyscrapers on the drawing boards experts say that equipment will have to be beefed up to cope with a new cityscape.
One of the new generation of skyscrapers is the 32-storey Heuston Gate Tower which will rise to 386 feet. The Watch Tower in the docklands, at 390 feet, will be another addition to the city's increasingly cloud-bound skyline.
"In taller buildings you can't get everybody out, you hold them above and below the fire. You won't be able to pump water up that height and what you do is, fight the fire from inside the building.
"If you have a 50-storey building you build features into it to deal with a fire. Features such as fire mains, and protected escape routes such as stairs and lift shafts," explains Colm Traynor, assistant Chief Fire Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade.
In the advent of a fire, those trapped on the upper floors out of the reach of ladders, would have to contend with the perils of smoke inhalation, and just hope that water can be pumped upwards to the site of the fire to extinguish the blaze.
"We have two turntable ladders in Dublin with a reach of 3O metres. However, in New York or London they don't have high-reach appliances to reach these buildings either," explains Colm Traynor.
An ongoing concern is the constant water outages in Dublin City, where the supply in entire districts can dry up to a mere trickle; a problem acknowledged by the Dublin Fire Brigade. Fire tenders normally only carry 300 gallons of water, which can be used up very quickly.
Another concern are gated apartments, which can pose a problem in emergencies. "There are some concerns there, it's something we need to keep an eye on -- but the City Council is looking at it."
Irish Independent
Vertigo . . . U2 tower to rise over the city
THE DUBLIN Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) has refused to reveal how much it spent on a design for the U2 Tower on Hanover Quay which was later discarded.
Yesterday, it announced that an Irish consortium had been selected to design and build the €200m landmark U2 Tower in at the mouth of the River Liffey, despite having selected a different "twisted tower" design in a separate competition held three years ago.
The approved 36-storey building, designed by British architect Norman Foster and which will be Ireland's tallest, will soar 120 metres above the docklands and includes a public viewing platform at 100 metres, a public amenity area at the base and hotel, retail, and residential accommodation including 34 social and affordable housing units.
At the top, the U2 studio is located in a suspended egg-shaped pod.
The DDDA announced yesterday that Geranger Ltd, a consortium consisting of Ballymore Properties, Patrick McKillen and August Partners -- U2 Band members and management -- had been selected to design, build and finance the U2 Tower.
CEO Paul Maloney said Geranger Ltd had been selected because its submission exceeded expectations, with the emergence of a "breathtaking design uniquely suited" to the prominent site.
"We are delighted to have achieved our ambition of realising an inspirational landmark design, while at the same time maximising public usage and access," he said.
"This design will be a very special building for Docklands and Dublin City while integrating the Britain Quay and U2 Tower buildings in a distinct and coherent fashion on the waterfront.
Spectacular
"It will also provide visitors the opportunity to experience spectacular views across Dublin city and bay, and for the community offers significant social and affordable housing potential," said Mr Moloney.
But the project has not been without controversy since the idea of a U2 tower was first mooted in 2001.
The DDDA served a compulsory purchase order on U2's Hanover Quay studio, but after a number of appeals to An Bord Pleanala the band concluded a deal with the authority which allowed them to have the top two floors of the new landmark tower which would bear their name.
More than 500 firms submitted entries to design the building, and a winner was chosen. But a complicated system used to ensure the impartiality of the process meant the DDDA could not identify the first winning entry, and a "twisted tower" design from Irish architectural firm BCDH was instead chosen in April 2004.
Four bidders, including Geranger Ltd, Sean Dunne's Mountbrook Homes, Treasury Holdings and River II Partnership, sought to build the tower. They were required to submit two designs -- one based on the BCDH concept and a new design for the whole site.
Yesterday's announcement means the BCDH proposal has been shelved.
The DDDA refused to confirm yesterday how much the original competition cost on the grounds of commercial sensitivity, but sources have put it as high as €10m.
Construction is expected to start next year, with a completion date of 2011.
The DDDA said it was not concerned about legal challenges to the decision.
Irish Independent
Yesterday, it announced that an Irish consortium had been selected to design and build the €200m landmark U2 Tower in at the mouth of the River Liffey, despite having selected a different "twisted tower" design in a separate competition held three years ago.
The approved 36-storey building, designed by British architect Norman Foster and which will be Ireland's tallest, will soar 120 metres above the docklands and includes a public viewing platform at 100 metres, a public amenity area at the base and hotel, retail, and residential accommodation including 34 social and affordable housing units.
At the top, the U2 studio is located in a suspended egg-shaped pod.
The DDDA announced yesterday that Geranger Ltd, a consortium consisting of Ballymore Properties, Patrick McKillen and August Partners -- U2 Band members and management -- had been selected to design, build and finance the U2 Tower.
CEO Paul Maloney said Geranger Ltd had been selected because its submission exceeded expectations, with the emergence of a "breathtaking design uniquely suited" to the prominent site.
"We are delighted to have achieved our ambition of realising an inspirational landmark design, while at the same time maximising public usage and access," he said.
"This design will be a very special building for Docklands and Dublin City while integrating the Britain Quay and U2 Tower buildings in a distinct and coherent fashion on the waterfront.
Spectacular
"It will also provide visitors the opportunity to experience spectacular views across Dublin city and bay, and for the community offers significant social and affordable housing potential," said Mr Moloney.
But the project has not been without controversy since the idea of a U2 tower was first mooted in 2001.
The DDDA served a compulsory purchase order on U2's Hanover Quay studio, but after a number of appeals to An Bord Pleanala the band concluded a deal with the authority which allowed them to have the top two floors of the new landmark tower which would bear their name.
More than 500 firms submitted entries to design the building, and a winner was chosen. But a complicated system used to ensure the impartiality of the process meant the DDDA could not identify the first winning entry, and a "twisted tower" design from Irish architectural firm BCDH was instead chosen in April 2004.
Four bidders, including Geranger Ltd, Sean Dunne's Mountbrook Homes, Treasury Holdings and River II Partnership, sought to build the tower. They were required to submit two designs -- one based on the BCDH concept and a new design for the whole site.
Yesterday's announcement means the BCDH proposal has been shelved.
The DDDA refused to confirm yesterday how much the original competition cost on the grounds of commercial sensitivity, but sources have put it as high as €10m.
Construction is expected to start next year, with a completion date of 2011.
The DDDA said it was not concerned about legal challenges to the decision.
Irish Independent
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Greens: No need for eight incinerators
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley presented estimates to his Government colleagues this week that seriously questioned the plan to build eight waste incinerators nationwide on grounds of “vast overcapacity”.
At the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Gormley got approval for an international review of the country’s waste policies, a key demand of the Greens in the Programme for Government.
The review is expected to be sent out to tender in 2008 and will take 12 months to complete.
As part of his submission, Mr Gormley included estimates produced by experts in his own department. These were based on higher recycling rates and the use of technologies that were not developed when the national waste plan was devised.
The figures show that the residual waste requiring thermal treatment will be closer to 400,000 tonnes than 2 million tonnes.
In that case there will be vast overcapacity and subsequently a need for just one or two medium-sized incinerators.
The basis for the projections is the introduction of mechanical biological treatment (MBT). This technology combines mechanical sorting and biological treatment of municipal waste. In addition, the current national waste plan projects a recycling rate of 35% of municipal waste by 2013. However, that target was reached last year and a more realistic target, suggested the minister, was 50%.
The estimates for 2012 project that there will be 3.3m tonnes of municipal waste each year. If 50% is recycled, about 1.7m tonnes will remain.
The MBT process will treat all but 400,000 tonnes of this, which can be easily dealt with by as few as two medium-sized thermal plants.
The practicalities of the alternative plan may take some time to sort out, however. Even with fast-track planning, it is arguable whether or not all could be in place by 2012.
Crucially, while Green ministers have been given great sway in the first few months of Government, the Irish Examiner understands that Fianna Fáil ministers believe some level of incineration will be required as an alternative to landfill.
That stance may lead to some clashes at Cabinet level when a policy is being drawn up in 2009.
Politically the Greens will face a formidable challenge in relation to the residue of 400,000 tonnes. The most convenient means of treating this may be by incineration. Greens may have no choice but to accept this.
Irish Examiner
At the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Gormley got approval for an international review of the country’s waste policies, a key demand of the Greens in the Programme for Government.
The review is expected to be sent out to tender in 2008 and will take 12 months to complete.
As part of his submission, Mr Gormley included estimates produced by experts in his own department. These were based on higher recycling rates and the use of technologies that were not developed when the national waste plan was devised.
The figures show that the residual waste requiring thermal treatment will be closer to 400,000 tonnes than 2 million tonnes.
In that case there will be vast overcapacity and subsequently a need for just one or two medium-sized incinerators.
The basis for the projections is the introduction of mechanical biological treatment (MBT). This technology combines mechanical sorting and biological treatment of municipal waste. In addition, the current national waste plan projects a recycling rate of 35% of municipal waste by 2013. However, that target was reached last year and a more realistic target, suggested the minister, was 50%.
The estimates for 2012 project that there will be 3.3m tonnes of municipal waste each year. If 50% is recycled, about 1.7m tonnes will remain.
The MBT process will treat all but 400,000 tonnes of this, which can be easily dealt with by as few as two medium-sized thermal plants.
The practicalities of the alternative plan may take some time to sort out, however. Even with fast-track planning, it is arguable whether or not all could be in place by 2012.
Crucially, while Green ministers have been given great sway in the first few months of Government, the Irish Examiner understands that Fianna Fáil ministers believe some level of incineration will be required as an alternative to landfill.
That stance may lead to some clashes at Cabinet level when a policy is being drawn up in 2009.
Politically the Greens will face a formidable challenge in relation to the residue of 400,000 tonnes. The most convenient means of treating this may be by incineration. Greens may have no choice but to accept this.
Irish Examiner
Outrage over €8m bill for monitoring Shell refinery site
THE Garda security operation at the Shell refinery site in north Mayo has cost the State €8.1 million to date, according to new figures.
The taxpayers’ bill amounts to about €666,000 a month since gardaí began monitoring the site and escorting Shell workers last October.
Last night, opposition TDs and campaigners branded the costs as “ridiculous” and “disgraceful”.
The security costs, which include salaries over the past 12 months, were provided to Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin following a parliamentary question to the Department of Justice.
Defending the costs, Justice Minister Brian Lenihan said the allocation of resources to the policing plan in Bellanaboy was closely monitored and kept under constant review by local senior Garda management. The release of the figures came as Shell to Sea supporters held an all-night vigil last week to mark a year since deployment of extra gardaí to the area.
Up to 200 gardaí have been charged with escorting Shell staff and contractors into the Corrib gas terminal since work resumed last year.
Last night, Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris branded the figures as “disgraceful”.
He said: “It seems the Government is content to effectively fund a multinational to the tune of €8.1m. It’s a disgraceful sum when you look at the extent of problems in the health service and the cuts introduced by the HSE.
“The local community had no alternative but to protest. It’s their democratic right to hold peaceful and dignified protests.”
Shell to Sea spokesman John Monaghan described the expenditure as an “entire waste of taxpayers’ money”.
“We have always maintained that this is a private dispute between locals and Shell. In the 15 months prior to the gardaí arriving on site, there were no incidents or upsets,” he said.
Protestors have been picketing the site every working day since July 2005 as part of their campaign to have the pipeline rerouted offshore.
Next week, the protest group hope to meet with the new Minister for Communications, Natural and Energy Resources Eamon Ryan. In September, consultants for Shell published a shortlist of three “corridors” for a modified Corrib gas onshore pipeline route.
A route is expected to be chosen by the end of this year and submitted to An Bord Pleanála for approval under the Strategic Infrastructure Act.
Irish Examiner
The taxpayers’ bill amounts to about €666,000 a month since gardaí began monitoring the site and escorting Shell workers last October.
Last night, opposition TDs and campaigners branded the costs as “ridiculous” and “disgraceful”.
The security costs, which include salaries over the past 12 months, were provided to Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin following a parliamentary question to the Department of Justice.
Defending the costs, Justice Minister Brian Lenihan said the allocation of resources to the policing plan in Bellanaboy was closely monitored and kept under constant review by local senior Garda management. The release of the figures came as Shell to Sea supporters held an all-night vigil last week to mark a year since deployment of extra gardaí to the area.
Up to 200 gardaí have been charged with escorting Shell staff and contractors into the Corrib gas terminal since work resumed last year.
Last night, Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris branded the figures as “disgraceful”.
He said: “It seems the Government is content to effectively fund a multinational to the tune of €8.1m. It’s a disgraceful sum when you look at the extent of problems in the health service and the cuts introduced by the HSE.
“The local community had no alternative but to protest. It’s their democratic right to hold peaceful and dignified protests.”
Shell to Sea spokesman John Monaghan described the expenditure as an “entire waste of taxpayers’ money”.
“We have always maintained that this is a private dispute between locals and Shell. In the 15 months prior to the gardaí arriving on site, there were no incidents or upsets,” he said.
Protestors have been picketing the site every working day since July 2005 as part of their campaign to have the pipeline rerouted offshore.
Next week, the protest group hope to meet with the new Minister for Communications, Natural and Energy Resources Eamon Ryan. In September, consultants for Shell published a shortlist of three “corridors” for a modified Corrib gas onshore pipeline route.
A route is expected to be chosen by the end of this year and submitted to An Bord Pleanála for approval under the Strategic Infrastructure Act.
Irish Examiner
Minister announces terms for oil and gas searches
Éamon Ryan says he wants Irish waters to be "fully explored", but with a "proper return to the State" if oil and gas are discovered.
The Minister made his comments yesterday when he announced terms for a new oil and gas exploration licensing round in the Porcupine Basin.
The acreage covers unlicensed blocks in an area of approximately 63,500sq km and terms will be subject to the new tax regime announced by the Minister in August.
New domestic sources of oil and gas would ease the State's dependence on imported fuels "from areas of the world that are geopolitically volatile", which is contributing to price instability, Mr Ryan said in a statement.
Dependence on imported oil and gas had grown to over 85 per cent here in the past decade, he noted. "As we approach a peak in oil finds, Ireland has become much more attractive to oil and gas companies," he said, and finds under the new licensing round could "potentially yield much greater funds for the exchequer".
Under the tax terms announced by the Minister in August, and applicable to licences awarded from January 1st, 2007, profitable fields will pay up to 40 per cent in tax - a top rate increase of 15 per cent for the oil and gas companies involved.
Estimates from the Department of Energy's own internal analysis last year suggest that the potential of the Atlantic margin has been played down. It believes there could be at least 10 billion barrels of "oil equivalent" resources - as in crude oil or gas - off the west coast, which would be worth $600 billion or €455 billion at a rate of $60 a barrel.
Currently some 30 companies are working on various aspects of mineral exploration/production in these waters, ranging from the Corrib gas developers to smaller companies involved in seismic surveys. The last licences issued were four for the Slyne/Erris/Donegal areas in August, 2006.
Applicants for frontier exploration licences for the Porcupine Basin may be approved for a maximum of three blocks in the north and six blocks in the south of the basin.
In advance of licensing awards, a strategic environmental assessment was being undertaken by consultants, which would inform the industry of any environmental characteristics and sensitivities of the area and recommend how these can be addressed. This must take place under the EU environmental assessment directive.
Mr Ryan said the next exploration licensing round will take place in early 2009 in the Rockall Basin.
The Irish Offshore Operators Association welcomed the announcement. Chief executive Fergus Cahill noted: "It is in everyone's interest to have this area explored, and the high price of oil, coupled with technological developments, will help," he said.
The association has already warned that a lot of effort has produced little yield, with only two of nine exploration wells drilled over the past decade proving substantial. Corrib in 1996 and Dooish in the Rockall Basin in 2002.
Lorna Siggins
The Irish Times
The Minister made his comments yesterday when he announced terms for a new oil and gas exploration licensing round in the Porcupine Basin.
The acreage covers unlicensed blocks in an area of approximately 63,500sq km and terms will be subject to the new tax regime announced by the Minister in August.
New domestic sources of oil and gas would ease the State's dependence on imported fuels "from areas of the world that are geopolitically volatile", which is contributing to price instability, Mr Ryan said in a statement.
Dependence on imported oil and gas had grown to over 85 per cent here in the past decade, he noted. "As we approach a peak in oil finds, Ireland has become much more attractive to oil and gas companies," he said, and finds under the new licensing round could "potentially yield much greater funds for the exchequer".
Under the tax terms announced by the Minister in August, and applicable to licences awarded from January 1st, 2007, profitable fields will pay up to 40 per cent in tax - a top rate increase of 15 per cent for the oil and gas companies involved.
Estimates from the Department of Energy's own internal analysis last year suggest that the potential of the Atlantic margin has been played down. It believes there could be at least 10 billion barrels of "oil equivalent" resources - as in crude oil or gas - off the west coast, which would be worth $600 billion or €455 billion at a rate of $60 a barrel.
Currently some 30 companies are working on various aspects of mineral exploration/production in these waters, ranging from the Corrib gas developers to smaller companies involved in seismic surveys. The last licences issued were four for the Slyne/Erris/Donegal areas in August, 2006.
Applicants for frontier exploration licences for the Porcupine Basin may be approved for a maximum of three blocks in the north and six blocks in the south of the basin.
In advance of licensing awards, a strategic environmental assessment was being undertaken by consultants, which would inform the industry of any environmental characteristics and sensitivities of the area and recommend how these can be addressed. This must take place under the EU environmental assessment directive.
Mr Ryan said the next exploration licensing round will take place in early 2009 in the Rockall Basin.
The Irish Offshore Operators Association welcomed the announcement. Chief executive Fergus Cahill noted: "It is in everyone's interest to have this area explored, and the high price of oil, coupled with technological developments, will help," he said.
The association has already warned that a lot of effort has produced little yield, with only two of nine exploration wells drilled over the past decade proving substantial. Corrib in 1996 and Dooish in the Rockall Basin in 2002.
Lorna Siggins
The Irish Times
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Businesses call for group to drive progress in €2.4bn city development
BUSINESS leaders in Waterford have called for the establishment of a high-powered group to drive forward the city’s development over the next seven years.
The €2.4 billion Project 2014, launched last summer, is aimed at regenerating Waterford in the coming years.
According to Waterford Chamber president Andrew O’Neill, an “empowered gateway forum” is needed to deliver this project. “The formation of the forum is vital in the context of ensuring Waterford’s ability to realise its full potential and to capitalise on attracting business location opportunities over the course of the next seven years,” said Mr O’Neill.
Project 2014 plans for the city’s €2.7bn redevelopment were presented to a conference last week by city manager Paddy Power and included details of development for the Waterford’s North and South Quays; the development of “government” and “heritage” quarters in the city as well as investments in the arts, community, sports and recreation sectors including an €11m redevelopment of the Regional Sports Centre on the Cork Road.
Speaking about the city bypass in two years, Mr Power said: “It will remove traffic from the city centre. It is intended that planning will begin soon on a park and ride green bus route from Butlerstown to Waterford Port at Belview. Another such route will also be developed from the Dunmore Road.”
Peter Malone of the National Roads Authority cautioned it was now time for investors to “seize the day” in respect of opportunities the new motorway in 2010 will present.
He highlighted the need for organisations to “come together now in order to capitalise on the huge potential which Waterford’s developing infrastructure offers”.
The aims of a new group were announced. Chaired by Bausch & Lomb’s Frank O’Regan, the “Viking Triangle” initiative will see the creation of pedestrian only-areas in historic segments of the city. This development will also provide the potential to revive the residential character of the area, making it a more attractive to enhanced retail opportunities.
“It was planned,” said Frank O’Regan, “to transform Waterford’s unique historical and cultural heritage by 2014 when the city will celebrate the 1100th anniversary of its foundation.
“What we plan is a series of three museums based on 400 yards of streetscape which takes us from Waterford’s beginnings to Victorian times,” he said.
Irish Examiner
The €2.4 billion Project 2014, launched last summer, is aimed at regenerating Waterford in the coming years.
According to Waterford Chamber president Andrew O’Neill, an “empowered gateway forum” is needed to deliver this project. “The formation of the forum is vital in the context of ensuring Waterford’s ability to realise its full potential and to capitalise on attracting business location opportunities over the course of the next seven years,” said Mr O’Neill.
Project 2014 plans for the city’s €2.7bn redevelopment were presented to a conference last week by city manager Paddy Power and included details of development for the Waterford’s North and South Quays; the development of “government” and “heritage” quarters in the city as well as investments in the arts, community, sports and recreation sectors including an €11m redevelopment of the Regional Sports Centre on the Cork Road.
Speaking about the city bypass in two years, Mr Power said: “It will remove traffic from the city centre. It is intended that planning will begin soon on a park and ride green bus route from Butlerstown to Waterford Port at Belview. Another such route will also be developed from the Dunmore Road.”
Peter Malone of the National Roads Authority cautioned it was now time for investors to “seize the day” in respect of opportunities the new motorway in 2010 will present.
He highlighted the need for organisations to “come together now in order to capitalise on the huge potential which Waterford’s developing infrastructure offers”.
The aims of a new group were announced. Chaired by Bausch & Lomb’s Frank O’Regan, the “Viking Triangle” initiative will see the creation of pedestrian only-areas in historic segments of the city. This development will also provide the potential to revive the residential character of the area, making it a more attractive to enhanced retail opportunities.
“It was planned,” said Frank O’Regan, “to transform Waterford’s unique historical and cultural heritage by 2014 when the city will celebrate the 1100th anniversary of its foundation.
“What we plan is a series of three museums based on 400 yards of streetscape which takes us from Waterford’s beginnings to Victorian times,” he said.
Irish Examiner
An Taisce opposes bikes for ads plan
A PLAN to provide nearly 500 free bikes across Dublin in exchange for more than 100 outdoor advertisement spaces met with opposition yesterday.
An Taisce said the plan, which will involve large illuminated advertisements across the capital, was against EU law.
Its request to An Bord Pleanála to bring a review of the project before the High Court was refused.
The board began the first of four days of hearings on the plan, which has been submitted to Dublin City Council.
Local councillors, city centre businesses and residents are objecting, claiming the advertisements could distract drivers and divert attention away from existing shops and it is not a good deal for the city and its residents overall.
The council’s deal with operators JCDecaux would see at least 450 bikes provided free at 25 locations, and four public toilets, in exchange for 120 advertisement boards.
In Paris, the company has given more than 2,000 free bicycles to the city, where residents and tourists use a card with a deposit to travel from one location to another.
It is hoped the project in Dublin would see a crop in the number of cars entering the city centre.
However, An Taisce says the additional advertisements would clutter city landscapes. Maurizio Passi, with local business Tiffany Blinds, warned the advertisements would distract from city centre businesses themselves.
Hearings at An Bord Pleanála are due to continue for at least another three days.
Others due to appear before Inspector Jane Dennehy include representatives from Arnotts and Eason, residents from North Great Georges Street, local advertisement companies and local councillors.
The free bikes scheme already operates in cities including Vienna and Paris. Plans in Dublin would see some commercial signs as big as seven square metres erected on structures or buildings.
Some city councillors are objecting, saying other cities have received more bikes and better deals than that agreed with the Dublin City Council.
Hearings will continue today.
Irish Examiner
An Taisce said the plan, which will involve large illuminated advertisements across the capital, was against EU law.
Its request to An Bord Pleanála to bring a review of the project before the High Court was refused.
The board began the first of four days of hearings on the plan, which has been submitted to Dublin City Council.
Local councillors, city centre businesses and residents are objecting, claiming the advertisements could distract drivers and divert attention away from existing shops and it is not a good deal for the city and its residents overall.
The council’s deal with operators JCDecaux would see at least 450 bikes provided free at 25 locations, and four public toilets, in exchange for 120 advertisement boards.
In Paris, the company has given more than 2,000 free bicycles to the city, where residents and tourists use a card with a deposit to travel from one location to another.
It is hoped the project in Dublin would see a crop in the number of cars entering the city centre.
However, An Taisce says the additional advertisements would clutter city landscapes. Maurizio Passi, with local business Tiffany Blinds, warned the advertisements would distract from city centre businesses themselves.
Hearings at An Bord Pleanála are due to continue for at least another three days.
Others due to appear before Inspector Jane Dennehy include representatives from Arnotts and Eason, residents from North Great Georges Street, local advertisement companies and local councillors.
The free bikes scheme already operates in cities including Vienna and Paris. Plans in Dublin would see some commercial signs as big as seven square metres erected on structures or buildings.
Some city councillors are objecting, saying other cities have received more bikes and better deals than that agreed with the Dublin City Council.
Hearings will continue today.
Irish Examiner
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Council to spend €4bn to regenerate parts of city
DUBLIN City Council plans to spend €4bn in the next 10 years regenerating large parts of the capital.
City manager John Tierney said that the massive spend would be topped-up by investment from private developers and that the council would seek funding from both the EU and Government to realise its ambitious plans.
Speaking at the launch of a public consultation process for an urban regeneration project for the Liberties area yesterday, Mr Tierney said the views of the communities involved would be sought before a plan is finalised.
The Liberties is one of a number of ambitious projects aimed at reversing decades of under-investment in the city centre, taking up to 10 years to realise.
Other projects earmarked for the €4bn regeneration kitty include O'Devaney Gardens on the North Circular Road, Dominick Street, Parnell Square and the Carlton cinema site on O'Connell Street.
Irish Independent
City manager John Tierney said that the massive spend would be topped-up by investment from private developers and that the council would seek funding from both the EU and Government to realise its ambitious plans.
Speaking at the launch of a public consultation process for an urban regeneration project for the Liberties area yesterday, Mr Tierney said the views of the communities involved would be sought before a plan is finalised.
The Liberties is one of a number of ambitious projects aimed at reversing decades of under-investment in the city centre, taking up to 10 years to realise.
Other projects earmarked for the €4bn regeneration kitty include O'Devaney Gardens on the North Circular Road, Dominick Street, Parnell Square and the Carlton cinema site on O'Connell Street.
Irish Independent
Shell pipeline putting dolphins and bay at risk, claim campaigners
ANTI-SHELL campaigners are concerned about the planned Mayo gas pipeline damaging dolphin habitats after recent sightings of up to 20 of the mammals locally.
The bottlenose dolphins were spotted off Broadhaven Bay in north Mayo over the past two weeks. Many were young and campaigners say the adult mammals are similar to ones spotted previously.
Objectors to the planned Shell gas pipeline — due to run across the bay — fear dolphins may not return to the secluded spot if pipe-laying work goes ahead.
“They were smack bang in the middle of where they have carried out dredging before,” said Shell to Sea’s John Monaghan, who captured images of the dolphins.
“In some of the pictures you can clearly see young with them. It appears the same group of dolphins [identified from marks on their dorsal fins] have been in the same waters in the last two years, so along with the young, this may indicate that they are resident rather than visitors.”
Shell to Sea warn any largescale industrial activity could harm the bay’s habitat.
“The seismic activities associated with the offshore exploration and the recent survey work in the bay itself, could have very serious effects on mammals because they depend on sonar,” they said.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has now begun an investigation into the recent bottlenose dolphin sightings in Broadhaven Bay.
The group’s co-ordinator Simon Berrow said it was important if the mammals were returning to the Mayo bay. If true, it would increase the environmental significance of a region that is already a special area of conservation.
A survey of Broadhaven Bay carried out by UCC’s Coastal and Marine Resources Centre on behalf of the Corrib gas partners in 2001, revealed varied species of mammals in the area.
A total of 223 mammal sightings were made in and around the bay over a 12-month period, including different species of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks.
The “biological significance of the area should not be overlooked,” the UCC report concluded.
Shell yesterday said every effort would be made to identify concerns in or around the bay once pipeline work begins. A spokeswoman confirmed dredging took place in the bay previously in 2005 but that there were marine mammal observers aboard the ship.
It was too early to speculate on any activity that this pipeline building would produce, she said.
Shell admit all of its plans to link the offshore section of its gas pipeline will come into or run across Broadhaven Bay.
Irish Examiner
The bottlenose dolphins were spotted off Broadhaven Bay in north Mayo over the past two weeks. Many were young and campaigners say the adult mammals are similar to ones spotted previously.
Objectors to the planned Shell gas pipeline — due to run across the bay — fear dolphins may not return to the secluded spot if pipe-laying work goes ahead.
“They were smack bang in the middle of where they have carried out dredging before,” said Shell to Sea’s John Monaghan, who captured images of the dolphins.
“In some of the pictures you can clearly see young with them. It appears the same group of dolphins [identified from marks on their dorsal fins] have been in the same waters in the last two years, so along with the young, this may indicate that they are resident rather than visitors.”
Shell to Sea warn any largescale industrial activity could harm the bay’s habitat.
“The seismic activities associated with the offshore exploration and the recent survey work in the bay itself, could have very serious effects on mammals because they depend on sonar,” they said.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has now begun an investigation into the recent bottlenose dolphin sightings in Broadhaven Bay.
The group’s co-ordinator Simon Berrow said it was important if the mammals were returning to the Mayo bay. If true, it would increase the environmental significance of a region that is already a special area of conservation.
A survey of Broadhaven Bay carried out by UCC’s Coastal and Marine Resources Centre on behalf of the Corrib gas partners in 2001, revealed varied species of mammals in the area.
A total of 223 mammal sightings were made in and around the bay over a 12-month period, including different species of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks.
The “biological significance of the area should not be overlooked,” the UCC report concluded.
Shell yesterday said every effort would be made to identify concerns in or around the bay once pipeline work begins. A spokeswoman confirmed dredging took place in the bay previously in 2005 but that there were marine mammal observers aboard the ship.
It was too early to speculate on any activity that this pipeline building would produce, she said.
Shell admit all of its plans to link the offshore section of its gas pipeline will come into or run across Broadhaven Bay.
Irish Examiner
Monday, 8 October 2007
New archaeological survey of Clare Island
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, T.D., has launched 'The New Survey of Clare Island, Volume 5: Archaeology' in the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
Minister Gormley said - "The survey is complementary to the research and awareness-raising work ongoing in my Department".
In response to the view expressed by Professor Slevin, President of the RIA, that many within the archaeological community felt that Irish archaeology was undoubtedly at a crossroads and, some might even suggest, was in crisis, the Minister responded that "Disseminating knowledge and increasing public awareness will be one of the touchstones of the wide-ranging review of archaeological policy and practice in Ireland, which I have initiated."
The Minister will be announcing details of the review process later this month.
This publication is viewed as, perhaps, the most significant in the history of the Royal Irish Academy. It is an important milestone in the New Survey of Clare Island series, commenced as part of a multi-disciplinary survey organised in the early part of last century by Robert Lloyd Praeger for the RIA.
Edited by eminent archaeologists - Paul Gosling of the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Conleth Manning of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Professor John Waddell of the National University of Ireland Galway - Volume 5 of the survey makes a major contribution to knowledge of the island's rich archaeological past.
In particular, it casts valuable new light on the common Bronze Age burnt mound phenomenon in terms of their rationale and dating.
The Minister acknowledged the work of the RIA, the editors, researchers and others - including the support provided by his own Department - as well as the co-operation of the local community on Clare Island, without whom the publication would not have been possible.
Minister Gormley noted the continuation of Praeger's multi-disciplinary scholarly tradition and looked forward to this volume being a trigger for additional archaeological research on the island into the future.
Minister Gormley said - "The survey is complementary to the research and awareness-raising work ongoing in my Department".
In response to the view expressed by Professor Slevin, President of the RIA, that many within the archaeological community felt that Irish archaeology was undoubtedly at a crossroads and, some might even suggest, was in crisis, the Minister responded that "Disseminating knowledge and increasing public awareness will be one of the touchstones of the wide-ranging review of archaeological policy and practice in Ireland, which I have initiated."
The Minister will be announcing details of the review process later this month.
This publication is viewed as, perhaps, the most significant in the history of the Royal Irish Academy. It is an important milestone in the New Survey of Clare Island series, commenced as part of a multi-disciplinary survey organised in the early part of last century by Robert Lloyd Praeger for the RIA.
Edited by eminent archaeologists - Paul Gosling of the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Conleth Manning of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Professor John Waddell of the National University of Ireland Galway - Volume 5 of the survey makes a major contribution to knowledge of the island's rich archaeological past.
In particular, it casts valuable new light on the common Bronze Age burnt mound phenomenon in terms of their rationale and dating.
The Minister acknowledged the work of the RIA, the editors, researchers and others - including the support provided by his own Department - as well as the co-operation of the local community on Clare Island, without whom the publication would not have been possible.
Minister Gormley noted the continuation of Praeger's multi-disciplinary scholarly tradition and looked forward to this volume being a trigger for additional archaeological research on the island into the future.
Dundalk - a model for greener living
Mr Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has officially launched Ireland's most eco-friendly development of smart homes at Carlinn Hall.
This is the first residential development in the Dundalk 20/20 sustainable energy zone. Sustainable Energy Ireland co-ordinate the Dundalk 20/20 project, which acts as a pilot for the rest of the country. In a 4 km zone in the centre of the town, 20% of all heat and 20% of all electricity must come from renewable sources by 2010 - this is ten years ahead of the Government target.
Speaking at the launch the Minister said - "Dundalk is clearly and successfully leading the way in sustainable development in Ireland. It shows us that, by working together across a community, people can and are making the choice to switch to greener energy, to greener homes and to greener living.
"The Carlinn Hall development will enable these home-owners to reduce their carbon footprint by 70% and enjoy much lower running costs. Most importantly, this development demonstrates that the new Building Regulations - recently announced by Minister Gormley - are eminently achievable for the industry. They are equally desirable to the discerning consumer."
The Minister added - "Savings from energy efficiency will considerably outstrip initial costs. The fact that Dundalk 2020 building standards will soon be national, means vastly increased competition in renewable energy technology. This will serve to decrease installation costs even further.
"The Carlinn Hall development is the way of the future. It represents canny cost-effectiveness with due regard for the environment. I would urge the construction industry to embrace this seed-change in housing and energy policy.
Minister Ryan concluded - "Dundalk is a template for every Irish town and city. The people of Dundalk are leading the green revolution - making it a European centre of excellence in sustainable development. I would like to see this replicated across the country."
The Carlinn Hall development received support from SEI's House of Tomorrow Scheme. Over 6,000 houses in Ireland have - or are - being constructed in line with the proposed new Building Regulations.
This is the first residential development in the Dundalk 20/20 sustainable energy zone. Sustainable Energy Ireland co-ordinate the Dundalk 20/20 project, which acts as a pilot for the rest of the country. In a 4 km zone in the centre of the town, 20% of all heat and 20% of all electricity must come from renewable sources by 2010 - this is ten years ahead of the Government target.
Speaking at the launch the Minister said - "Dundalk is clearly and successfully leading the way in sustainable development in Ireland. It shows us that, by working together across a community, people can and are making the choice to switch to greener energy, to greener homes and to greener living.
"The Carlinn Hall development will enable these home-owners to reduce their carbon footprint by 70% and enjoy much lower running costs. Most importantly, this development demonstrates that the new Building Regulations - recently announced by Minister Gormley - are eminently achievable for the industry. They are equally desirable to the discerning consumer."
The Minister added - "Savings from energy efficiency will considerably outstrip initial costs. The fact that Dundalk 2020 building standards will soon be national, means vastly increased competition in renewable energy technology. This will serve to decrease installation costs even further.
"The Carlinn Hall development is the way of the future. It represents canny cost-effectiveness with due regard for the environment. I would urge the construction industry to embrace this seed-change in housing and energy policy.
Minister Ryan concluded - "Dundalk is a template for every Irish town and city. The people of Dundalk are leading the green revolution - making it a European centre of excellence in sustainable development. I would like to see this replicated across the country."
The Carlinn Hall development received support from SEI's House of Tomorrow Scheme. Over 6,000 houses in Ireland have - or are - being constructed in line with the proposed new Building Regulations.
Irish Architecture Foundation's Open house Dublin 2007
he Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paddy Bourke, has announced details of the Irish Architecture Foundation's Open house Dublin 2007 programme.
This year's weekend, the second ever such event, will take place from Friday October 19th to Sunday October 21st 2007.
Open House Dublin 2007 is a free event - inviting Dublin's citizens to explore their city's architecture through building visits and walking tours over the weekend, many led by architects and designers.
Details of close to 80 events and tours - on foot, by bicycle and even by water - of sumptuous historic interiors, cutting-edge contemporary architecture, iconic structures, exquisitely designed private residences and landmark public buildings were unveiled at the programme launch, attended by building owners, architects and volunteers as well as event stakeholders and the media.
Presiding over the launch, the Chair of the Irish Architecture Foundation, Antoinette O'Neill said - "Every city tells its story through its architecture - without it, our identity is lost. Our hectic lifestyles mean we rush past architectural gems, both historic and contemporary. Open House allows us to consider our surroundings in a new way and gives us the opportunity to visit and to further understand what a profound visual joy buildings can be."
This year's weekend, the second ever such event, will take place from Friday October 19th to Sunday October 21st 2007.
Open House Dublin 2007 is a free event - inviting Dublin's citizens to explore their city's architecture through building visits and walking tours over the weekend, many led by architects and designers.
Details of close to 80 events and tours - on foot, by bicycle and even by water - of sumptuous historic interiors, cutting-edge contemporary architecture, iconic structures, exquisitely designed private residences and landmark public buildings were unveiled at the programme launch, attended by building owners, architects and volunteers as well as event stakeholders and the media.
Presiding over the launch, the Chair of the Irish Architecture Foundation, Antoinette O'Neill said - "Every city tells its story through its architecture - without it, our identity is lost. Our hectic lifestyles mean we rush past architectural gems, both historic and contemporary. Open House allows us to consider our surroundings in a new way and gives us the opportunity to visit and to further understand what a profound visual joy buildings can be."
Recommendations on the review of the National Sustainable Development Strategy
Comhar SDC has made recommendations on the review of the National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS).
The recommendations have been informed by the proceedings and outcome of three stakeholder workshops - held in Dublin, Cork and Sligo.
Comhar states that sustainable development is both a vision and a process. It rests on the three pillars of environmental protection, economic development and social progress. Effective delivery of the revised NSDS will require this over-arching policy framework to be adopted and led at the highest level of government. It is also dependant on effective communication and engagement with key sectoral interests and civil society.
Comhar's recommendations cover the following areas -
* Climate Change and Clean Energy
* Transport
* Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)
* Conservation and Management of Natural Resources
* Public Health
* Social Inclusion, Demography and Migration
* Global Poverty and Sustainable Development Strategies
* Spatial Planning
* Better policy-making, governance and crosscutting issues - and
* Monitoring and measuring sustainability.
The recommendations have been informed by the proceedings and outcome of three stakeholder workshops - held in Dublin, Cork and Sligo.
Comhar states that sustainable development is both a vision and a process. It rests on the three pillars of environmental protection, economic development and social progress. Effective delivery of the revised NSDS will require this over-arching policy framework to be adopted and led at the highest level of government. It is also dependant on effective communication and engagement with key sectoral interests and civil society.
Comhar's recommendations cover the following areas -
* Climate Change and Clean Energy
* Transport
* Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)
* Conservation and Management of Natural Resources
* Public Health
* Social Inclusion, Demography and Migration
* Global Poverty and Sustainable Development Strategies
* Spatial Planning
* Better policy-making, governance and crosscutting issues - and
* Monitoring and measuring sustainability.
First-ever national Energy Efficiency Action Plan
The Programme for Government commits Ireland to achieving energy efficiency savings of 20% by 2020 and 33% for the public sector.
Speaking at the EirGrid Annual Customer Conference in Dublin, Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, launched Ireland's first-ever National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. This plan contains a number of Government initiatives across a variety of areas, in order to meet this target.
Minister Ryan said - "Our energy efficiency targets in the Programme for Government will not be easy to fulfil. When we consider that our energy demands have grown by 70% in the past 15 years, then we see that this is a huge task.
"Energy efficiency is no longer optional. It is necessary if we are to mitigate our vulnerability to climate change and to volatile fuel prices. Reduction in energy costs and security of supply are essential to secure our national competitiveness. The scale of the challenge demands that our response is national and all-encompassing. This Action Plan reaches across the many arms of Government, throughout business and into homes.
"We have set the bar even higher for the public sector. I intend that Ireland's public sector will be an exemplar of energy efficiency - from Departments, to Garda barracks. Beginning with lightbulbs - moving to Energy Ratings on all public buildings - I believe the public sector can lead the way.
"We want to maintain our quality of life, while using less. If we reach our targets, we will save an estimated €1.7 billion every year - or the equivalent of 3 million tonnes of oil. This Action Plan sets us on the right path."
Highlights of the Action Plan include -
* Introduction of Energy Efficiency Programmes for all Government Departments, state agencies, local authorities, the Health service and all other public sector areas;
* Guidelines for 'green public procurement' in the public sector - all public bodies to purchase only energy-efficient lighting from end of 2007;
* All street and traffic lights to be energy-efficient;
* Energy Ratings system to apply to all public buildings from 2008;
* Publish an annual report - 'Energy Efficiency in Ireland' - to monitor progress.
Other areas/sectors which are covered in the report include - Business, Residential homes, Transport, Research & Development and Cross-sectoral measures including taxation.
The Plan now enters its public consultation period. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is inviting submissions on the contents of the Action Plan by close of business on 16 November 2007.
Submission can be made by post to -
Damien Clarke
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Division
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
29-31 Adelaide Road
Dublin 2
Or, by email to - eeap@dcenr.gov.ie
Speaking at the EirGrid Annual Customer Conference in Dublin, Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, launched Ireland's first-ever National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. This plan contains a number of Government initiatives across a variety of areas, in order to meet this target.
Minister Ryan said - "Our energy efficiency targets in the Programme for Government will not be easy to fulfil. When we consider that our energy demands have grown by 70% in the past 15 years, then we see that this is a huge task.
"Energy efficiency is no longer optional. It is necessary if we are to mitigate our vulnerability to climate change and to volatile fuel prices. Reduction in energy costs and security of supply are essential to secure our national competitiveness. The scale of the challenge demands that our response is national and all-encompassing. This Action Plan reaches across the many arms of Government, throughout business and into homes.
"We have set the bar even higher for the public sector. I intend that Ireland's public sector will be an exemplar of energy efficiency - from Departments, to Garda barracks. Beginning with lightbulbs - moving to Energy Ratings on all public buildings - I believe the public sector can lead the way.
"We want to maintain our quality of life, while using less. If we reach our targets, we will save an estimated €1.7 billion every year - or the equivalent of 3 million tonnes of oil. This Action Plan sets us on the right path."
Highlights of the Action Plan include -
* Introduction of Energy Efficiency Programmes for all Government Departments, state agencies, local authorities, the Health service and all other public sector areas;
* Guidelines for 'green public procurement' in the public sector - all public bodies to purchase only energy-efficient lighting from end of 2007;
* All street and traffic lights to be energy-efficient;
* Energy Ratings system to apply to all public buildings from 2008;
* Publish an annual report - 'Energy Efficiency in Ireland' - to monitor progress.
Other areas/sectors which are covered in the report include - Business, Residential homes, Transport, Research & Development and Cross-sectoral measures including taxation.
The Plan now enters its public consultation period. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is inviting submissions on the contents of the Action Plan by close of business on 16 November 2007.
Submission can be made by post to -
Damien Clarke
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Division
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
29-31 Adelaide Road
Dublin 2
Or, by email to - eeap@dcenr.gov.ie
Revised draft of Ireland's second National Allocation Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a revised draft of Ireland's second National Allocation Plan for Emissions Trading in Ireland.
This follows the conditional approvals given by the EU Commission in November 2006 and July 2007 to the previous draft and the subsequent revised directions from Government. The plan sets out the EPA's proposals for distributing these allowances to the various industrial sectors and participants involved.
A consultation process on the revised draft plan commenced on 4th October 2007. The purpose of this second public consultation is to facilitate the public in expressing their views on the revised draft second National Allocation Plan. All submissions received by 5.00pm on October 31st 2007 will be considered with a view to improving the plan before the EPA takes the Final Allocation Decision for the 2008-2012 period, as required under the Emissions Trading Regulations.
Commenting, Dr Mary Kelly, Director General, EPA said - "In revising the Draft Plan, full recognition has been given to the increasingly important role of renewables in electricity generation (power generation accounts for two-thirds of the available national allowances) as envisaged under the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 and as set out in the White Paper - Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland.
"In addition, the EPA is proposing to increase the dedicated set-aside of emissions allowances - designed to promote Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facilities in the power generation sector from 450,000 to 750,000 allowances. CHP is a highly-efficient technology for energy production and one in which Ireland lags behind many of our EU partners."
Emissions Trading is a cap-and-trade scheme, where participating installations are given a fixed allocation each year and must either abate CO2 emissions to that level, or purchase allowances to meet any exceedance. It is designed to bring about reductions in emissions at least cost.
Dr Ken Macken, Programme Manager, EPA said that - "Continued implementation of the Emissions Trading Directive will help Ireland to meet its Kyoto obligations in a cost-effective manner. Whereas, developing the Draft Plan has been a complex task, I believe our proposals are fair and transparent and take into account the environmental integrity of the scheme and the potential effects on the economy.
"The EPA is aware of the potentially significant economic consequences associated with the implementation of the Directive and is being advised by a National Allocation Advisory Group, which was appointed by Government to advise the EPA on how best to discharge its obligations in formulating the National Allocation Plan" - he added.
Over 100 major industrial and institutional sites in Ireland are covered by the plan. These include - power generation, other combustion, cement, lime, glass and ceramic plants and oil refining. Also included are large companies in areas such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.
Under the revised plan, the total quantity of allowances to be allocated in the period 2008-2012 represents 87% of forecasted emissions in that period, with the burden falling mostly on the power generation and cement sectors. New entrants to the scheme in the five-year period are catered for through a specific set aside of allowances.
To download the draft second National Allocation Plan - Click Here
Key Changes in the Revised Draft of the National Allocation Plan (2008-2012)
* The total allocation of allowances is reduced from a previous average of 22.638 million allowances per annum, to a revised average of 22.262 million allowances for the five years 2008-2012;
* Over 90 per cent of the these allowances will be allocated free of charge to existing installations;
* Allocations will be made, based on historical emissions from existing participants;
* Approximately 9 per cent of the available allowances will be held back by the EPA for issue to new entrants;
* Adjustment for increased use of renewables in electricity production;
* Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to receive special treatment;
* Where companies close during the Kyoto phase, the EPA will withhold the issue of allowances for future years to these companies (except for rationalisations between smaller companies under the same operator, where special transfer arrangements will apply).
Allowances retained in this way will be added to the new entrant set aside;
* 0.5 per cent of allowances are to be sold to defray the expenses of administering the emissions trading scheme;
* Certain smaller installations will be excluded from the scheme under a new de minimis threshold.
* The total amount of additional linking credits from the Kyoto Protocol project mechanisms that can be used by operators in the scheme for the period 2008-2012 has been set at -
- 12% of the allocation to each installation in the Powergen Sector
- 11% in the Cement Sector - and
- 1% in the General Sector.
The National Allocation Advisory Group comprises the Chief Executives (or their senior nominees) of the Commission for Energy Regulation, Forfás, the National Treasury Management Agency and Sustainable Energy Ireland - together with the Director General of the EPA - under the chairmanship of Dr Edward Walsh, Emeritus President of the University of Limerick.
This follows the conditional approvals given by the EU Commission in November 2006 and July 2007 to the previous draft and the subsequent revised directions from Government. The plan sets out the EPA's proposals for distributing these allowances to the various industrial sectors and participants involved.
A consultation process on the revised draft plan commenced on 4th October 2007. The purpose of this second public consultation is to facilitate the public in expressing their views on the revised draft second National Allocation Plan. All submissions received by 5.00pm on October 31st 2007 will be considered with a view to improving the plan before the EPA takes the Final Allocation Decision for the 2008-2012 period, as required under the Emissions Trading Regulations.
Commenting, Dr Mary Kelly, Director General, EPA said - "In revising the Draft Plan, full recognition has been given to the increasingly important role of renewables in electricity generation (power generation accounts for two-thirds of the available national allowances) as envisaged under the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 and as set out in the White Paper - Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland.
"In addition, the EPA is proposing to increase the dedicated set-aside of emissions allowances - designed to promote Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facilities in the power generation sector from 450,000 to 750,000 allowances. CHP is a highly-efficient technology for energy production and one in which Ireland lags behind many of our EU partners."
Emissions Trading is a cap-and-trade scheme, where participating installations are given a fixed allocation each year and must either abate CO2 emissions to that level, or purchase allowances to meet any exceedance. It is designed to bring about reductions in emissions at least cost.
Dr Ken Macken, Programme Manager, EPA said that - "Continued implementation of the Emissions Trading Directive will help Ireland to meet its Kyoto obligations in a cost-effective manner. Whereas, developing the Draft Plan has been a complex task, I believe our proposals are fair and transparent and take into account the environmental integrity of the scheme and the potential effects on the economy.
"The EPA is aware of the potentially significant economic consequences associated with the implementation of the Directive and is being advised by a National Allocation Advisory Group, which was appointed by Government to advise the EPA on how best to discharge its obligations in formulating the National Allocation Plan" - he added.
Over 100 major industrial and institutional sites in Ireland are covered by the plan. These include - power generation, other combustion, cement, lime, glass and ceramic plants and oil refining. Also included are large companies in areas such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.
Under the revised plan, the total quantity of allowances to be allocated in the period 2008-2012 represents 87% of forecasted emissions in that period, with the burden falling mostly on the power generation and cement sectors. New entrants to the scheme in the five-year period are catered for through a specific set aside of allowances.
To download the draft second National Allocation Plan - Click Here
Key Changes in the Revised Draft of the National Allocation Plan (2008-2012)
* The total allocation of allowances is reduced from a previous average of 22.638 million allowances per annum, to a revised average of 22.262 million allowances for the five years 2008-2012;
* Over 90 per cent of the these allowances will be allocated free of charge to existing installations;
* Allocations will be made, based on historical emissions from existing participants;
* Approximately 9 per cent of the available allowances will be held back by the EPA for issue to new entrants;
* Adjustment for increased use of renewables in electricity production;
* Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to receive special treatment;
* Where companies close during the Kyoto phase, the EPA will withhold the issue of allowances for future years to these companies (except for rationalisations between smaller companies under the same operator, where special transfer arrangements will apply).
Allowances retained in this way will be added to the new entrant set aside;
* 0.5 per cent of allowances are to be sold to defray the expenses of administering the emissions trading scheme;
* Certain smaller installations will be excluded from the scheme under a new de minimis threshold.
* The total amount of additional linking credits from the Kyoto Protocol project mechanisms that can be used by operators in the scheme for the period 2008-2012 has been set at -
- 12% of the allocation to each installation in the Powergen Sector
- 11% in the Cement Sector - and
- 1% in the General Sector.
The National Allocation Advisory Group comprises the Chief Executives (or their senior nominees) of the Commission for Energy Regulation, Forfás, the National Treasury Management Agency and Sustainable Energy Ireland - together with the Director General of the EPA - under the chairmanship of Dr Edward Walsh, Emeritus President of the University of Limerick.
See the Light 2007
See the Light 2007, organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland's Renewable Energy Information Office (SEI REIO) in association with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, will take place at Croke Park, Dublin on Wednesday 31 October 2007.
A small revolution is building-up in the design and construction of houses. Today, the passive house concept is capturing the imagination of the Irish public and a few visionary entrepreneurs have taken the lead in making it happen. SEI's Renewable Energy Information Office (REIO) - with its mission to promote innovation in the field of sustainable energy - is at the forefront of a movement that has brought about a fundamental rethink in the way we design, construct and operate buildings.
Over the years, Ireland has faced - and continues to deal with - rising energy costs and the environmental consequences that come from traditional energy sources. As we move forward, it is becoming clear that building 'green' has evolved and is fast becoming the preferred choice - providing high quality, high efficiency, dynamic and cost-effective solutions for consumers and businesses.
The passive house is the ultimate low-energy building and, as far as buildings are concerned, the European Commission is set on implementing the passive house standard and also on setting more stringent requirements for the refurbishment of existing buildings.
See the Light 2007 will be dedicated to the Passive House Standard, with leading Irish and European experts - including Dr Wolfgang Feist, the founder of the Passive House Institute - speaking and sharing their expertise and experience.
Delegates attending this showcase conference will be offered a rare and in-depth understanding of the key principles and techniques in developing the ultimate low-energy building and will learn how renewable energy can be used cost-effectively to provide healthy and ecological buildings here in Ireland.
Highlights of the conference - which is CPD accredited - include the launch of 'Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Passive Houses in Ireland'.
The conference will be of particular interest to the Building Industry, Architects, Engineers, Consultants, Developers and Installers, Local Authority Planners & Engineers, Agenda 21 Officers, Housing and Building Departments, Housing Associations, Universities & Research Organisations, Government Departments and NGO's concerned with environmental, housing and energy issues, etc.
Delegates will be provided with a unique forum - including an opportunity to network with technology experts who lead the movement here and abroad.
A small revolution is building-up in the design and construction of houses. Today, the passive house concept is capturing the imagination of the Irish public and a few visionary entrepreneurs have taken the lead in making it happen. SEI's Renewable Energy Information Office (REIO) - with its mission to promote innovation in the field of sustainable energy - is at the forefront of a movement that has brought about a fundamental rethink in the way we design, construct and operate buildings.
Over the years, Ireland has faced - and continues to deal with - rising energy costs and the environmental consequences that come from traditional energy sources. As we move forward, it is becoming clear that building 'green' has evolved and is fast becoming the preferred choice - providing high quality, high efficiency, dynamic and cost-effective solutions for consumers and businesses.
The passive house is the ultimate low-energy building and, as far as buildings are concerned, the European Commission is set on implementing the passive house standard and also on setting more stringent requirements for the refurbishment of existing buildings.
See the Light 2007 will be dedicated to the Passive House Standard, with leading Irish and European experts - including Dr Wolfgang Feist, the founder of the Passive House Institute - speaking and sharing their expertise and experience.
Delegates attending this showcase conference will be offered a rare and in-depth understanding of the key principles and techniques in developing the ultimate low-energy building and will learn how renewable energy can be used cost-effectively to provide healthy and ecological buildings here in Ireland.
Highlights of the conference - which is CPD accredited - include the launch of 'Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Passive Houses in Ireland'.
The conference will be of particular interest to the Building Industry, Architects, Engineers, Consultants, Developers and Installers, Local Authority Planners & Engineers, Agenda 21 Officers, Housing and Building Departments, Housing Associations, Universities & Research Organisations, Government Departments and NGO's concerned with environmental, housing and energy issues, etc.
Delegates will be provided with a unique forum - including an opportunity to network with technology experts who lead the movement here and abroad.
Friday, 5 October 2007
EU decision due soon on challenge to Tara motorway
The European Commission is expected to decide this month whether to take legal action against the Government over plans to build a motorway near Tara.
A senior commission official told the European Parliament's petitions committee yesterday the commission was analysing the Government's response to its concerns about the construction of the M3. He said the commission had expressed concern for some time to the Government that the National Monuments Act did not adequately protect sites of archaeological significance in the Republic.
The commission wants the Government to amend the Act and undertake a second environmental impact assessment at an archaeological site at Lismullin, close to Tara. But the Government insists that under Irish legislation it only has to undertake one assessment.
"The commission should be able to make a decision on legal action later this month," Liam Cashman, an official with the EU's environment directorate, told MEPs in Brussels, who were discussing a report on their fact-finding mission to Ireland.
This report called for a substantial review of the environmental impact of the M3 on the Hill of Tara and for less intrusive alternative routes to be designated.
"The delegation is, however, perplexed by the choice of the route and by the damage done to the integrity of the many sites in the Tara area and the Gabhra Valley which have been vividly drawn to our attention by our petitioners," says the 20-page report, which will be sent to the commission and the Government. Mr Cashman said he considered the report to be "very valuable" and "balanced".
If the commission started legal action, the Government would be forced to defend its position at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg. If it lost the case and refused to amend national law to conform with EU laws, it could face heavy fines
Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa said he had been informed by the commission that the National Monuments Act was in breach of EU law. He said it was under this Act that the Department of the Environment had sanctioned the demolition of an archaeological site at Lismullin.
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott also criticised the Government for "ploughing ahead" with the M3 motorway despite the concerns of petitioners. But she welcomed the role that the petitions committee had played in bringing attention to the important issue of Tara.
The committee has no formal power to force governments to take action but focuses attention on issues affecting individual citizens. It can also ask the commission to investigate matters, a process that can lead to formal cases being brought to the ECJ.
Yesterday the committee closed one Irish petition related to eligibility to a state aid scheme granting educational assistance to farmers from disadvantaged areas.
John O'Malley had challenged a condition of the scheme, that farmers must live within 70km of an educational establishment. Following the petitions committee inquiry, the Government changed the criteria.
Jamie Smyth
© 2007 The Irish Times
A senior commission official told the European Parliament's petitions committee yesterday the commission was analysing the Government's response to its concerns about the construction of the M3. He said the commission had expressed concern for some time to the Government that the National Monuments Act did not adequately protect sites of archaeological significance in the Republic.
The commission wants the Government to amend the Act and undertake a second environmental impact assessment at an archaeological site at Lismullin, close to Tara. But the Government insists that under Irish legislation it only has to undertake one assessment.
"The commission should be able to make a decision on legal action later this month," Liam Cashman, an official with the EU's environment directorate, told MEPs in Brussels, who were discussing a report on their fact-finding mission to Ireland.
This report called for a substantial review of the environmental impact of the M3 on the Hill of Tara and for less intrusive alternative routes to be designated.
"The delegation is, however, perplexed by the choice of the route and by the damage done to the integrity of the many sites in the Tara area and the Gabhra Valley which have been vividly drawn to our attention by our petitioners," says the 20-page report, which will be sent to the commission and the Government. Mr Cashman said he considered the report to be "very valuable" and "balanced".
If the commission started legal action, the Government would be forced to defend its position at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg. If it lost the case and refused to amend national law to conform with EU laws, it could face heavy fines
Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa said he had been informed by the commission that the National Monuments Act was in breach of EU law. He said it was under this Act that the Department of the Environment had sanctioned the demolition of an archaeological site at Lismullin.
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott also criticised the Government for "ploughing ahead" with the M3 motorway despite the concerns of petitioners. But she welcomed the role that the petitions committee had played in bringing attention to the important issue of Tara.
The committee has no formal power to force governments to take action but focuses attention on issues affecting individual citizens. It can also ask the commission to investigate matters, a process that can lead to formal cases being brought to the ECJ.
Yesterday the committee closed one Irish petition related to eligibility to a state aid scheme granting educational assistance to farmers from disadvantaged areas.
John O'Malley had challenged a condition of the scheme, that farmers must live within 70km of an educational establishment. Following the petitions committee inquiry, the Government changed the criteria.
Jamie Smyth
© 2007 The Irish Times
Ireland issues national energy efficiency plan
Ireland has become the seventeenth EU member state to issue a national energy efficiency action plan as required under the 2006 energy end-use efficiency and energy services directive. The plan was announced on Wednesday, missing an EU deadline by more than three months.
Irish energy minister Eamon Ryan said the plan would increase efficiency by 20 per cent by 2020. Public sector efficiency would increase by 33 per cent. Key measures include energy efficiency programmes for all government departments, local authorities and other public sector buildings such as hospitals. Green public procurement guidelines will be issued and all public bodies will be required to purchase energy-efficient lighting from the end of the year.
Member states have been slow to submit energy efficiency plans to the European commission: all but three member states missed a June 30 deadline to do so. Among the countries yet to notify a plan to the European commission are Sweden, Belgium, Czech Republic and Latvia.
Follow-up: See Irish government press release
http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Ryan+unveils+first-ever+national+Energy+Efficiency+Action+Plan.htm
plus EU energy efficiency webpages
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/end_use_en.htm.
Irish energy minister Eamon Ryan said the plan would increase efficiency by 20 per cent by 2020. Public sector efficiency would increase by 33 per cent. Key measures include energy efficiency programmes for all government departments, local authorities and other public sector buildings such as hospitals. Green public procurement guidelines will be issued and all public bodies will be required to purchase energy-efficient lighting from the end of the year.
Member states have been slow to submit energy efficiency plans to the European commission: all but three member states missed a June 30 deadline to do so. Among the countries yet to notify a plan to the European commission are Sweden, Belgium, Czech Republic and Latvia.
Follow-up: See Irish government press release
http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Ryan+unveils+first-ever+national+Energy+Efficiency+Action+Plan.htm
plus EU energy efficiency webpages
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/end_use_en.htm.
Gormley makes order to protect fort near Tara
Minister for the Environment John Gormley has used his powers under the National Monuments Acts to make a temporary preservation order for Rath Lugh, a prehistoric promontory fort associated with Tara alongside the route of the M3 motorway.
Opponents of the controversial road scheme had claimed last January that the tree-covered site - a designated monument - was being "directly impacted" by preliminary levelling works carried out by the motorway contractors, SIAC-Ferrovial.
"They were cutting further and further into it," according to Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, of the Campaign to Save Tara. "Originally, the NRA [ National Roads Authority] said the road was going to be 100 metres away from it, now it's 20 metres."
The Minister asked NUI Galway archaeologist and Tara expert Dr Conor Newman to examine the site and it was on his recommendation that the preservation order was made "to be absolutely sure that the monument is protected", Mr Gormley said.
In making the temporary order, which could become permanent, he said he was "acting in the best interests of heritage and also erring on the side of caution. It was not a 'U-turn', as some have claimed, but consistent with my approach since taking office."
Vincent Salafia, of Tara Watch, said yesterday the order to protect Rath Lugh "indicates a major shift in policy by the Minister, who has claimed that no sites are being improperly interfered with, and that he has not power to act" in relation to the M3.
According to the NRA, Rath Lugh is not being impacted by the motorway, which "skirts the base of the elevated promontory on which Rath Lugh is located, approximately 20 metres below, and will not interfere with the site itself or the view of this site from Tara".
Dr Ní Bhrolcháin noted that Rath Lugh is owned by Coillte Teoranta, the State forestry company. "It was up to them to intervene at the planning stage, but they didn't. At that stage, however, the motorway was to be constructed 100 metres away from the site."
Welcoming the Minister's action, she said it showed that the claims made by those opposed to the route were correct.
Frank McDonald
© 2007 The Irish Times
Opponents of the controversial road scheme had claimed last January that the tree-covered site - a designated monument - was being "directly impacted" by preliminary levelling works carried out by the motorway contractors, SIAC-Ferrovial.
"They were cutting further and further into it," according to Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, of the Campaign to Save Tara. "Originally, the NRA [ National Roads Authority] said the road was going to be 100 metres away from it, now it's 20 metres."
The Minister asked NUI Galway archaeologist and Tara expert Dr Conor Newman to examine the site and it was on his recommendation that the preservation order was made "to be absolutely sure that the monument is protected", Mr Gormley said.
In making the temporary order, which could become permanent, he said he was "acting in the best interests of heritage and also erring on the side of caution. It was not a 'U-turn', as some have claimed, but consistent with my approach since taking office."
Vincent Salafia, of Tara Watch, said yesterday the order to protect Rath Lugh "indicates a major shift in policy by the Minister, who has claimed that no sites are being improperly interfered with, and that he has not power to act" in relation to the M3.
According to the NRA, Rath Lugh is not being impacted by the motorway, which "skirts the base of the elevated promontory on which Rath Lugh is located, approximately 20 metres below, and will not interfere with the site itself or the view of this site from Tara".
Dr Ní Bhrolcháin noted that Rath Lugh is owned by Coillte Teoranta, the State forestry company. "It was up to them to intervene at the planning stage, but they didn't. At that stage, however, the motorway was to be constructed 100 metres away from the site."
Welcoming the Minister's action, she said it showed that the claims made by those opposed to the route were correct.
Frank McDonald
© 2007 The Irish Times
Group slams plans to extend runway into Sligo Bay
A controversial proposal to extend the runway at Sligo airport on a raised platform in Sligo Bay has been described as "ludicrous" by local campaigners.
But the airport board said that it would be unable to continue commercial operations without the 259 metre extension to the runway.
Sligo County Council will decide by November 1st whether to grant permission for the development at Strandhill - where a plane with 40 passengers on board ended up with its nose in the sea having overshot the runway in November 2002.
A local conservation group said that even if the platform "five times the size of a football pitch" is built in the bay which has been declared a Special Area of Conservation it would only be a "stopgap" measure as the runway would still be too short for major commercial carriers.
"It is not Istanbul," said Frank Carter, spokesman for the group. The council has received 71 submissions in connection with the application for "safety improvement works", designed to meet the safety standards required by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Last February the Government announced an €8.5 million grant for the airport. The Dorrin's & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group has said that the proposal would be a "nightmare" for local residents. It would mean the loss of a popular bathing area and of a traditional access route to nearby Coney Island.
They have argued that the construction of a platform measuring 270 metres long by 150 metres wide and some 4.5 metres high in order to accommodate the runway would be "an outrageous imposition" on views.
It could also have catastrophic effects on tidal flow, the group argues.
Dorrin's Strand has been designated a Special Protection Area under the 1979 EU Birds Directive and has also been designated a Ramsar site because of its importance in the migratory patterns of the Brent Goose.
The project has also been opposed by local clam farmers who say it would interfere with a vibrant shellfish industry.
The conservation group said that even if the runway was increased to 1,458 metres it would still be considerably shorter than most regional airports including Knock (2,300 metres) and Kerry (2,000 metres).
"It is questionable if Sligo airport should be spending public monies on a runway extension which will not be viable in the medium or long term" said Mr Carter.
Marese McDonagh
© 2007 The Irish Times
But the airport board said that it would be unable to continue commercial operations without the 259 metre extension to the runway.
Sligo County Council will decide by November 1st whether to grant permission for the development at Strandhill - where a plane with 40 passengers on board ended up with its nose in the sea having overshot the runway in November 2002.
A local conservation group said that even if the platform "five times the size of a football pitch" is built in the bay which has been declared a Special Area of Conservation it would only be a "stopgap" measure as the runway would still be too short for major commercial carriers.
"It is not Istanbul," said Frank Carter, spokesman for the group. The council has received 71 submissions in connection with the application for "safety improvement works", designed to meet the safety standards required by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Last February the Government announced an €8.5 million grant for the airport. The Dorrin's & Cummeen Strand Conservation Group has said that the proposal would be a "nightmare" for local residents. It would mean the loss of a popular bathing area and of a traditional access route to nearby Coney Island.
They have argued that the construction of a platform measuring 270 metres long by 150 metres wide and some 4.5 metres high in order to accommodate the runway would be "an outrageous imposition" on views.
It could also have catastrophic effects on tidal flow, the group argues.
Dorrin's Strand has been designated a Special Protection Area under the 1979 EU Birds Directive and has also been designated a Ramsar site because of its importance in the migratory patterns of the Brent Goose.
The project has also been opposed by local clam farmers who say it would interfere with a vibrant shellfish industry.
The conservation group said that even if the runway was increased to 1,458 metres it would still be considerably shorter than most regional airports including Knock (2,300 metres) and Kerry (2,000 metres).
"It is questionable if Sligo airport should be spending public monies on a runway extension which will not be viable in the medium or long term" said Mr Carter.
Marese McDonagh
© 2007 The Irish Times
Secret response to EU's rural house planning concerns
The Department of the Environment has responded to European Commission concerns about restrictions in local authority development plans. However, the department, which sent a comprehensive dossier on the subject to the commission last Friday, has refused to publish its views. A spokesman for the Minister, John Gormley, said the refusal was on foot of advice that the EU's interest could amount to the start of a legal action against Ireland for infringement of the EU treaty. The spokesman added that the department never publishes its responses in legal issues.
About half of the State's local authorities now include "local needs" restrictions in their development plans. The move restricts planning permission and sometimes ownership of homes to those who can demonstrate a local need - either that they are working in the area or already live in the area in a home which is not their own. The restriction initially applied to one-off housing but has spread to whole housing estates. Last June the EU told the Government that the restriction may be in breach of EU rules that guarantee the freedom of establishment and the free movement of capital. The commission invited the Government to submit observations on the issues. The Minister's spokesman said yesterday that the response had gone to Europe last Friday, September 28th, but there would be no publication of the contents. The spokesman said letters of formal notice from the EU were frequently the start of proceedings, and as such the State's response was never revealed.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
About half of the State's local authorities now include "local needs" restrictions in their development plans. The move restricts planning permission and sometimes ownership of homes to those who can demonstrate a local need - either that they are working in the area or already live in the area in a home which is not their own. The restriction initially applied to one-off housing but has spread to whole housing estates. Last June the EU told the Government that the restriction may be in breach of EU rules that guarantee the freedom of establishment and the free movement of capital. The commission invited the Government to submit observations on the issues. The Minister's spokesman said yesterday that the response had gone to Europe last Friday, September 28th, but there would be no publication of the contents. The spokesman said letters of formal notice from the EU were frequently the start of proceedings, and as such the State's response was never revealed.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
David Byrne's new house in Schull
FORMER attorney general and EU Commissioner David Byrne performed a surprising volte face last month over his plans for a new house outside Schull, Co Cork, on an isolated site overlooking Long Island. Byrne returned to Ireland after his stint in Brussels as Health and Safety Commissioner and now lives in Blackrock. But, according to the planning application submitted for a new abode in Schull, the one-time barrister is planning to sell up and move south permanently. Byrne already owns a holiday home in Schull (recently granted permission for an extension) in a separate development of eight houses.
But the planned new house is located within the green belt of Schull, an environmentally sensitive area which is a ‘Candidate Special Area of Conservation', as well as a ‘Scenic Landscape Area'. Given that the area planner deemed that Byrne's application did not warrant any "special sitebased need" (eg that he hails from the area) a comprehensive refusal was recommended. This refusal was endorsed by the senior executive planner but, surprisingly, was countermanded by a Management Order. It is unclear on what grounds this decision was taken but An Taisce claimed in its appeal that the ruling was ultra vires. Last month Byrne withdrew his application.
The Phoenix
But the planned new house is located within the green belt of Schull, an environmentally sensitive area which is a ‘Candidate Special Area of Conservation', as well as a ‘Scenic Landscape Area'. Given that the area planner deemed that Byrne's application did not warrant any "special sitebased need" (eg that he hails from the area) a comprehensive refusal was recommended. This refusal was endorsed by the senior executive planner but, surprisingly, was countermanded by a Management Order. It is unclear on what grounds this decision was taken but An Taisce claimed in its appeal that the ruling was ultra vires. Last month Byrne withdrew his application.
The Phoenix
Bill aims for 3% annual cut in CO2
INDEPENDENT senators have stolen a march on the Green Party with the introduction of a comprehensive environmental bill that aims to enshrine climate change targets in law.
The provisions of the Climate Protection Bill, tabled by Senator Ivana Bacik, closely mirrors the commitments secured by the Greens before entering government with Fianna Fáil.
According to the bill, there should be a statutory goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 3% per year from 2010, as well as providing for long-term goals of reducing emissions by at least 60% in 2050.
About 20,000 people adjoined to Friends of the Earth and environment NGOs sent emails to the 60 elected senators yesterday urging them to support the bill. In advance of last night’s debate, the Greens and Ms Bacik agreed cross-party consensus on the bill should be sought ahead of a vote in December.
In his address to the Seanad, Environment Minister John Gormley said the bill should proceed on the basis of an all-party approach on climate change targets and objectives.
“Our efforts to achieve this national consensus would be undermined if we could not reach consensus among the parties in these Houses,” he said.
“I believe that all parties are genuine in their stated commitment to tackling climate change. If that is indeed the case, we should rise above adversarial politics and show united leadership to the Irish people.”
His party colleague Senator Deirdre de Burca said it was “extremely disappointing” a private members’ motion proposed by her party in 2005 seeking an all-party approach to dealing with the issue of climate change was voted down by both Labour and Fine Gael.
“I am calling on FG and Labour here today to get down off the fence and to stop playing political football with the deadly important issue of climate change,” she said.
“I invite them to join a new all-party commission on climate change that will agree the objectives and policy measures that will allow this country to meet the annual targets of 3% reductions in carbon dioxide emissions included in the current programme for government.”
Áine Kerr
The Examiner
The provisions of the Climate Protection Bill, tabled by Senator Ivana Bacik, closely mirrors the commitments secured by the Greens before entering government with Fianna Fáil.
According to the bill, there should be a statutory goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 3% per year from 2010, as well as providing for long-term goals of reducing emissions by at least 60% in 2050.
About 20,000 people adjoined to Friends of the Earth and environment NGOs sent emails to the 60 elected senators yesterday urging them to support the bill. In advance of last night’s debate, the Greens and Ms Bacik agreed cross-party consensus on the bill should be sought ahead of a vote in December.
In his address to the Seanad, Environment Minister John Gormley said the bill should proceed on the basis of an all-party approach on climate change targets and objectives.
“Our efforts to achieve this national consensus would be undermined if we could not reach consensus among the parties in these Houses,” he said.
“I believe that all parties are genuine in their stated commitment to tackling climate change. If that is indeed the case, we should rise above adversarial politics and show united leadership to the Irish people.”
His party colleague Senator Deirdre de Burca said it was “extremely disappointing” a private members’ motion proposed by her party in 2005 seeking an all-party approach to dealing with the issue of climate change was voted down by both Labour and Fine Gael.
“I am calling on FG and Labour here today to get down off the fence and to stop playing political football with the deadly important issue of climate change,” she said.
“I invite them to join a new all-party commission on climate change that will agree the objectives and policy measures that will allow this country to meet the annual targets of 3% reductions in carbon dioxide emissions included in the current programme for government.”
Áine Kerr
The Examiner
Major traffic changes to make M50 even worse
TRAFFIC on the M50 motorway is going to get a lot worse before it gets better, the National Roads Authority (NRA) admitted yesterday.
Sweeping new traffic arrangements being put in place from tomorrow are likely to lead to further congestion on the northbound lanes of the motorway, and it will be at least November before things improve.
Outlining the major diversions yesterday, a spokesman for the contractors SIAC Ferrovial said that traffic impact was "unavoidable" and diversions being put in place would take a "significant" period of time to "settle down".
But there was some good news. The N4 interchange is likely to be finished ahead of time, meaning commuters travelling into the city centre from Lucan should see improvements early in the new year.
The major changes affect the N4 (Lucan), N7 (Red Cow) and Ballymount interchanges. Traffic diversions will be put in place from tomorrow so that major works can be completed and the €1bn upgrade finished by its 2010 deadline.
Between now and Christmas there will also be some night-time work on the M50 as sign gantries must be erected, and it is hoped to have sections of the completed motorway opened to traffic in its final layout early next year.
Until then, two lanes of traffic will be open in each direction between 6am and 10pm, but lane reductions may come into effect at night-time. Also from next month, a recovery service will be put in place for the duration of the works in the event of accidents or cars breaking down.
The main changes affect the interchanges as they are transformed into freeflow spaghetti junctions, which will allow motorists to enter and exit the M50 without having to stop at traffic lights. The diversions should be complete by the end of November.
From tomorrow, the main changes to the N7 / Red Cow are:
l The off-ramp from the M50 southbound to N7 outbound (to Naas) will be closed. Traffic will continue to the Ballymount interchange where it can u-turn back to the N7 using a dedicated freeflow lane. This will be in place for up to four weeks. In early November, the new link from the M50 southbound to N7 outbound will be substantially completed and opened and the u-turn at Ballymount will cease.
l In mid-October, a new freeflow loop road allowing traffic coming from Naas on the N7 to enter the M50 southbound will be opened.
The main changes to the N4 (Lucan) interchange are:
l Traffic from the city centre going onto the M50 northbound will no longer be diverted via the Liffey Valley junction as a new freeflow loop roads will be opened.
l Vehicles coming from the city centre, and entering the M50 southbound lane, will be diverted via the Liffey Valley junction before making a u-turn and heading back towards the city centre where they can use a slip road to gain access to the southbound M50.
Irish Independent
Sweeping new traffic arrangements being put in place from tomorrow are likely to lead to further congestion on the northbound lanes of the motorway, and it will be at least November before things improve.
Outlining the major diversions yesterday, a spokesman for the contractors SIAC Ferrovial said that traffic impact was "unavoidable" and diversions being put in place would take a "significant" period of time to "settle down".
But there was some good news. The N4 interchange is likely to be finished ahead of time, meaning commuters travelling into the city centre from Lucan should see improvements early in the new year.
The major changes affect the N4 (Lucan), N7 (Red Cow) and Ballymount interchanges. Traffic diversions will be put in place from tomorrow so that major works can be completed and the €1bn upgrade finished by its 2010 deadline.
Between now and Christmas there will also be some night-time work on the M50 as sign gantries must be erected, and it is hoped to have sections of the completed motorway opened to traffic in its final layout early next year.
Until then, two lanes of traffic will be open in each direction between 6am and 10pm, but lane reductions may come into effect at night-time. Also from next month, a recovery service will be put in place for the duration of the works in the event of accidents or cars breaking down.
The main changes affect the interchanges as they are transformed into freeflow spaghetti junctions, which will allow motorists to enter and exit the M50 without having to stop at traffic lights. The diversions should be complete by the end of November.
From tomorrow, the main changes to the N7 / Red Cow are:
l The off-ramp from the M50 southbound to N7 outbound (to Naas) will be closed. Traffic will continue to the Ballymount interchange where it can u-turn back to the N7 using a dedicated freeflow lane. This will be in place for up to four weeks. In early November, the new link from the M50 southbound to N7 outbound will be substantially completed and opened and the u-turn at Ballymount will cease.
l In mid-October, a new freeflow loop road allowing traffic coming from Naas on the N7 to enter the M50 southbound will be opened.
The main changes to the N4 (Lucan) interchange are:
l Traffic from the city centre going onto the M50 northbound will no longer be diverted via the Liffey Valley junction as a new freeflow loop roads will be opened.
l Vehicles coming from the city centre, and entering the M50 southbound lane, will be diverted via the Liffey Valley junction before making a u-turn and heading back towards the city centre where they can use a slip road to gain access to the southbound M50.
Irish Independent
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Motorists will be able to feed meter with credit cards
The new system is expected to be introduced by next April after the council sought a "cashless payment service provider" for its 950 meters in the capital.
Regular visitors may also be able to set up accounts with the council and pre-pay for parking. The new system will not replace the existing system, but will expand the range of payment options from coin-only to coins, notes or credit and debit cards.
The city council currently allow you to charge car parking to your mobile phone bill, and the new system will give drivers a range of payment options.
Yesterday Councillor Tom Brabazon (FF) welcomed the news, saying that motorists often had difficulty in getting change for meters.
He said the system would save the council in the long run by reducing the amount of coinage they have to collect.
Irish Independent
Regular visitors may also be able to set up accounts with the council and pre-pay for parking. The new system will not replace the existing system, but will expand the range of payment options from coin-only to coins, notes or credit and debit cards.
The city council currently allow you to charge car parking to your mobile phone bill, and the new system will give drivers a range of payment options.
Yesterday Councillor Tom Brabazon (FF) welcomed the news, saying that motorists often had difficulty in getting change for meters.
He said the system would save the council in the long run by reducing the amount of coinage they have to collect.
Irish Independent
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Rising refusals as construction economy falls
Recently there appears to have been a sharp tightening of planning permissions; this appears to have occurred at almost the precise time we began hearing of the slow down in the construction sector - whether there is a statistical correlation with the economy I don't know - what I do know is that suddenly a raft of refusals have been issued. Are we planners influenced by economic stories and by the media? While we have created a planning apparatus which provides for a fair assessment of all planning applications, it suddenly appears as though what was acceptable a year or more ago, is no longer. Anyone else notice this?
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Luas Line from Lucan to Dublin City Centre
The Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey T.D., has officially launched the public consultation process for the new Luas Line from Lucan to the City Centre.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Dempsey said - "People living in the Lucan area deserve a high-quality public transport service on their door-step. A Luas line will offer this. With an expected journey time of approximately 42 minutes from Lucan to the City Centre, this new line will provide a realistic alternative to private transport and it will improve the quality of life for commuters along one of the busiest routes into the city.
"I encourage the public to get involved in the consultation phase of this project, so that the Railway Procurement Agency can select the most appropriate route for the service."
Some 25 million extra passengers are expected to be added to the Luas network when the new line comes into operation.
Two main corridor options - with a number of local sub-options - have, so for, been identified for Luas Line F, which will be approximately 25km in length and is expected to come into service in 2013. Stops will be located at major interchanges, town-centres and other major locations, such as hospitals and colleges.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Dempsey said - "People living in the Lucan area deserve a high-quality public transport service on their door-step. A Luas line will offer this. With an expected journey time of approximately 42 minutes from Lucan to the City Centre, this new line will provide a realistic alternative to private transport and it will improve the quality of life for commuters along one of the busiest routes into the city.
"I encourage the public to get involved in the consultation phase of this project, so that the Railway Procurement Agency can select the most appropriate route for the service."
Some 25 million extra passengers are expected to be added to the Luas network when the new line comes into operation.
Two main corridor options - with a number of local sub-options - have, so for, been identified for Luas Line F, which will be approximately 25km in length and is expected to come into service in 2013. Stops will be located at major interchanges, town-centres and other major locations, such as hospitals and colleges.
Plans ready for €2bn Cork docklands development
Plans for the €2 billion development of Cork's docklands are to be lodged within weeks in one of the largest single applications in the history of the State.
The development will include two hotels, 600,000 square feet of office space and a 30-storey residential tower. It will also include an 'iconic building' - likely to house a restaurant run by a world-renowned chef such as Richard Corrigan or Gordon Ramsay. Provisions have also been made for a metro system.
Howard Holdings chief executive, Greg Coughlan said his firm has engaged London-based architecture firm, Foster and Partners - which is involved in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site in New York - to work on the project. Work is to begin at the end of next year.
Coughlan said the biggest objection to the development of the docklands was the relocation of the Port of Cork and the vacation of the two Seveso sites - the Topaz and Gouldings' sites in Centre Park Road.
The Port of Cork is demanding a €60-€65 million relocation package to leave the city centre quays, but Mr Coughlan said it needed to vacate quickly for the docklands project to move forward. He said that all parties involved needed to sit down together and work out a solution. He did not rule out Howard Holdings contributing to the relocation costs for the port.
Meanwhile, the council has made a submission to government seeking the designation of the docklands for targeted tax incentives in the December budget.
The incentives sought include tax breaks for relocating the Seveso sites, incentives for dealing with contaminated land, incentives for attracting foreign investment, the provision of public infrastructure by the private sector, grant aid for owner occupiers and tax breaks to provide premises for biopharma, IT, financial services and third and fourth level R&D interests.
The development will include two hotels, 600,000 square feet of office space and a 30-storey residential tower. It will also include an 'iconic building' - likely to house a restaurant run by a world-renowned chef such as Richard Corrigan or Gordon Ramsay. Provisions have also been made for a metro system.
Howard Holdings chief executive, Greg Coughlan said his firm has engaged London-based architecture firm, Foster and Partners - which is involved in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site in New York - to work on the project. Work is to begin at the end of next year.
Coughlan said the biggest objection to the development of the docklands was the relocation of the Port of Cork and the vacation of the two Seveso sites - the Topaz and Gouldings' sites in Centre Park Road.
The Port of Cork is demanding a €60-€65 million relocation package to leave the city centre quays, but Mr Coughlan said it needed to vacate quickly for the docklands project to move forward. He said that all parties involved needed to sit down together and work out a solution. He did not rule out Howard Holdings contributing to the relocation costs for the port.
Meanwhile, the council has made a submission to government seeking the designation of the docklands for targeted tax incentives in the December budget.
The incentives sought include tax breaks for relocating the Seveso sites, incentives for dealing with contaminated land, incentives for attracting foreign investment, the provision of public infrastructure by the private sector, grant aid for owner occupiers and tax breaks to provide premises for biopharma, IT, financial services and third and fourth level R&D interests.
'Nuclear power could be the sustainable solution to energy crisis' - Engineers Ireland Debate
A major seminar on nuclear energy in Dublin heard that, in attempting to combat climate change while securing our energy supply, Ireland needs to consider looking to nuclear energy as a potential solution.
Speaking before the seminar, Engineers Ireland Director General John Power said - "At our annual conference last year, the Taoiseach urged engineers to explore the options for Ireland's future energy supply. The Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan, echoed this earlier this year when he called for a debate on the possible role of nuclear energy in Ireland.
"Nuclear power is proposed internationally as a potential solution to the world's diminishing fossil fuels supply. As engineers, we have a responsibility to debate the various options and propose solutions to develop new energy sources, which may - or may not - include nuclear energy in the Irish case."
Speaking at the seminar, Richard Ivens (European Atomic Forum) argued that - "Meeting electricity demand and CO2 targets simultaneously, requires all low-carbon sources to be utilised - renewables, clean coal and nuclear."
Frank Turvey, former Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland Assistant Chief Executive, said that nuclear energy is better for the environment than fossil fuels and, furthermore, can provide a secure fuel supply.
"The Government's White Paper on Energy set targets for the generation of electricity using renewable energy to reach 33% of the total by 2020 and set the limit using gas in the generation of electricity to 50%. If the remaining 17% of electricity was generated by nuclear, instead of coal, 7 million tonnes per year of CO2 emissions could be avoided."
Countering this argument, GRIAN's Pat Finnegan claimed that nuclear technologies face a future of increasing cost - "It is possible to meet the world's future demand for energy services, while still phasing-out fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Ireland is well positioned to meet the challenge of securing our energy supply because we have one of the best wind resources in Europe."
The seminar was addressed by several Irish and international experts and aimed to objectively explore the potential of nuclear energy - taking into account the most recent international policy and technical developments in the area.
Speaking before the seminar, Engineers Ireland Director General John Power said - "At our annual conference last year, the Taoiseach urged engineers to explore the options for Ireland's future energy supply. The Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan, echoed this earlier this year when he called for a debate on the possible role of nuclear energy in Ireland.
"Nuclear power is proposed internationally as a potential solution to the world's diminishing fossil fuels supply. As engineers, we have a responsibility to debate the various options and propose solutions to develop new energy sources, which may - or may not - include nuclear energy in the Irish case."
Speaking at the seminar, Richard Ivens (European Atomic Forum) argued that - "Meeting electricity demand and CO2 targets simultaneously, requires all low-carbon sources to be utilised - renewables, clean coal and nuclear."
Frank Turvey, former Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland Assistant Chief Executive, said that nuclear energy is better for the environment than fossil fuels and, furthermore, can provide a secure fuel supply.
"The Government's White Paper on Energy set targets for the generation of electricity using renewable energy to reach 33% of the total by 2020 and set the limit using gas in the generation of electricity to 50%. If the remaining 17% of electricity was generated by nuclear, instead of coal, 7 million tonnes per year of CO2 emissions could be avoided."
Countering this argument, GRIAN's Pat Finnegan claimed that nuclear technologies face a future of increasing cost - "It is possible to meet the world's future demand for energy services, while still phasing-out fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Ireland is well positioned to meet the challenge of securing our energy supply because we have one of the best wind resources in Europe."
The seminar was addressed by several Irish and international experts and aimed to objectively explore the potential of nuclear energy - taking into account the most recent international policy and technical developments in the area.
DAA signs seven T2 contracts
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has signed seven major contracts to allow construction work to start immediately on T2, the new passenger terminal at Dublin Airport.
The seven contracts, which have a combined value of about €180m, were awarded following a major international tender process. The contracts cover areas such as concrete, steelwork, cladding and logistics. The DAA now plans to begin construction of T2 immediately.
The T2 project is a key element of the DAA's €2 billon Transforming Dublin Airport programme, which will improve, expand and modernise the passenger facilities at Dublin Airport.
"We were pleased with the level and quality of interest in this hugely important project and we are very happy that we have got the right skills at the best price" - said DAA Chief Executive Declan Collier. "We look forward to working in partnership with each of these seven contractors to deliver some of the key elements of T2" - he added.
The seven firms that signed T2 construction contracts are -
* Alandale Logistics - Logistics & General Builders
* Fitzpatrick - Apron Works
* Laing O'Rourke - Sub structure and superstructure concrete
* McAvoy Group - Accommodation
* Martifer/Mota-Engil/Coffey - Cladding
* SIAC - Enabling Works & Services
* Watson Steel Structures - Steelworks.
The seven contracts represent the first tranche of 17 separate construction packages that comprise the overall T2 project. The project - which includes a 75,000 sq m terminal building, a 24,000 sq m departures pier and a wide range of other airport campus upgrades - has been broken into 17 elements, each of which was tendered separately.
Declan Collier said that this multi-package approach would allow T2 to be delivered on time and on budget. "We - and our construction partners - are focused on delivering T2 within a tight timeframe and this process allows us to move at the required speed to have the project completed on target and T2 operational in April 2010."
The new terminal will cost €395 million, while the overall T2 project has a price tag of €609 million. A consortium comprising Arup, Pascall+Watson Architects and Mace is responsible for the design and the project management of T2.
The seven contracts, which have a combined value of about €180m, were awarded following a major international tender process. The contracts cover areas such as concrete, steelwork, cladding and logistics. The DAA now plans to begin construction of T2 immediately.
The T2 project is a key element of the DAA's €2 billon Transforming Dublin Airport programme, which will improve, expand and modernise the passenger facilities at Dublin Airport.
"We were pleased with the level and quality of interest in this hugely important project and we are very happy that we have got the right skills at the best price" - said DAA Chief Executive Declan Collier. "We look forward to working in partnership with each of these seven contractors to deliver some of the key elements of T2" - he added.
The seven firms that signed T2 construction contracts are -
* Alandale Logistics - Logistics & General Builders
* Fitzpatrick - Apron Works
* Laing O'Rourke - Sub structure and superstructure concrete
* McAvoy Group - Accommodation
* Martifer/Mota-Engil/Coffey - Cladding
* SIAC - Enabling Works & Services
* Watson Steel Structures - Steelworks.
The seven contracts represent the first tranche of 17 separate construction packages that comprise the overall T2 project. The project - which includes a 75,000 sq m terminal building, a 24,000 sq m departures pier and a wide range of other airport campus upgrades - has been broken into 17 elements, each of which was tendered separately.
Declan Collier said that this multi-package approach would allow T2 to be delivered on time and on budget. "We - and our construction partners - are focused on delivering T2 within a tight timeframe and this process allows us to move at the required speed to have the project completed on target and T2 operational in April 2010."
The new terminal will cost €395 million, while the overall T2 project has a price tag of €609 million. A consortium comprising Arup, Pascall+Watson Architects and Mace is responsible for the design and the project management of T2.
A Vision for Dublin Bay
A report on Dublin Bay was commissioned by Dublin City Council from a team of consultants led by CDM (Ireland) Ltd., as the first stage in the preparation of a strategic framework plan for Dublin Bay.
The report - 'Report on Dublin Bay - An Integrated Economic, Cultural and Social Vision for Sustainable Development' - has been presented to the members of Dublin City Council and will be on public display for the period from Monday, 1st October 2007 to Friday, 30th November 2007, inclusive, at the following locations during normal office hours -
* Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8
* Central Library, Ilac Centre, Henry Street, Dublin 1
* Raheny Library, Howth Road, Raheny, Dublin 5
* Pearse Street Library, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
The report states that although Dublin Port currently plays a 'vital role' in the development of the city, there is, however, a 'growing realisation' that the port lands are 'strategically important' and offer a greater potential for residential and employment-generating business opportunities.
According to the report - 'Dublin is constrained by its capacity to grow and to generate new employment by a lack of space. The status quo - with the port remaining on site - means there is no additional capacity for growth. Full relocation of the port and development of the vacated site for a mixed use of residential, public and employment space offers the best long-term impact for Dublin'.
The proposed option would be 'economically very beneficial' - allowing for the creation of a new 'city quarter' and providing homes for at least 55,000 people.
The report also also proposes the development of a 'tree-lined boulevard' from the Park Gates of the Phoenix Park, along the Liffey to the city centre.
A freshwater reservoir - which would be used to provide drinking water for the city - is also included as one of the proposals in the report.
Flooding problems in the city are also addressed and form perhaps the most radical element of the document. The report states that, unless preventative measures are taken, flooding of large tracts of the city is 'inevitable'. It considers several options, including the building of a 'tidal barrage structure' - a flood defence wall - between Dun Laoghaire and Howth - while, at the same time, using the water in Dublin Bay to generate power. The structure could be used as a road or rail link.
A second option would include the building of similar 'tidal barrage structures' between Howth and Bull Island and between the ends of the north and south Bull walls. This option would also see a 'South Bull Island' constructed offshore - to be used for recreation purposes. Tidal generators for electricity production could be included, as well as wind turbines.
Members of the public are invited to give their views and opinions and Comment Sheets are available at all the locations (above) where the report is available for viewing. The closing date for submissions is 4.30pm Friday, 30th November, 2007.
The report - 'Report on Dublin Bay - An Integrated Economic, Cultural and Social Vision for Sustainable Development' - has been presented to the members of Dublin City Council and will be on public display for the period from Monday, 1st October 2007 to Friday, 30th November 2007, inclusive, at the following locations during normal office hours -
* Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8
* Central Library, Ilac Centre, Henry Street, Dublin 1
* Raheny Library, Howth Road, Raheny, Dublin 5
* Pearse Street Library, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
The report states that although Dublin Port currently plays a 'vital role' in the development of the city, there is, however, a 'growing realisation' that the port lands are 'strategically important' and offer a greater potential for residential and employment-generating business opportunities.
According to the report - 'Dublin is constrained by its capacity to grow and to generate new employment by a lack of space. The status quo - with the port remaining on site - means there is no additional capacity for growth. Full relocation of the port and development of the vacated site for a mixed use of residential, public and employment space offers the best long-term impact for Dublin'.
The proposed option would be 'economically very beneficial' - allowing for the creation of a new 'city quarter' and providing homes for at least 55,000 people.
The report also also proposes the development of a 'tree-lined boulevard' from the Park Gates of the Phoenix Park, along the Liffey to the city centre.
A freshwater reservoir - which would be used to provide drinking water for the city - is also included as one of the proposals in the report.
Flooding problems in the city are also addressed and form perhaps the most radical element of the document. The report states that, unless preventative measures are taken, flooding of large tracts of the city is 'inevitable'. It considers several options, including the building of a 'tidal barrage structure' - a flood defence wall - between Dun Laoghaire and Howth - while, at the same time, using the water in Dublin Bay to generate power. The structure could be used as a road or rail link.
A second option would include the building of similar 'tidal barrage structures' between Howth and Bull Island and between the ends of the north and south Bull walls. This option would also see a 'South Bull Island' constructed offshore - to be used for recreation purposes. Tidal generators for electricity production could be included, as well as wind turbines.
Members of the public are invited to give their views and opinions and Comment Sheets are available at all the locations (above) where the report is available for viewing. The closing date for submissions is 4.30pm Friday, 30th November, 2007.
Reconvening of the Renewable Energy Development Group
Mr Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has announced that he is reconvening the Renewable Energy Development Group.
This Group was originally established in May 2004, but has not met since early 2006.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Irish Wind Energy Association, Minister Ryan said - "Reconvening this group - under the aegis of my Department - will provide a cross-Government, pan-agency and industry response to renewable energy in Ireland.
"This new reconstituted Group will be central to reaching the target of 33% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. This is an ambitious target and we need all sides pulling together - especially, if Ireland is to be the centre of the 'green energy boom' I believe it can be.
"The Group will include representatives from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Sustainable Energy Ireland, CER, ESB, the ESRI, universities and industry representatives. I will be asking the Group to provide an action-based report within 6 months of its first meeting."
The Minister also announced that state aid approval for the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff Scheme (REFIT) has been received from the European Commission. "I welcome the eventual approval of state aid for this important Scheme. Delays in this area have been unacceptable. On the one hand, the European Union is setting impressive targets for renewable energy and, on the other hand, holding back national Governments working to achieve these targets.
"We cannot continue with these types of delays and I will be working with the Commission and my European colleagues to ensure that any future support can get much quicker clearance."
This Group was originally established in May 2004, but has not met since early 2006.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Irish Wind Energy Association, Minister Ryan said - "Reconvening this group - under the aegis of my Department - will provide a cross-Government, pan-agency and industry response to renewable energy in Ireland.
"This new reconstituted Group will be central to reaching the target of 33% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. This is an ambitious target and we need all sides pulling together - especially, if Ireland is to be the centre of the 'green energy boom' I believe it can be.
"The Group will include representatives from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Sustainable Energy Ireland, CER, ESB, the ESRI, universities and industry representatives. I will be asking the Group to provide an action-based report within 6 months of its first meeting."
The Minister also announced that state aid approval for the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff Scheme (REFIT) has been received from the European Commission. "I welcome the eventual approval of state aid for this important Scheme. Delays in this area have been unacceptable. On the one hand, the European Union is setting impressive targets for renewable energy and, on the other hand, holding back national Governments working to achieve these targets.
"We cannot continue with these types of delays and I will be working with the Commission and my European colleagues to ensure that any future support can get much quicker clearance."
Limerick expands housing programme
THE expansion of Limerick City Council’s social housing programme into previously private suburban estates is set to accelerate to facilitate the regeneration programme in Moyross and Southill.
This year the council has completed just five house purchases in city suburbs and has identified about 50 other suburban houses for purchase. But the Government-backed plan for the regeneration of socially
deprived areas of the city is set to trigger a huge shift in population from places like Moyross and Southill to city suburbs, according to the city council’s director of housing Kieran Lehane.
The plan drawn up by former Dublin City Manager John Fitzgerald for the regeneration of Moyross and Southill and will, according to Mr Lehane, necessitate the transfer of many existing council tenants to houses that will be bought by the council in private estates.
Talks are taking place with the Department of the Environment for the money that will be needed to affect this aspect of the Fitzgerald plan.
All necessary money is expected to be approved as the Fitzgerald plan has full government approval.
Mr Lehane said those who will be moved have proven themselves impeccable council tenants and will be a great addition to the new communities they move to.
He said that antisocial behaviour problems in the suburbs arise in many instances from people housed in rented property outside of the council scheme.
Already, a backlash is emerging to increased social housing in private estates inside the city boundary and in the suburbs that lie in the administrative area of Limerick County Council.
A Limerick auctioneer said yesterday councils that buy houses on the private market should consult with local residents about tenants they are moving into a community.
Geraldine Leddin of GL Auctioneers said there is a concern among residents’ associations in Limerick about the proliferation of council-owned houses in what were privately owned residential areas.
Ms Leddin said: “I think the city council should be more accountable. It is not good enough for the council to go out and buy houses on a broad basis. The council should tell residents what is going on and where the new council tenants are coming from.”
Cllr Patrick O’Donovan, a Fine Gael member of Limerick County Council, said councils would be better off sorting out their housing problems within their own administrative areas.
Mr O’Donovan said: “If there is a house waiting list in Limerick City Council’s administrative area, I can’t understand who they are going outside their own jurisdiction to solve it. I don’t think it is good practice to go into another local authority’s functional area.”
Irish Examiner
This year the council has completed just five house purchases in city suburbs and has identified about 50 other suburban houses for purchase. But the Government-backed plan for the regeneration of socially
deprived areas of the city is set to trigger a huge shift in population from places like Moyross and Southill to city suburbs, according to the city council’s director of housing Kieran Lehane.
The plan drawn up by former Dublin City Manager John Fitzgerald for the regeneration of Moyross and Southill and will, according to Mr Lehane, necessitate the transfer of many existing council tenants to houses that will be bought by the council in private estates.
Talks are taking place with the Department of the Environment for the money that will be needed to affect this aspect of the Fitzgerald plan.
All necessary money is expected to be approved as the Fitzgerald plan has full government approval.
Mr Lehane said those who will be moved have proven themselves impeccable council tenants and will be a great addition to the new communities they move to.
He said that antisocial behaviour problems in the suburbs arise in many instances from people housed in rented property outside of the council scheme.
Already, a backlash is emerging to increased social housing in private estates inside the city boundary and in the suburbs that lie in the administrative area of Limerick County Council.
A Limerick auctioneer said yesterday councils that buy houses on the private market should consult with local residents about tenants they are moving into a community.
Geraldine Leddin of GL Auctioneers said there is a concern among residents’ associations in Limerick about the proliferation of council-owned houses in what were privately owned residential areas.
Ms Leddin said: “I think the city council should be more accountable. It is not good enough for the council to go out and buy houses on a broad basis. The council should tell residents what is going on and where the new council tenants are coming from.”
Cllr Patrick O’Donovan, a Fine Gael member of Limerick County Council, said councils would be better off sorting out their housing problems within their own administrative areas.
Mr O’Donovan said: “If there is a house waiting list in Limerick City Council’s administrative area, I can’t understand who they are going outside their own jurisdiction to solve it. I don’t think it is good practice to go into another local authority’s functional area.”
Irish Examiner
Monday, 1 October 2007
U2 hotel 'elevation' hits hurdle
THE former chairman of An Taisce has vowed to fight in the courts radical plans to redevelop the U2-owned Clarence Hotel into a city landmark.
Michael Smith expressed outrage last night at what he calls the "illegal bastardisation" of the protected building, which is to be revamped by Lord Foster. And he said if An Bord Pleanala allowed the application to go through, he would take legal action to save the antique streetscape of the Quays.
Renowned architect Lord Foster has promised that when he revamps the U2's Clarence Hotel it will "define Dublin" in the same way the Savoy is synonymous with London.
In contrast to the existing Clarence -- which has 49 rooms -- the redeveloped hotel will have 140 rooms on eight floors.
It will be topped by a "skycatcher" glass dome and a Viking boat-shaped atrium running up to the roof.
Along with a spa, gym, swimming pool, creche, basement and music venue and a range of bars -- Foster also hopes to have Michelin-starred restaurant The River Cafe.
Although the outside facade of the protected buildings will be kept, the interior will be demolished to make way for contemporary fittings and fixtures. However, Mr Smith accused owners Bono and the Edge of being involved in the "biggest demolition of protected structures" in years.
demolished
"The Planning Act of 2000 meant that listed buildings can be demolished in exceptional circumstances," he told the Irish Independent.
"Upgrading a hotel from a four-and-a-half star to a five star does not fall into this category. We have to be careful about what we do to alter the balance of such an important streetscape. This is the biggest demolition of protected structures in years.
"I would hope that An Bord Pleanala would refuse this application, but if they don't I am prepared to litigate it myself and challenge it."
In a statement, developers Foster & Partners said "To make a standard hotel work and to be serviceable, significant surgery needs to be made to the existing fabric. The original concept is the same. The outside of Georgian buildings on Wellington Quay will remain intact.
"Inside, the rooms will be rebuilt to their exact current dimensions and all internal woodwork; panelling will be conserved and refurbished."
Foster & Partner have said that in order to turn the hotel into a rival of the greatest luxury hotels in the world the plans have to be drastic. "If we were to keep the building as it is we would have no scope to create the grandeur and interest that would be demanded."
Foster & Partners hopes the development will achieve the same status as Singapore's famous 120-year-old Raffles Hotel, which was declared a national monument in 1987.
Irish Independent
Michael Smith expressed outrage last night at what he calls the "illegal bastardisation" of the protected building, which is to be revamped by Lord Foster. And he said if An Bord Pleanala allowed the application to go through, he would take legal action to save the antique streetscape of the Quays.
Renowned architect Lord Foster has promised that when he revamps the U2's Clarence Hotel it will "define Dublin" in the same way the Savoy is synonymous with London.
In contrast to the existing Clarence -- which has 49 rooms -- the redeveloped hotel will have 140 rooms on eight floors.
It will be topped by a "skycatcher" glass dome and a Viking boat-shaped atrium running up to the roof.
Along with a spa, gym, swimming pool, creche, basement and music venue and a range of bars -- Foster also hopes to have Michelin-starred restaurant The River Cafe.
Although the outside facade of the protected buildings will be kept, the interior will be demolished to make way for contemporary fittings and fixtures. However, Mr Smith accused owners Bono and the Edge of being involved in the "biggest demolition of protected structures" in years.
demolished
"The Planning Act of 2000 meant that listed buildings can be demolished in exceptional circumstances," he told the Irish Independent.
"Upgrading a hotel from a four-and-a-half star to a five star does not fall into this category. We have to be careful about what we do to alter the balance of such an important streetscape. This is the biggest demolition of protected structures in years.
"I would hope that An Bord Pleanala would refuse this application, but if they don't I am prepared to litigate it myself and challenge it."
In a statement, developers Foster & Partners said "To make a standard hotel work and to be serviceable, significant surgery needs to be made to the existing fabric. The original concept is the same. The outside of Georgian buildings on Wellington Quay will remain intact.
"Inside, the rooms will be rebuilt to their exact current dimensions and all internal woodwork; panelling will be conserved and refurbished."
Foster & Partner have said that in order to turn the hotel into a rival of the greatest luxury hotels in the world the plans have to be drastic. "If we were to keep the building as it is we would have no scope to create the grandeur and interest that would be demanded."
Foster & Partners hopes the development will achieve the same status as Singapore's famous 120-year-old Raffles Hotel, which was declared a national monument in 1987.
Irish Independent
€500m makeover for crime-ridden housing estate
HALF a billion euro has been earmarked to radically transform one of Ireland's most notorious crime-ridden estates into a modern tourist hub with luxury housing.
St Mary's Park in the heart of Limerick city has suffered from a range of social problems in recent years and is the stronghold of both the Keane and Collopy criminal gangs.
Known locally as the Island Field, the estate fell outside the remit of the John Fitzgerald report which has targeted the regeneration in two socially deprived suburbs.
However, Limerick City Council has ambitious plans for the area and recently contracted Erinaceous consultants to establish the feasibility of a massive facelift for the area.
Residents
All homes in the area received a questionnaire and 150 responses were returned from the residents.
Interested stake-holders including potential investors, community groups and local councillors, were consulted and planning experts based their draft proposals on the feedback they received.
At a public meeting Limerick architect, Hugh Murray presented illustrations and photographs of other waterfront regeneration projects to the local community.
It was proposed that the two kilometre riverfront around the estate (which is surrounded by water on three sides) will encompass a 90 acre urban quarter including residential and affordable housing along with shopping districts and sports facilities.
It is hoped to utilise land under conservation and put in 2,500 housing units in high rise buildings along with associated amenities.
However, the planning process will be a difficult one.
Local councillor, John Gilligan said all ideas were fine but the anti-social behaviour in the estate would initially have to be tackled before any future plans could be made.
"That's all well and good, but you have to tackle the more serious problems first. What's the point in building a lovely bungalow when crime continues in the area? I've never seen a bungalow shoot someone," said Mr Gilligan.
Mr Gilligan said there was an estimated 2,000 people living in the Island Field.
"This place was built in 1935 and the population is elderly, but 70pc said they want to come back here if the place is redeveloped. What chance do these people have of getting a mortgage? Where do people go in the meantime if there house is demolished".
Planners and architects will not begin the design process until an extensive consultation process has taken place.
Cost
The estimated cost of redeveloping St Mary's Park to its full potential with a tourist and residential hub is more than €500m.
Director of Service at Limerick City Council, Kieran Lehane moved to dispel families' fears for the future of their homes saying that each household will be looked at on a case by case basis.
However, one of the biggest obstacles facing planners is the estate's criminal gangs who bought up to 30 houses in the area and leased them back to locals.
Irish Independent
St Mary's Park in the heart of Limerick city has suffered from a range of social problems in recent years and is the stronghold of both the Keane and Collopy criminal gangs.
Known locally as the Island Field, the estate fell outside the remit of the John Fitzgerald report which has targeted the regeneration in two socially deprived suburbs.
However, Limerick City Council has ambitious plans for the area and recently contracted Erinaceous consultants to establish the feasibility of a massive facelift for the area.
Residents
All homes in the area received a questionnaire and 150 responses were returned from the residents.
Interested stake-holders including potential investors, community groups and local councillors, were consulted and planning experts based their draft proposals on the feedback they received.
At a public meeting Limerick architect, Hugh Murray presented illustrations and photographs of other waterfront regeneration projects to the local community.
It was proposed that the two kilometre riverfront around the estate (which is surrounded by water on three sides) will encompass a 90 acre urban quarter including residential and affordable housing along with shopping districts and sports facilities.
It is hoped to utilise land under conservation and put in 2,500 housing units in high rise buildings along with associated amenities.
However, the planning process will be a difficult one.
Local councillor, John Gilligan said all ideas were fine but the anti-social behaviour in the estate would initially have to be tackled before any future plans could be made.
"That's all well and good, but you have to tackle the more serious problems first. What's the point in building a lovely bungalow when crime continues in the area? I've never seen a bungalow shoot someone," said Mr Gilligan.
Mr Gilligan said there was an estimated 2,000 people living in the Island Field.
"This place was built in 1935 and the population is elderly, but 70pc said they want to come back here if the place is redeveloped. What chance do these people have of getting a mortgage? Where do people go in the meantime if there house is demolished".
Planners and architects will not begin the design process until an extensive consultation process has taken place.
Cost
The estimated cost of redeveloping St Mary's Park to its full potential with a tourist and residential hub is more than €500m.
Director of Service at Limerick City Council, Kieran Lehane moved to dispel families' fears for the future of their homes saying that each household will be looked at on a case by case basis.
However, one of the biggest obstacles facing planners is the estate's criminal gangs who bought up to 30 houses in the area and leased them back to locals.
Irish Independent
U2 hotel pool plan may not wash with council
U2's plan to revamp the Clarence Hotel was saved in the nick of time, when Bono responded to a list of tricky queries from planning officials on the final day of deadline.
The rock supergroup had applied to Dublin City Council to carry out a €150m development of the Clarence, their landmark property in the heart of the capital. But the council's planning department said they had to answer a list of 18 key questions before a deadline date of September 26. They submitted their answers that morning.
U2's biggest challenge was to justify why they should be allowed to demolish four neighbouring listed buildings as part of their idea of making the Clarence, "the most spectacular hotel in Europe", erecting a skycatcher atrium resembling a spaceship on the top which would be visible from all over the city.
Under Section 57 of the Planning and Development Act, authorities will not grant permission for the demolition of a protected structure, save in exceptional circumstances and such a move requires the strongest justification for doing so.
It was a challenge they failed, according to former head of An Taisce, Michael Smith.
Mr Smith said: "Protected structures can only be demolished in really exceptional cases. But in U2's response, they give reasons such as how their type of clientele will want the use of a huge swimming pool and they need to knock buildings to get the pool in. I can't see how that is a justifiable reason.
"If the council grants permission, I believe it will be illegal and I will go all the way to the High Court myself to stop it."
Sources say Bono and The Edge -- who own the hotel along with their property partner Paddy McKillen -- have little hope that their plans will go ahead. According to one: "Bono says he wants to change the mediocrity of Dublin. He says he hardly goes in to the Clarence anymore, because it is has so far made such losses that he finds it too depressing.
"But he knows that the issue with demolishing a protected building will not go away and even if the council grant permission, An Bord Pleanala will reject it at appeal."
Bono wants to transform the 44-bedroom boutique hotel into a nine-storey, 141-bedroom five-star hotel and spa complete with signature restaurant, bar and fresh food market, encompassing the former Dollard printing works and four other Georgian buildings on Wellington Quay.
Objectors to the plan include An Taisce, the heritage trust and the Irish Georgian Society.
Bono and The Edge bought the hotel in 1992. Despite being the choice for international celebrities, it has incurred significant losses.
Irish Independent
The rock supergroup had applied to Dublin City Council to carry out a €150m development of the Clarence, their landmark property in the heart of the capital. But the council's planning department said they had to answer a list of 18 key questions before a deadline date of September 26. They submitted their answers that morning.
U2's biggest challenge was to justify why they should be allowed to demolish four neighbouring listed buildings as part of their idea of making the Clarence, "the most spectacular hotel in Europe", erecting a skycatcher atrium resembling a spaceship on the top which would be visible from all over the city.
Under Section 57 of the Planning and Development Act, authorities will not grant permission for the demolition of a protected structure, save in exceptional circumstances and such a move requires the strongest justification for doing so.
It was a challenge they failed, according to former head of An Taisce, Michael Smith.
Mr Smith said: "Protected structures can only be demolished in really exceptional cases. But in U2's response, they give reasons such as how their type of clientele will want the use of a huge swimming pool and they need to knock buildings to get the pool in. I can't see how that is a justifiable reason.
"If the council grants permission, I believe it will be illegal and I will go all the way to the High Court myself to stop it."
Sources say Bono and The Edge -- who own the hotel along with their property partner Paddy McKillen -- have little hope that their plans will go ahead. According to one: "Bono says he wants to change the mediocrity of Dublin. He says he hardly goes in to the Clarence anymore, because it is has so far made such losses that he finds it too depressing.
"But he knows that the issue with demolishing a protected building will not go away and even if the council grant permission, An Bord Pleanala will reject it at appeal."
Bono wants to transform the 44-bedroom boutique hotel into a nine-storey, 141-bedroom five-star hotel and spa complete with signature restaurant, bar and fresh food market, encompassing the former Dollard printing works and four other Georgian buildings on Wellington Quay.
Objectors to the plan include An Taisce, the heritage trust and the Irish Georgian Society.
Bono and The Edge bought the hotel in 1992. Despite being the choice for international celebrities, it has incurred significant losses.
Irish Independent
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