A €300m contract has been signed for the redevelopment of Greystones Harbour in Co. Wicklow.
The development will include a new marina, public square, apartment complex, restaurants and shops.
Wicklow County Council has said it will revitalise what is now a derelict harbour in the town.
Sispar Developments has been awarded the contract.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 30 December 2007
The future starts here
We are at last embracing alternative energies and sustainable building, but will it prove too little, too late, asks Michael Viney.
It was the UN's inspiration back in the bright Millennium days to make 2008 the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), thus providing us now with a focus for our common angst. Intended as an upbeat festival of the earth sciences, passing on "the exciting knowledge we possess about our planet", the IYPE will be just as likely to remind us of things we wish we didn't need to know. But better to change one light bulb, as they say, than curse the gathering CO2.
My usual slice of the environment has its own urgencies to do with climate change - loss of rare Irish plants and birds, species drifting out of sync with their food supply, invading alien insects, all that. But it is a couple of decades since my first column on global warming and another couple since reporting on the visions of enthusiasts for wind and solar power and biogas from cattle slurry. An ESB engineer sticks in my mind, laying lone siege to this newspaper for years with plans for using waste heat from Ringsend to warm half of central Dublin.
There have always been people who wanted society to learn from nature and to copy its vital recycling of waste and energy. Half a century ago, Seán MacBride was a saintly bore on the need to use wind and wave power to generate electricity. What a wry grimace might be drawn from his ghost by the "action plans" that now tumble over each other - all eminently sensible, principled, life-enhancing: just a few generations late.
Given the first-ever Minister for the Environment to actually want the job for the right reasons, and another Green in charge of energy and natural resources, some of the plans should actually happen. The worst-polluting cars purchased after July 1st will now face an annual road tax of €2,000. Even the essential carbon tax, proposed in 2002 (but abandoned in 2004 in sudden political panic) will again go down to the wire "in the coming months".
ALONG WITH THE reality of warmer, wetter deluges at home and assorted climate catastrophes abroad, the need for real changes in the national lifestyle is gaining acceptance: transport, construction, industry, farming, home energy, landscape - even business - are in for some measure of reform.
A little has already begun. The first Dublin buses are running on a modest biodiesel blend. The first biomass boilers are warming schools. The first 20 big State buildings are being converted from oil to wood pellets from State forests, thus saving more than 1,500 tonnes of CO2 a year, as well as something off the national import bill. The next computers in many offices will be eco-friendly laptops, rather than the ever-humming desktop hives.
Seminal to much of this is the Bioenergy Action Plan, hatched by a task force chaired by former minister for energy and natural resources, Noel Dempsey, before Eamon Ryan took over his office. A big part of the job was to see where all the biofuel is going to come from. Ireland is committed to giving it 5.75 per cent of the national fuel market by 2010 and 10 per cent by 2020.
JUST HOW MUCH land will be needed for even these modest goals? The way technology is now, liquid fuels are made only from annual arable crops. A lot of the tillage land that has recently been grassed over in the southeast can be ploughed up again, plus the set-aside bits and the fields that used to grow sugar beet. But rapeseed oil for biodiesel needs a one-in-four-year rotation, so the long-term target of 180,000 hectares for this crop alone turns into 720,000 hectares, or twice the entire present area of tillage.
That rotation would produce an extra million tonnes of cereal, an awful lot to market. Much of it, presumably, could be made into ethanol. But the EU's 10 per cent substitution target by 2020 would have such huge land implications that biofuel imports seem inevitable. Dempsey's team called on the EU for "sustainability" standards - worrying, one hopes, about Asian forests being cleared to grow palm-oil, or Mexican peasants losing their food crops of maize (not to mention transport halfway round the globe).
While rapeseed is turning much of Ireland yellow, what of the promised savannahs of miscanthus, the rustling thickets of super willow? Just as soon as their cellulose can be worked upon by enzymes at the right sort of capital cost, they will be "second-generation biofuels" for transport (even grass is in prospect, which could suit Ireland well). Until then, they are biomass crops, destined mainly as "co-firing" fuel grown around the three peat power stations. These burn a total of three million tonnes of peat a year - a finite resource - and every 30,000 hectares of biomass could replace 10 per cent of it. In the new, rather desperate, scenario, every little helps.
In an echo of MacBride, Ryan is happy to extol Ireland as "the Saudi Arabia of ocean and wind energy - and it's all free!" As power flows from the first seven giant turbines of Airtricity's Arklow Bank wind farm, 10km off the coast, his party will expect him to bring in price supports, and press for the project's full development - enough turbines to power 400,000 homes and save more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Airtricity, privately owned and with the former Bord na Móna chief, Eddie O'Connor, at the helm, is now the Ryanair of wind energy, already worth €1 billion and full of plans for a European "supergrid" of offshore windfarms.
Finding durable, cost-effective ways of using waves to drive turbines has taken an unconscionable time and large amounts of money, but there are now definite signs of native progress. It didn't take surfers to show us that the west coast has some of the best waves in Europe, but measuring their whereabouts, energy and reliability has needed some painstaking science.
In 2005, the Marine Institute and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) commissioned a wave atlas, plotting the contours of accessible energy around the coast at different times of year and its theoretical contribution to the grid. The figures came out at 75 per cent of the electricity we used in 2006.
This colossal resource has constraints: the cost-effectiveness of the technology; the amount of power that can be connected from western seaboard locations; finding ways to share the grid with intermittent wind power. Problems of storage and backup are already a bottleneck to present commitments to more than triple wind energy, with a further 6,000 megawatts in waiting. The "massive investment" Ryan says is needed to upgrade the grid could be €1 billion or more.
Meanwhile, the Marine Institute and SEI have been backing Irish entrepreneurs in developing large-scale ocean generators. Two scaled-down prototypes, created by Wavebob of Maynooth and Ocean Energy of Cork, have survived winter waves at the institute's test site in Galway Bay while successfully producing a respectable trickle of electricity. Now they will be built to full size and tested with even more rigour.
ONE WAY OF reducing energy demand is simply to save it. The coming year will see a new action plan to inspire the public sector, helped by all the suggestions that should have been in by November. Everyone from gardaí to pensions clerks to mandarins in their panelled eyries will aim to meet the special 33 per cent energy reduction target for the public service "in order to demonstrate its leadership and exemplar role".
"Training in green procurement" will vet the tenders for €10 billion worth of products and services: value for money will mean energy efficiency and high environmental standards, from draught-proof swing doors to recycled memo-pads. From next July, all new public service buildings will have their energy assessed and certified: it seems unlikely, for example, that the Office of Public Works will lease any more space in new buildings that burn oil, need air-conditioning or have the lights on all day.
"Modal shift" are words we may have to get used to in 2008, when the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan is unveiled by Minister for Social and Family Affairs Martin Cullen.
"Demand side management," asserts the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, "includes soft support measures for influencing modal shift and behavioural change . . . " Gibberish like this (to do with our choice of transport, apparently) has not appeared, mercifully, in the Power of One, the campaign to convince each of us to change the way we live.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
It was the UN's inspiration back in the bright Millennium days to make 2008 the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), thus providing us now with a focus for our common angst. Intended as an upbeat festival of the earth sciences, passing on "the exciting knowledge we possess about our planet", the IYPE will be just as likely to remind us of things we wish we didn't need to know. But better to change one light bulb, as they say, than curse the gathering CO2.
My usual slice of the environment has its own urgencies to do with climate change - loss of rare Irish plants and birds, species drifting out of sync with their food supply, invading alien insects, all that. But it is a couple of decades since my first column on global warming and another couple since reporting on the visions of enthusiasts for wind and solar power and biogas from cattle slurry. An ESB engineer sticks in my mind, laying lone siege to this newspaper for years with plans for using waste heat from Ringsend to warm half of central Dublin.
There have always been people who wanted society to learn from nature and to copy its vital recycling of waste and energy. Half a century ago, Seán MacBride was a saintly bore on the need to use wind and wave power to generate electricity. What a wry grimace might be drawn from his ghost by the "action plans" that now tumble over each other - all eminently sensible, principled, life-enhancing: just a few generations late.
Given the first-ever Minister for the Environment to actually want the job for the right reasons, and another Green in charge of energy and natural resources, some of the plans should actually happen. The worst-polluting cars purchased after July 1st will now face an annual road tax of €2,000. Even the essential carbon tax, proposed in 2002 (but abandoned in 2004 in sudden political panic) will again go down to the wire "in the coming months".
ALONG WITH THE reality of warmer, wetter deluges at home and assorted climate catastrophes abroad, the need for real changes in the national lifestyle is gaining acceptance: transport, construction, industry, farming, home energy, landscape - even business - are in for some measure of reform.
A little has already begun. The first Dublin buses are running on a modest biodiesel blend. The first biomass boilers are warming schools. The first 20 big State buildings are being converted from oil to wood pellets from State forests, thus saving more than 1,500 tonnes of CO2 a year, as well as something off the national import bill. The next computers in many offices will be eco-friendly laptops, rather than the ever-humming desktop hives.
Seminal to much of this is the Bioenergy Action Plan, hatched by a task force chaired by former minister for energy and natural resources, Noel Dempsey, before Eamon Ryan took over his office. A big part of the job was to see where all the biofuel is going to come from. Ireland is committed to giving it 5.75 per cent of the national fuel market by 2010 and 10 per cent by 2020.
JUST HOW MUCH land will be needed for even these modest goals? The way technology is now, liquid fuels are made only from annual arable crops. A lot of the tillage land that has recently been grassed over in the southeast can be ploughed up again, plus the set-aside bits and the fields that used to grow sugar beet. But rapeseed oil for biodiesel needs a one-in-four-year rotation, so the long-term target of 180,000 hectares for this crop alone turns into 720,000 hectares, or twice the entire present area of tillage.
That rotation would produce an extra million tonnes of cereal, an awful lot to market. Much of it, presumably, could be made into ethanol. But the EU's 10 per cent substitution target by 2020 would have such huge land implications that biofuel imports seem inevitable. Dempsey's team called on the EU for "sustainability" standards - worrying, one hopes, about Asian forests being cleared to grow palm-oil, or Mexican peasants losing their food crops of maize (not to mention transport halfway round the globe).
While rapeseed is turning much of Ireland yellow, what of the promised savannahs of miscanthus, the rustling thickets of super willow? Just as soon as their cellulose can be worked upon by enzymes at the right sort of capital cost, they will be "second-generation biofuels" for transport (even grass is in prospect, which could suit Ireland well). Until then, they are biomass crops, destined mainly as "co-firing" fuel grown around the three peat power stations. These burn a total of three million tonnes of peat a year - a finite resource - and every 30,000 hectares of biomass could replace 10 per cent of it. In the new, rather desperate, scenario, every little helps.
In an echo of MacBride, Ryan is happy to extol Ireland as "the Saudi Arabia of ocean and wind energy - and it's all free!" As power flows from the first seven giant turbines of Airtricity's Arklow Bank wind farm, 10km off the coast, his party will expect him to bring in price supports, and press for the project's full development - enough turbines to power 400,000 homes and save more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Airtricity, privately owned and with the former Bord na Móna chief, Eddie O'Connor, at the helm, is now the Ryanair of wind energy, already worth €1 billion and full of plans for a European "supergrid" of offshore windfarms.
Finding durable, cost-effective ways of using waves to drive turbines has taken an unconscionable time and large amounts of money, but there are now definite signs of native progress. It didn't take surfers to show us that the west coast has some of the best waves in Europe, but measuring their whereabouts, energy and reliability has needed some painstaking science.
In 2005, the Marine Institute and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) commissioned a wave atlas, plotting the contours of accessible energy around the coast at different times of year and its theoretical contribution to the grid. The figures came out at 75 per cent of the electricity we used in 2006.
This colossal resource has constraints: the cost-effectiveness of the technology; the amount of power that can be connected from western seaboard locations; finding ways to share the grid with intermittent wind power. Problems of storage and backup are already a bottleneck to present commitments to more than triple wind energy, with a further 6,000 megawatts in waiting. The "massive investment" Ryan says is needed to upgrade the grid could be €1 billion or more.
Meanwhile, the Marine Institute and SEI have been backing Irish entrepreneurs in developing large-scale ocean generators. Two scaled-down prototypes, created by Wavebob of Maynooth and Ocean Energy of Cork, have survived winter waves at the institute's test site in Galway Bay while successfully producing a respectable trickle of electricity. Now they will be built to full size and tested with even more rigour.
ONE WAY OF reducing energy demand is simply to save it. The coming year will see a new action plan to inspire the public sector, helped by all the suggestions that should have been in by November. Everyone from gardaí to pensions clerks to mandarins in their panelled eyries will aim to meet the special 33 per cent energy reduction target for the public service "in order to demonstrate its leadership and exemplar role".
"Training in green procurement" will vet the tenders for €10 billion worth of products and services: value for money will mean energy efficiency and high environmental standards, from draught-proof swing doors to recycled memo-pads. From next July, all new public service buildings will have their energy assessed and certified: it seems unlikely, for example, that the Office of Public Works will lease any more space in new buildings that burn oil, need air-conditioning or have the lights on all day.
"Modal shift" are words we may have to get used to in 2008, when the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan is unveiled by Minister for Social and Family Affairs Martin Cullen.
"Demand side management," asserts the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, "includes soft support measures for influencing modal shift and behavioural change . . . " Gibberish like this (to do with our choice of transport, apparently) has not appeared, mercifully, in the Power of One, the campaign to convince each of us to change the way we live.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Phoenix Park bicycle hire service put out to tender
The Office of Public Works has invited tenders for a bicycle hire service in the Phoenix Park, as part of plans to develop a network of "cycle-friendly" and "cycle-only" lanes within the 1,700-acre demesne.
The Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed urban park in Europe.
The tender, which was advertised on the Government's e-tendering website this week, follows a pilot project in the park last summer.
There are currently 24km of cycle routes in the Phoenix Park and, according to the OPW, and this is to be extended by about 18km over the coming year.
A spokesman said the intention was that bicycles could be hired for a minimum of two hours and a maximum of a half- day, but the OPW was prepared to be flexible in its approach.
"We were very pleased with a pilot project run by McQuaid's cycles last summer and we would like to encourage more families to take up cycling in a safe environment in the park," said a spokesman.
The OPW plan is in line with the Dublin Transportation Office strategy of encouraging people to walk or cycle. According to recent research carried out by the transport body, 52 per cent of people use their car as their most frequent mode of transport.
The research also found:
• 40 per cent of car owners don't consider any transport options other than the car;
• 27 per cent of respondents said the car was preferable for short journeys of a mile or less;
• Almost half of all car owners (47 per cent) take their car on these short journeys;
• 55 per cent of short journey car users said they were unlikely to consider walking instead, and
• Only 3 per cent of these short journey car users said they were very likely to consider walking for short journeys of a mile or less, instead of using the car.
However, under a recent traffic management plan for the Phoenix Park, restrictions to private car use are to be put in place.
A number of roads have already been made one way or turned into cul-de-sacs in a bid to reduce vehicle short-cutting.
The OPW is also currently in discussions with Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus about allowing the companies to divert some of their longer-distance services through the park, possibly at peak times.
Also under consideration is an OPW "own bus service", which would travel a circuitous route from Heuston Station through the park.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed urban park in Europe.
The tender, which was advertised on the Government's e-tendering website this week, follows a pilot project in the park last summer.
There are currently 24km of cycle routes in the Phoenix Park and, according to the OPW, and this is to be extended by about 18km over the coming year.
A spokesman said the intention was that bicycles could be hired for a minimum of two hours and a maximum of a half- day, but the OPW was prepared to be flexible in its approach.
"We were very pleased with a pilot project run by McQuaid's cycles last summer and we would like to encourage more families to take up cycling in a safe environment in the park," said a spokesman.
The OPW plan is in line with the Dublin Transportation Office strategy of encouraging people to walk or cycle. According to recent research carried out by the transport body, 52 per cent of people use their car as their most frequent mode of transport.
The research also found:
• 40 per cent of car owners don't consider any transport options other than the car;
• 27 per cent of respondents said the car was preferable for short journeys of a mile or less;
• Almost half of all car owners (47 per cent) take their car on these short journeys;
• 55 per cent of short journey car users said they were unlikely to consider walking instead, and
• Only 3 per cent of these short journey car users said they were very likely to consider walking for short journeys of a mile or less, instead of using the car.
However, under a recent traffic management plan for the Phoenix Park, restrictions to private car use are to be put in place.
A number of roads have already been made one way or turned into cul-de-sacs in a bid to reduce vehicle short-cutting.
The OPW is also currently in discussions with Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus about allowing the companies to divert some of their longer-distance services through the park, possibly at peak times.
Also under consideration is an OPW "own bus service", which would travel a circuitous route from Heuston Station through the park.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
State to spend millions on land sold for 12
THE state is to spend tens of millions of euro reacquiring land for the planned DublinNavan rail line previously sold off by CIE to adjoining landowners for sums as low as IR£10 or less.
The alignment of the route is still intact, has only one public level crossing and is largely free of development.
However, it is no longer owned by CIE as the line from Clonsilla in west Dublin to Navan was sold off in its entirety in the late 1960s.
The old Navan rail line was closed completely in 1963. A subsequent decision to sell the land was made because, at a time of severe cutbacks in the rail network, there would have been ongoing costs of maintaining the land along the abandoned line, including fencing and drainage.
Given the narrow strips of land on offer, the only people interested in acquiring it at the time were adjacent landowners, primarily farmers.
This de facto buyers' market resulted in rock-bottom prices being charged for it . . . in some cases believed to be less than IR£10 ( 12.70).
That land must now be bought back as part of the project to re-instate the Navan rail line.
Presuming a positive outcome in Iarnrod Eireann's application for a Railway Order (the equivalent of planning permission for rail schemes), construction of the first phase of the Navan rail line . . . from Clonsilla to Dunboyne to the M3 interchange at Pace, north of Dunboyne . . . is likely to begin late next year and be completed in early 2010.
Around 40% of the project costs on Clonsilla-Dunboyne (M3) will be taken up by property acquisition, although not all of this relates to the land sold off 40 years ago.
The bill from this acquisition will run to tens of millions of euro and is provided for in the government's Transport 21 plan.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The alignment of the route is still intact, has only one public level crossing and is largely free of development.
However, it is no longer owned by CIE as the line from Clonsilla in west Dublin to Navan was sold off in its entirety in the late 1960s.
The old Navan rail line was closed completely in 1963. A subsequent decision to sell the land was made because, at a time of severe cutbacks in the rail network, there would have been ongoing costs of maintaining the land along the abandoned line, including fencing and drainage.
Given the narrow strips of land on offer, the only people interested in acquiring it at the time were adjacent landowners, primarily farmers.
This de facto buyers' market resulted in rock-bottom prices being charged for it . . . in some cases believed to be less than IR£10 ( 12.70).
That land must now be bought back as part of the project to re-instate the Navan rail line.
Presuming a positive outcome in Iarnrod Eireann's application for a Railway Order (the equivalent of planning permission for rail schemes), construction of the first phase of the Navan rail line . . . from Clonsilla to Dunboyne to the M3 interchange at Pace, north of Dunboyne . . . is likely to begin late next year and be completed in early 2010.
Around 40% of the project costs on Clonsilla-Dunboyne (M3) will be taken up by property acquisition, although not all of this relates to the land sold off 40 years ago.
The bill from this acquisition will run to tens of millions of euro and is provided for in the government's Transport 21 plan.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Don't put your faith in the evils of global warming
When it comes to truly yawn-inducing headlines, "Pope Condemns Gay Marriage" is right up there with "Dog Bites Man", "Gavin Lambe Murphy Yaps About Drugs" and "Sinead O'Connor Pregnant Again". But even Pope Benedict has outdone himself with his latest message, issued for New Year, in which he describes same-sex unions as no less than a threat to world peace.
It's a convoluted argument, which involves accepting the nuclear family as the "primary agency for peace" in the world, an intellectual manouevre which does make one wonder if these people ever had to spend Christmas with their own families. Primary agencies of peace indeed.
Quite the opposite, most might say at this time of year.
It's a shame Pope Benedict had to overegg the pudding in this way, because, as former members of the Hitler Youth go, Joseph Alois Ratzinger hasn't turned out to be such a bad old Pontiff. So asking us to accept that gay marriage leads directly to global discord can only undermine other sensible elements of his message, such as his timely warning that those who campaign about global warming are often "scaremongers".
Look who's talking.
Ireland's newest Cardinal, Archbishop Sean Brady, obviously wasn't listening to that part of the Pontiff's message anyway. In his own seasonal message, he was predictably calling on us all to "alter our behaviour to the environment as a matter of urgency". And I say predictably because the evils of global warming and mankind's part in it are now so widely taken as articles of faith by many otherwise intelligent people that they make your average member of the Legion of Mary look like a nit-picking sceptic by comparison.
Sean Brady wasn't alone in his green evangelising either. The Archbishop of Canterbury recently went to the Indonesian climate change conference to call for a new "moral vision" to deal with the issue. He and other archbishops in Sweden and Germany also jointly signed a letter warning that "the conditions for life on Earth are not secure" and that urgent action was needed to bring down the world's temperature.
That the Church would leap on to the environmental bandwagon was probably inevitable. Apocalypse was always their business. The green credo also encompasses many of the themes which they hold most dear: the
notion that mankind is sinful and must be punished for it, not least. Instead of being expelled from the Garden of Eden for eating from the Tree of Knowledge, the story now is that man is being expelled from the caring bosom of Mother Earth because he's used that knowledge to build too many cars and aeroplanes.
How ironic then that Brady's pious homily about the planet should have been delivered just as his boss was urging world leaders to base their global warming policies on science rather than the doom-laden prophecies of climate change fanatics (ironic as this plea to science undoubtedly is from the head of an organisation which still thinks the rhythm method is the best form of birth control), and just as the US Senate environment committee minority report was publishing the names of 400 prominent scientists who are sceptical about the alleged "consensus" on the issue.
Climatologists, oceanographers, metereologists, glaciologists, geologists: the numbers are growing fast of those who believe that global warming is either a cyclical and normal variation in the planet's state, or primarily caused not by human activity but other factors such as solar flares and radiation; or those who, while accepting that a problem exists, do not believe that cutting C02 emissions will make the slightest difference.
You have to feel sorry for the men in the dog collars. It's like the old joke about how American foreign policy was based on the desire, having been late for the first two World Wars, to be bang on time for the next one.
There's something of that flavour about the Church's attitude to science. Having turned their backs at the time on most of the scientific advances of the last couple of millennia (you know, evolution, the earth not being the centre of the universe, that sort of thing), it's almost as if they are now trying to overcompensate by falling hook, line and sinker for everything certain scientists tell them about global warming.
In the process, they're colluding in the shameful silencing and marginalisation of those who now speak out against the consensus on global warming, so if it turns out the sceptics were, like Copernicus, right all along, it will be history repeating itself.
It's a strange thing, though. Visions of the future were always evenly divided between shiny utopias and grim dystopias, but there was an underlying acceptance nonetheless, that mankind would keep on coming up with new and marvellous ways of interacting with the world. There'd be vitamin pills replacing three-course meals, and colonies on neighbouring planets and warp drives that allowed the Starship Enterprise to cross galaxies in the blink of an eye, and labour-saving (literally) Orgasmatrons in every household.
It was a reasonable assumption to make as well. In a few thousand years, man had gone from living in caves and eating raw meat to inventing computers and dialysis machines and telescopes that could see the far reaches of space. Why would the future not hold more of the same?
Thanks to the doom-mongering of environmentalists, however, we now seem unable to imagine the future as anything other than famine, disease, war, ecological disaster.
It's as if all our faith in human ingenuity has withered in the face of a few melting icebergs. Every problem mankind ever encountered, it found an answer for. That's why we live longer and better than any of the countless generations who came before us. But the green Cassandras have us all convinced that our descendants will be back in the caves munching on raw thigh bones before Al Gore can say, "I told you so."
If there's one wish for 2008, it should be that we all lighten up and have more optimism about mankind's continued ability to solve problems and make life better.
Capitalism and liberal democracy are highly unlikely to collapse under the threat from the climate, whatever the environmentalists predict, any more than they collapsed under the weight of their own contradictions, as the ecologists' Communist predecessors in the doom-mongering stakes predicted with equal passion and conviction.
We should always beware any group of ideologues who cry woe with such an oddly self-satisfied expression on their freedom-phobic, progress-hating faces. Honestly, you'd almost think they wanted it to happen just to be proved right. As if, eh?
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
It's a convoluted argument, which involves accepting the nuclear family as the "primary agency for peace" in the world, an intellectual manouevre which does make one wonder if these people ever had to spend Christmas with their own families. Primary agencies of peace indeed.
Quite the opposite, most might say at this time of year.
It's a shame Pope Benedict had to overegg the pudding in this way, because, as former members of the Hitler Youth go, Joseph Alois Ratzinger hasn't turned out to be such a bad old Pontiff. So asking us to accept that gay marriage leads directly to global discord can only undermine other sensible elements of his message, such as his timely warning that those who campaign about global warming are often "scaremongers".
Look who's talking.
Ireland's newest Cardinal, Archbishop Sean Brady, obviously wasn't listening to that part of the Pontiff's message anyway. In his own seasonal message, he was predictably calling on us all to "alter our behaviour to the environment as a matter of urgency". And I say predictably because the evils of global warming and mankind's part in it are now so widely taken as articles of faith by many otherwise intelligent people that they make your average member of the Legion of Mary look like a nit-picking sceptic by comparison.
Sean Brady wasn't alone in his green evangelising either. The Archbishop of Canterbury recently went to the Indonesian climate change conference to call for a new "moral vision" to deal with the issue. He and other archbishops in Sweden and Germany also jointly signed a letter warning that "the conditions for life on Earth are not secure" and that urgent action was needed to bring down the world's temperature.
That the Church would leap on to the environmental bandwagon was probably inevitable. Apocalypse was always their business. The green credo also encompasses many of the themes which they hold most dear: the
notion that mankind is sinful and must be punished for it, not least. Instead of being expelled from the Garden of Eden for eating from the Tree of Knowledge, the story now is that man is being expelled from the caring bosom of Mother Earth because he's used that knowledge to build too many cars and aeroplanes.
How ironic then that Brady's pious homily about the planet should have been delivered just as his boss was urging world leaders to base their global warming policies on science rather than the doom-laden prophecies of climate change fanatics (ironic as this plea to science undoubtedly is from the head of an organisation which still thinks the rhythm method is the best form of birth control), and just as the US Senate environment committee minority report was publishing the names of 400 prominent scientists who are sceptical about the alleged "consensus" on the issue.
Climatologists, oceanographers, metereologists, glaciologists, geologists: the numbers are growing fast of those who believe that global warming is either a cyclical and normal variation in the planet's state, or primarily caused not by human activity but other factors such as solar flares and radiation; or those who, while accepting that a problem exists, do not believe that cutting C02 emissions will make the slightest difference.
You have to feel sorry for the men in the dog collars. It's like the old joke about how American foreign policy was based on the desire, having been late for the first two World Wars, to be bang on time for the next one.
There's something of that flavour about the Church's attitude to science. Having turned their backs at the time on most of the scientific advances of the last couple of millennia (you know, evolution, the earth not being the centre of the universe, that sort of thing), it's almost as if they are now trying to overcompensate by falling hook, line and sinker for everything certain scientists tell them about global warming.
In the process, they're colluding in the shameful silencing and marginalisation of those who now speak out against the consensus on global warming, so if it turns out the sceptics were, like Copernicus, right all along, it will be history repeating itself.
It's a strange thing, though. Visions of the future were always evenly divided between shiny utopias and grim dystopias, but there was an underlying acceptance nonetheless, that mankind would keep on coming up with new and marvellous ways of interacting with the world. There'd be vitamin pills replacing three-course meals, and colonies on neighbouring planets and warp drives that allowed the Starship Enterprise to cross galaxies in the blink of an eye, and labour-saving (literally) Orgasmatrons in every household.
It was a reasonable assumption to make as well. In a few thousand years, man had gone from living in caves and eating raw meat to inventing computers and dialysis machines and telescopes that could see the far reaches of space. Why would the future not hold more of the same?
Thanks to the doom-mongering of environmentalists, however, we now seem unable to imagine the future as anything other than famine, disease, war, ecological disaster.
It's as if all our faith in human ingenuity has withered in the face of a few melting icebergs. Every problem mankind ever encountered, it found an answer for. That's why we live longer and better than any of the countless generations who came before us. But the green Cassandras have us all convinced that our descendants will be back in the caves munching on raw thigh bones before Al Gore can say, "I told you so."
If there's one wish for 2008, it should be that we all lighten up and have more optimism about mankind's continued ability to solve problems and make life better.
Capitalism and liberal democracy are highly unlikely to collapse under the threat from the climate, whatever the environmentalists predict, any more than they collapsed under the weight of their own contradictions, as the ecologists' Communist predecessors in the doom-mongering stakes predicted with equal passion and conviction.
We should always beware any group of ideologues who cry woe with such an oddly self-satisfied expression on their freedom-phobic, progress-hating faces. Honestly, you'd almost think they wanted it to happen just to be proved right. As if, eh?
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Traffic 'choke points' could cripple capital
The Automobile Association (AA) has identified eight key traffic choke points which have the potential to bring Dublin to a standstill in minutes.
The agency has pinpointed the sites following recent incidents, in one of which Dublin came to a standstill, with traffic delays clogging traffic back as far as Swords on the M1, after a truck overturned near the Point Depot near the East Link toll bridge.
The choke points they identified are:
l M50 motorway
l North and south quays
along the Liffey
l Pearse Street
l East Link toll bridge
l Port Tunnel
l Red Cow roundabout
l Swords Road
l Doyle's Corner in
Phibsborough
Tressan McCambridge of AA Roadwatch says that Dublin commuters are particularly vulnerable to road foul-ups because they are so car-dependent.
"The fact that we are so car-dependent and have a serious problem with over-capacity on our roads means that it's all down to luck when it comes to getting stuck in traffic jams. The current lack of public transport options also means that people have very little choice but to travel by car.
"And if a vehicle breaks down, it could take a half an hour to clear it, or it could take hours, and those delays will linger and have a knock on effect.
"Some days we can be lucky and other days the traffic situation can be disastrous."
This was clearly illustrated recently, when it took six hours to remove a truck that overturned near the Point Depot, resulting in a major traffic backlog in the Port Tunnel and on the M1. North Wall Quay and East Wall road were also badly hit as a result of the incident.
The accident provoked Fine Gael to call for an emergency traffic plan for the capital, while the party's transport spokesman, Fergus O'Dowd TD, has described the traffic situation in Dublin as balancing on a knife edge.
"The traffic in Dublin is appalling and we have an inadequate organisation to deal with it.
"The fact that one vehicle can bring the whole city to a halt is frankly unacceptable and it just highlights the lack of proper traffic management.
"I think it is something that you might expect to see in a third-world country," he said. "Obviously, the economy has grown over the past few years -- but the public transport system and infrastructure hasn't kept pace with the demand."
There has been 150 per cent growth in traffic since 1993, with an extra 300,000 cars present in Dublin in the past five years alone.
Meanwhile, the publication of the Dublin Transport Authority Bill is expected soon.
NIAMH HORAN
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The agency has pinpointed the sites following recent incidents, in one of which Dublin came to a standstill, with traffic delays clogging traffic back as far as Swords on the M1, after a truck overturned near the Point Depot near the East Link toll bridge.
The choke points they identified are:
l M50 motorway
l North and south quays
along the Liffey
l Pearse Street
l East Link toll bridge
l Port Tunnel
l Red Cow roundabout
l Swords Road
l Doyle's Corner in
Phibsborough
Tressan McCambridge of AA Roadwatch says that Dublin commuters are particularly vulnerable to road foul-ups because they are so car-dependent.
"The fact that we are so car-dependent and have a serious problem with over-capacity on our roads means that it's all down to luck when it comes to getting stuck in traffic jams. The current lack of public transport options also means that people have very little choice but to travel by car.
"And if a vehicle breaks down, it could take a half an hour to clear it, or it could take hours, and those delays will linger and have a knock on effect.
"Some days we can be lucky and other days the traffic situation can be disastrous."
This was clearly illustrated recently, when it took six hours to remove a truck that overturned near the Point Depot, resulting in a major traffic backlog in the Port Tunnel and on the M1. North Wall Quay and East Wall road were also badly hit as a result of the incident.
The accident provoked Fine Gael to call for an emergency traffic plan for the capital, while the party's transport spokesman, Fergus O'Dowd TD, has described the traffic situation in Dublin as balancing on a knife edge.
"The traffic in Dublin is appalling and we have an inadequate organisation to deal with it.
"The fact that one vehicle can bring the whole city to a halt is frankly unacceptable and it just highlights the lack of proper traffic management.
"I think it is something that you might expect to see in a third-world country," he said. "Obviously, the economy has grown over the past few years -- but the public transport system and infrastructure hasn't kept pace with the demand."
There has been 150 per cent growth in traffic since 1993, with an extra 300,000 cars present in Dublin in the past five years alone.
Meanwhile, the publication of the Dublin Transport Authority Bill is expected soon.
NIAMH HORAN
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Minister of State O'Keeffe outlines his plans for developing areas to Gateway and Hub Managers
Mr. Batt O'Keeffe, T.D., Minister of State Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas has welcomed the high-level of engagement and firm support he has received from the NSS Gateway and Hub City and County Managers, when he met them to outline his plans for his broadened portfolio on Developing Areas.
In outlining the aim of the Developing Areas brief, the Minister highlighted - "the need to better position Government at both central and local level to co-ordinate development in fast-growing strategic locations throughout the country" - and stressed that this is a priority commitment for the Taoiseach and the Government.
He also recognised the need to look beyond the simple provision of housing to consider a more holistic approach to the development of sustainable communities and delivery of both hard and soft infrastructure - such as water and waste water services, roads and public transport, schools and sports and community facilities.
To drive forward the Developing Areas agenda, the Minister is focusing initially on those areas within the nine Gateways and nine Hubs - designated under the National Spatial Strategy - which are experiencing huge growth and development pressure and where the timely provision of the necessary infrastructure and supporting services needs to be addressed.
It is planned to concentrate on discrete developing areas where, for example, there is development potential of more than 1,000 new housing units and the Minister is engaging with the Managers to quickly identify these areas.
The Minister emphasised the need for his Department to lead by example. "I've set up a dedicated Developing Areas Team, overseen by a top-level steering group within my Department, to drive this work programme. I want this Team - in close partnership with the planning authorities, agencies and other Departments - to identity and help to resolve critical blockages in the co-ordinated delivery of infrastructure and services, necessary to create vibrant, sustainable communities."
The Minister also noted the progress that is already being made in ensuring delivery of schools' infrastructure and schools' places in key developing areas for September 2008 and beyond. "Both Minister Gormley and myself have met recently with Minister Mary Hanafin to discuss how we can assist in this regard and officials in my Department have been engaging in intensive joint discussions between the Department of Education and local authorities to progress the priority school sites in key locations where pressures are most acute."
www.buckplanning.ie
In outlining the aim of the Developing Areas brief, the Minister highlighted - "the need to better position Government at both central and local level to co-ordinate development in fast-growing strategic locations throughout the country" - and stressed that this is a priority commitment for the Taoiseach and the Government.
He also recognised the need to look beyond the simple provision of housing to consider a more holistic approach to the development of sustainable communities and delivery of both hard and soft infrastructure - such as water and waste water services, roads and public transport, schools and sports and community facilities.
To drive forward the Developing Areas agenda, the Minister is focusing initially on those areas within the nine Gateways and nine Hubs - designated under the National Spatial Strategy - which are experiencing huge growth and development pressure and where the timely provision of the necessary infrastructure and supporting services needs to be addressed.
It is planned to concentrate on discrete developing areas where, for example, there is development potential of more than 1,000 new housing units and the Minister is engaging with the Managers to quickly identify these areas.
The Minister emphasised the need for his Department to lead by example. "I've set up a dedicated Developing Areas Team, overseen by a top-level steering group within my Department, to drive this work programme. I want this Team - in close partnership with the planning authorities, agencies and other Departments - to identity and help to resolve critical blockages in the co-ordinated delivery of infrastructure and services, necessary to create vibrant, sustainable communities."
The Minister also noted the progress that is already being made in ensuring delivery of schools' infrastructure and schools' places in key developing areas for September 2008 and beyond. "Both Minister Gormley and myself have met recently with Minister Mary Hanafin to discuss how we can assist in this regard and officials in my Department have been engaging in intensive joint discussions between the Department of Education and local authorities to progress the priority school sites in key locations where pressures are most acute."
www.buckplanning.ie
Minister Gormley launches the Irish Walled Towns Book
The Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, T.D. has launched the 'Irish Walled Towns Book'.
The extensively illustrated book aims to bring the history of Ireland's Walled Towns to life. It seeks to convey the stories and accounts of the main personalities involved in their development and evolution and explores the wider role of these fortified towns in Ireland's socio-economic history.
It provides a useful baseline to inform the future conservation, preservation, management and promotion of these iconic settlements for the benefit of current and future generations in Ireland and for all visitors to our island.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said - "Experience in conservation has shown that it is not enough to be concerned with work required to physically secure the remaining walls and structures. It is equally important to ensure that local people are fully involved in the conservation and management process. Therefore, the story of Walled Towns' works need to be communicated to a wide audience in a vibrant and interesting manner. The Walled Towns Book is a further example of the innovative approach taken by the members of the Network."
Pointing to the very significant tourist attraction which Walled Towns represent, the Minister said - "I understand that Fáilte Ireland will be launching this publication in New York and in Washington during the St Patrick's Day celebrations to promote tourism from the US to these locations."
The Heritage Council established the Irish Walled Towns Network in April 2005 to unite and co-ordinate the strategic efforts of local authorities involved in the management and conservation of historic walled towns in Ireland - both North and South. The network has grown to 20 members.
The book is the result of an eight-month consultative and information-gathering period - involving the Heritage Council and the Irish Walled Towns Network, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Local Authorities, the Royal Irish Academy, the National Library, Trinity College Dublin and NUI Maynooth.
www.buckplanning.ie
The extensively illustrated book aims to bring the history of Ireland's Walled Towns to life. It seeks to convey the stories and accounts of the main personalities involved in their development and evolution and explores the wider role of these fortified towns in Ireland's socio-economic history.
It provides a useful baseline to inform the future conservation, preservation, management and promotion of these iconic settlements for the benefit of current and future generations in Ireland and for all visitors to our island.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said - "Experience in conservation has shown that it is not enough to be concerned with work required to physically secure the remaining walls and structures. It is equally important to ensure that local people are fully involved in the conservation and management process. Therefore, the story of Walled Towns' works need to be communicated to a wide audience in a vibrant and interesting manner. The Walled Towns Book is a further example of the innovative approach taken by the members of the Network."
Pointing to the very significant tourist attraction which Walled Towns represent, the Minister said - "I understand that Fáilte Ireland will be launching this publication in New York and in Washington during the St Patrick's Day celebrations to promote tourism from the US to these locations."
The Heritage Council established the Irish Walled Towns Network in April 2005 to unite and co-ordinate the strategic efforts of local authorities involved in the management and conservation of historic walled towns in Ireland - both North and South. The network has grown to 20 members.
The book is the result of an eight-month consultative and information-gathering period - involving the Heritage Council and the Irish Walled Towns Network, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Local Authorities, the Royal Irish Academy, the National Library, Trinity College Dublin and NUI Maynooth.
www.buckplanning.ie
Oral hearing into Kerry gas plan
An oral hearing is to be held by An Bórd Pleanála into the country's first liquified natural gas terminal, planned for a site on the Shannon estuary in Co Kerry.
The hearing will be held in Tralee at the Brandon Hotel on January 21st-28th. The €500 million proposal for the regasification project involves 300 acres of land and a deepwater site between the villages of Tarbert and Ballylongford.
Earlier this year An Bórd Pleanála decided the project by Shannon LNG (a subsidiary of the US company Hess LNG) was "strategic infrastructure" under the terms of the new the new Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 , after an application by the company.
The decision meant the application has gone directly or been fast-tracked to An Bórd Pleanála, without having to go first to the local authority, Kerry County Council. It is the first such application in Kerry under the Act.
The proposal will also involve the Health and Safety Authority and it is subject to licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The project is a major one for the county and will require the significant upgrading of roads, fire service and water services in north Kerry. It will involve huge gas storage tanks, a new marine jetty and unloading equipment as well as warehousing and stores and water pump houses.
At full capacity up to 125 tankers a year would arrive with gas and this will require an exclusion zone around the jetty when the ships arrived. Up to 750 jobs will be created during the height of the construction phase.
The planning appeals board has received more than 50 submissions. These are from prescribed bodies such as An Taisce and the Department of the Environment, as well as from residents, marine bodies and interested groups.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The hearing will be held in Tralee at the Brandon Hotel on January 21st-28th. The €500 million proposal for the regasification project involves 300 acres of land and a deepwater site between the villages of Tarbert and Ballylongford.
Earlier this year An Bórd Pleanála decided the project by Shannon LNG (a subsidiary of the US company Hess LNG) was "strategic infrastructure" under the terms of the new the new Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 , after an application by the company.
The decision meant the application has gone directly or been fast-tracked to An Bórd Pleanála, without having to go first to the local authority, Kerry County Council. It is the first such application in Kerry under the Act.
The proposal will also involve the Health and Safety Authority and it is subject to licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The project is a major one for the county and will require the significant upgrading of roads, fire service and water services in north Kerry. It will involve huge gas storage tanks, a new marine jetty and unloading equipment as well as warehousing and stores and water pump houses.
At full capacity up to 125 tankers a year would arrive with gas and this will require an exclusion zone around the jetty when the ships arrived. Up to 750 jobs will be created during the height of the construction phase.
The planning appeals board has received more than 50 submissions. These are from prescribed bodies such as An Taisce and the Department of the Environment, as well as from residents, marine bodies and interested groups.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Judges appeal planning for house
A Supreme Court judge and his wife, also a judge, are among those appealing a Donegal County Council decision to grant permission to a priest for a new house.
An Bord Pleanála has received five objections to the decision to grant permission to Fr Philip Daly for a house on the "sea side" of the road at Lackagh, Portnoo. Fr Daly has been a curate in the area for the last seven years.
Among the appellants are Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman and his wife, Judge Yvonne Murphy of the Circuit Court, who have a holiday home on the upper side of the road. Four other appeals were received from local residents. They are all appealing on the grounds that proposed development will destroy scenic views as it will be located between the road and the sea.
The appeal from Martin Ryan Architects on behalf of Mr Justice Hardiman and Judge Murphy stated they wished Fr Daly would build on "their side of the road".
"Their objection is to development of the application site and not to the appellant, whom they would welcome on their side of the road," the appeal stated.
Another appeal from local residents said: "Whilst we would love to have Fr Daly live in the area, we do object to any building being allowed on the sea-side of the road as this would create a precedent for future development. . ."
Local councillor Enda Bonner wrote a letter of support in favour of Fr Daly. Mr Bonner argued that Fr Daly wanted to build a retirement home, adding that two issues that caused the last application to be refused were being addressed in the latest application.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
An Bord Pleanála has received five objections to the decision to grant permission to Fr Philip Daly for a house on the "sea side" of the road at Lackagh, Portnoo. Fr Daly has been a curate in the area for the last seven years.
Among the appellants are Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman and his wife, Judge Yvonne Murphy of the Circuit Court, who have a holiday home on the upper side of the road. Four other appeals were received from local residents. They are all appealing on the grounds that proposed development will destroy scenic views as it will be located between the road and the sea.
The appeal from Martin Ryan Architects on behalf of Mr Justice Hardiman and Judge Murphy stated they wished Fr Daly would build on "their side of the road".
"Their objection is to development of the application site and not to the appellant, whom they would welcome on their side of the road," the appeal stated.
Another appeal from local residents said: "Whilst we would love to have Fr Daly live in the area, we do object to any building being allowed on the sea-side of the road as this would create a precedent for future development. . ."
Local councillor Enda Bonner wrote a letter of support in favour of Fr Daly. Mr Bonner argued that Fr Daly wanted to build a retirement home, adding that two issues that caused the last application to be refused were being addressed in the latest application.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Plan for 500 homes close to Shankill submitted
A planning application for phase one of what amounts to a new town, near Shankill in south Co Dublin, has been lodged with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
The mixed-use application envisages more than 500 houses with a neighbourhood centre comprising retail, community and commercial uses on a 25-acre site beside Woodbrook Golf Club.
The application notes the proposed development, which borders the Dart line, is "the first phase in the development of the overall Woodbrook local area plan lands" which amount to 52 acres, and encompass the former juvenile detention centre at Shanganagh Castle.
The application was lodged by Aeval Ltd, a company associated with developer Joe O'Reilly of Castlethorn Developments.
According to the planning application, phase one will comprise three "character areas": a neighbourhood square, a central residential area and a housing area. The neighbourhood square is to include 70 residential units and 10,386 square metres of non-residential floor space, generally for commercial, retail, community and leisure use.
Buildings are to be arranged around a civic plaza and will rise from two to five storeys with a set-back penthouse on the sixth floor. Apartment blocks would front on to a "main street" with service and distributor roads routed around the neighbourhood square. The central residential area includes 374 apartments and duplexes in seven blocks up to six storeys high.
The housing area comprises 120 duplexes and houses laid out in an informal grid pattern and ranging up to four storeys. Parking for more than 400 cars is to be provided.
It is also proposed there would be a significant "green" element to the development with the use of a district heating system, powered by a wood pellet boiler system and rooftop solar panels.
The land was sold to Aeval last June by long-time local land-owner Sir Henry Sursock Cochrane. It is bounded to the west by the old Dublin Road and St James's Church, with Shanganagh Cemetery to the north, the golf club to the east and Croke Lodge and woodland to the south.
The planning application notes that works will require the "partial removal of trees and the existing boundary wall" along the old Dublin Road at the western boundary.
The Woodbrook development is one of two major developments proposed for the area, the second being the €2 billion Pizarro development planned for the former Bray Golf Club site, which straddles the Dublin and Wicklow border in Bray town.
With its local area plan covering Woodbrook, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said it was conscious the site was just north of Bray town and a suitable site for "a new residential community based around a transport interchange".
The transport interchange envisages a connection between the adjacent Dart line and a proposed Luas extension which is scheduled to serve Bray - via the Pizarro development - by 2016.
The site is also close to the M11 Shankill bypass and Shankill village. Earlier this year, a Bord Pleanála inspector recommended refusal of the Pizarro development citing, among other reasons, transport grounds.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The mixed-use application envisages more than 500 houses with a neighbourhood centre comprising retail, community and commercial uses on a 25-acre site beside Woodbrook Golf Club.
The application notes the proposed development, which borders the Dart line, is "the first phase in the development of the overall Woodbrook local area plan lands" which amount to 52 acres, and encompass the former juvenile detention centre at Shanganagh Castle.
The application was lodged by Aeval Ltd, a company associated with developer Joe O'Reilly of Castlethorn Developments.
According to the planning application, phase one will comprise three "character areas": a neighbourhood square, a central residential area and a housing area. The neighbourhood square is to include 70 residential units and 10,386 square metres of non-residential floor space, generally for commercial, retail, community and leisure use.
Buildings are to be arranged around a civic plaza and will rise from two to five storeys with a set-back penthouse on the sixth floor. Apartment blocks would front on to a "main street" with service and distributor roads routed around the neighbourhood square. The central residential area includes 374 apartments and duplexes in seven blocks up to six storeys high.
The housing area comprises 120 duplexes and houses laid out in an informal grid pattern and ranging up to four storeys. Parking for more than 400 cars is to be provided.
It is also proposed there would be a significant "green" element to the development with the use of a district heating system, powered by a wood pellet boiler system and rooftop solar panels.
The land was sold to Aeval last June by long-time local land-owner Sir Henry Sursock Cochrane. It is bounded to the west by the old Dublin Road and St James's Church, with Shanganagh Cemetery to the north, the golf club to the east and Croke Lodge and woodland to the south.
The planning application notes that works will require the "partial removal of trees and the existing boundary wall" along the old Dublin Road at the western boundary.
The Woodbrook development is one of two major developments proposed for the area, the second being the €2 billion Pizarro development planned for the former Bray Golf Club site, which straddles the Dublin and Wicklow border in Bray town.
With its local area plan covering Woodbrook, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said it was conscious the site was just north of Bray town and a suitable site for "a new residential community based around a transport interchange".
The transport interchange envisages a connection between the adjacent Dart line and a proposed Luas extension which is scheduled to serve Bray - via the Pizarro development - by 2016.
The site is also close to the M11 Shankill bypass and Shankill village. Earlier this year, a Bord Pleanála inspector recommended refusal of the Pizarro development citing, among other reasons, transport grounds.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley to limit new homes in villages and towns
Strict new planning rules to be introduced next year by the Department of the Environment and Local Government will cut sharply the number of new houses that can be built in Irish towns and villages.
Under the guidelines from the Minister, John Gormley, who is concerned at the explosive growth of many towns and villages in recent years, developers will only be able to build between 10 to 12 extra houses in villages that have fewer than 400 people.Planning permission for greater numbers would "usually be difficult or inappropriate due to an absence of a sufficiently developed urban structure to cater for the development and should therefore be discouraged".
Meanwhile, planning authorities will be told not to increase the number of houses in towns of up to 5,000 people by more than 10-15 per cent over the lifetime of a seven-year development plan, for the same reason.
Currently, local authorities and An Bord Pleanála must abide by the department's guidelines when dealing with county development plans, but councillors have had greater freedom for action when drawing up local area plans.
However, the Minister, who will publish the new guidelines for consultation next month, now intends to change the legislation so that councillors will no longer be able to ignore national planning standards, it is understood.
Councils should first use derelict or vacant sites, while houses built on greenfield sites in or near the existing centres should be developed so that residents are encouraged to walk and cycle, rather than drive, the guidelines say.
In particular, developers should be blocked from building estates "at some remove" from existing urban areas because this "militates against proper planning" and causes problems with the lack of street lighting, footpaths and other services.
Higher densities are "appropriate" in certain areas, particularly in towns and villages close to larger towns that have already been chosen as "gateways" under the National Spatial Strategy, according to the guidelines, which are to be effective from the middle of the year.
In an attempt to curb applications from people already living in towns to build one-off houses in the country, Mr Gormley now intends to see some land ring-fenced for this type of development on the edge of towns and villages.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Under the guidelines from the Minister, John Gormley, who is concerned at the explosive growth of many towns and villages in recent years, developers will only be able to build between 10 to 12 extra houses in villages that have fewer than 400 people.Planning permission for greater numbers would "usually be difficult or inappropriate due to an absence of a sufficiently developed urban structure to cater for the development and should therefore be discouraged".
Meanwhile, planning authorities will be told not to increase the number of houses in towns of up to 5,000 people by more than 10-15 per cent over the lifetime of a seven-year development plan, for the same reason.
Currently, local authorities and An Bord Pleanála must abide by the department's guidelines when dealing with county development plans, but councillors have had greater freedom for action when drawing up local area plans.
However, the Minister, who will publish the new guidelines for consultation next month, now intends to change the legislation so that councillors will no longer be able to ignore national planning standards, it is understood.
Councils should first use derelict or vacant sites, while houses built on greenfield sites in or near the existing centres should be developed so that residents are encouraged to walk and cycle, rather than drive, the guidelines say.
In particular, developers should be blocked from building estates "at some remove" from existing urban areas because this "militates against proper planning" and causes problems with the lack of street lighting, footpaths and other services.
Higher densities are "appropriate" in certain areas, particularly in towns and villages close to larger towns that have already been chosen as "gateways" under the National Spatial Strategy, according to the guidelines, which are to be effective from the middle of the year.
In an attempt to curb applications from people already living in towns to build one-off houses in the country, Mr Gormley now intends to see some land ring-fenced for this type of development on the edge of towns and villages.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Galway road plan a threat to wildlife haven, say campaigners
Galway's "green lungs" are under threat from city council roadway plans, according to a new environmental campaign.
The Friends of the Forest campaign has been initiated to highlight the negative impact of a proposed new city relief road on the 120-acre Terryland forest park.
Terryland forest, which extends from the Corrib river to Castlegar, owes its origins to a residents' campaign in the mid-1990s to protect green areas close to the Corrib. As a result, the Corrib has one of the few undeveloped riverbank environments on the island.
The associated forest is a haven for hares, voles, foxes, rabbits, swans, kestrels, pheasants and bats.
Brendan Smith, spokesman for Friends of the Forest, said that Galway City Council had actively promoted Terryland as the most ambitious urban forest park development in Europe, with a target planting of 500,000 native Irish trees.
At the park's first one-day community planting in March 2001, more than 3,000 people turned up to plant trees, Mr Smith said, and schools began to use the area as an "outdoor classroom". The "eco-social experiment" had helped to engender civic pride, created a "carbon sink" to offset global warming and "produced oodles of good will towards City Hall".
However, the local authority, beset by the Eyre Square refurbishment controversy in recent years, began to lose interest in the Terryland park steering committee latterly, said Mr Smith.
"The few public events that did take place since 2005 did so with insufficient publicity, and therefore [ low] community participation, and the absence of park wardens has led to the woodlands becoming prone to litter and bush-drinking."
The proposed relief route from the Dyke Road, running by the forest park and the river Corrib to Quincentennial Road, is intended to reduce traffic congestion. However, the campaign said it would do the opposite and that it was "developer-led".
"The adjoining Headford Road/ Woodquay zone is already too congested, and the possibility of transforming the Dyke Road into a new major artery for pedestrians, cyclists and possibly public transport will be lost forever," Mr Smith said.
"At a time of rising global water levels, the Dyke Road lands are unsuitable for further development and should be preserved as wetlands and woodlands.
"Any such roadway would also undermine plans for sustainable recreational amenities, including an interpretative centre which would teach skills such as dry-stone-walling and coppicing.
"And a roadway would represent a betrayal of the tens of thousands of children and adults who planted trees and bulbs in Terryland since 2000," he said.
Mayor of Galway Tom Costello (Lab) and former mayor Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party) have both expressed support for the campaign, and representatives met senior city officials last week.
The campaign intends to initiate a petition in the new year.
Galway City Council was unavailable for comment.
Lorna Siggins
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Friends of the Forest campaign has been initiated to highlight the negative impact of a proposed new city relief road on the 120-acre Terryland forest park.
Terryland forest, which extends from the Corrib river to Castlegar, owes its origins to a residents' campaign in the mid-1990s to protect green areas close to the Corrib. As a result, the Corrib has one of the few undeveloped riverbank environments on the island.
The associated forest is a haven for hares, voles, foxes, rabbits, swans, kestrels, pheasants and bats.
Brendan Smith, spokesman for Friends of the Forest, said that Galway City Council had actively promoted Terryland as the most ambitious urban forest park development in Europe, with a target planting of 500,000 native Irish trees.
At the park's first one-day community planting in March 2001, more than 3,000 people turned up to plant trees, Mr Smith said, and schools began to use the area as an "outdoor classroom". The "eco-social experiment" had helped to engender civic pride, created a "carbon sink" to offset global warming and "produced oodles of good will towards City Hall".
However, the local authority, beset by the Eyre Square refurbishment controversy in recent years, began to lose interest in the Terryland park steering committee latterly, said Mr Smith.
"The few public events that did take place since 2005 did so with insufficient publicity, and therefore [ low] community participation, and the absence of park wardens has led to the woodlands becoming prone to litter and bush-drinking."
The proposed relief route from the Dyke Road, running by the forest park and the river Corrib to Quincentennial Road, is intended to reduce traffic congestion. However, the campaign said it would do the opposite and that it was "developer-led".
"The adjoining Headford Road/ Woodquay zone is already too congested, and the possibility of transforming the Dyke Road into a new major artery for pedestrians, cyclists and possibly public transport will be lost forever," Mr Smith said.
"At a time of rising global water levels, the Dyke Road lands are unsuitable for further development and should be preserved as wetlands and woodlands.
"Any such roadway would also undermine plans for sustainable recreational amenities, including an interpretative centre which would teach skills such as dry-stone-walling and coppicing.
"And a roadway would represent a betrayal of the tens of thousands of children and adults who planted trees and bulbs in Terryland since 2000," he said.
Mayor of Galway Tom Costello (Lab) and former mayor Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party) have both expressed support for the campaign, and representatives met senior city officials last week.
The campaign intends to initiate a petition in the new year.
Galway City Council was unavailable for comment.
Lorna Siggins
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mansion and gardens given to the State
A centuries-old stately home along with one of the country's finest gardens has been bequeathed to the State.
The stunning Altamont House and Gardens, in Co Carlow, was left to the Irish people by its late owner Corona North, the Government said yesterday.
The 96-acre estate outside Tullow includes a mansion dating back to around 1720 and formal and informal gardens reputed to be among the most romantic in Ireland.
Heritage Minister John Gormley said the donation was a wonderful act of generosity by Ms North, who died in 1999.
"It will be a lasting legacy to her memory," Mr Gormley said.
Brian Hutton
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The stunning Altamont House and Gardens, in Co Carlow, was left to the Irish people by its late owner Corona North, the Government said yesterday.
The 96-acre estate outside Tullow includes a mansion dating back to around 1720 and formal and informal gardens reputed to be among the most romantic in Ireland.
Heritage Minister John Gormley said the donation was a wonderful act of generosity by Ms North, who died in 1999.
"It will be a lasting legacy to her memory," Mr Gormley said.
Brian Hutton
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Go online to calculate your carbon footprint
An online 'carbon calculator' launched yesterday will work out the impact of your lifestyle on the planet.
Repak -- a recycling promotion agency who developed the system -- said it is the first publicly accessible one of its kind in Ireland.
Environment Minister John Gormley said the internet calculator, at www.repak.ie, would help people reduce their carbon footprint.
Users can determine their environmental impact by inputting details of their daily routine onto the website.
It will assess home heating methods, calculate energy consumption and investigate types of insulation being used by the householder. It will also gauge the type of lighting used at home, as well as the impact of their transport use, from private cars to long haul flights.
Users, who remain anonymous, are instantly provided with a monthly breakdown of carbon emissions. They are also given a comparative average for their lifestyle and hints and tips on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
Brian Hutton
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Repak -- a recycling promotion agency who developed the system -- said it is the first publicly accessible one of its kind in Ireland.
Environment Minister John Gormley said the internet calculator, at www.repak.ie, would help people reduce their carbon footprint.
Users can determine their environmental impact by inputting details of their daily routine onto the website.
It will assess home heating methods, calculate energy consumption and investigate types of insulation being used by the householder. It will also gauge the type of lighting used at home, as well as the impact of their transport use, from private cars to long haul flights.
Users, who remain anonymous, are instantly provided with a monthly breakdown of carbon emissions. They are also given a comparative average for their lifestyle and hints and tips on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
Brian Hutton
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 28 December 2007
Expert claims road authority ignored advice on Tara
AN EXPERT in charge of ensuring a national monument, discovered on the route of the controversial M3 motorway was properly excavated, has launched a blistering attack on the State and its agents.
Dr Conor Newman, who stepped aside from the advisory committee on November 20 last, accused the Government of ignoring expert advice about the significance of a 2,500-year-old monument found at Lismullin in Co Meath.
And he said the road builders, the National Roads Authority, had "wrecked" the monument, which will be covered by a road in the coming weeks.
He said the NRA had ignored expert advice that anything discovered in the Tara Skryne Valley was associated with the Hill of Tara, widely acknowledged since early last century.
Earlier this year, a pagan ritual site was discovered along the route, and former environment minister Dick Roche ordered that the road be built over it following its excavation.
"I went up to give some advice on the monument. I wasn't going to play politics, but I felt I could stay on the committee to advise on the excavation," Dr Newman said.
"When it got to the point where the excavation was nearing completion, I felt it was time to go.
"In spite of all the advice, they still forged ahead. We had a ridiculous situation of no willingness to adjust the road even slightly. The casualty has been the truth, and the objective assessment of the truth."
Environment Minister John Gormley said last night he was "sad" to hear of the decision, but it was something he "understood fully".
"I was conscious in asking him to serve on the committee that I was potentially putting him in an uncomfortable position because of his long-standing principled opposition to the road proposal," the minister said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Dr Conor Newman, who stepped aside from the advisory committee on November 20 last, accused the Government of ignoring expert advice about the significance of a 2,500-year-old monument found at Lismullin in Co Meath.
And he said the road builders, the National Roads Authority, had "wrecked" the monument, which will be covered by a road in the coming weeks.
He said the NRA had ignored expert advice that anything discovered in the Tara Skryne Valley was associated with the Hill of Tara, widely acknowledged since early last century.
Earlier this year, a pagan ritual site was discovered along the route, and former environment minister Dick Roche ordered that the road be built over it following its excavation.
"I went up to give some advice on the monument. I wasn't going to play politics, but I felt I could stay on the committee to advise on the excavation," Dr Newman said.
"When it got to the point where the excavation was nearing completion, I felt it was time to go.
"In spite of all the advice, they still forged ahead. We had a ridiculous situation of no willingness to adjust the road even slightly. The casualty has been the truth, and the objective assessment of the truth."
Environment Minister John Gormley said last night he was "sad" to hear of the decision, but it was something he "understood fully".
"I was conscious in asking him to serve on the committee that I was potentially putting him in an uncomfortable position because of his long-standing principled opposition to the road proposal," the minister said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
City bosses unveil plan for new cultural quarter
A cultural quarter is to be developed by Galway City Council, close to the heart of the City of the Tribes.
The local authority has just completed the purchase of two adjoining properties at Lower Merchant's Road, not far from the Galway Museum and a proposed arthouse cinema.
Galway City Manager Joe McGrath said that the new properties and the development of the arthouse cinema would provide an opportunity to create a cultural quarter in what was one of the oldest parts of Galway.
He expected that, in time, it would become a popular attraction with the city's annual influx of tourists.
The proposals for the Lower Merchant's Road area are to be presented for approval to the City Council in the New Year.
Brian McDonald
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The local authority has just completed the purchase of two adjoining properties at Lower Merchant's Road, not far from the Galway Museum and a proposed arthouse cinema.
Galway City Manager Joe McGrath said that the new properties and the development of the arthouse cinema would provide an opportunity to create a cultural quarter in what was one of the oldest parts of Galway.
He expected that, in time, it would become a popular attraction with the city's annual influx of tourists.
The proposals for the Lower Merchant's Road area are to be presented for approval to the City Council in the New Year.
Brian McDonald
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
City traffic to crawl at 8kmh
Traffic in Dublin is set to slow down to an average speed of eight kilometres an hour in the next few years, a new report predicts.
And car exhaust pollution is going to cause an alarming level of respiratory and other illnesses as well as obesity.
The average speed in urban areas in the the morning peak hour in the capital will have dropped from the current 13kmh to 8kmh in 2016, an official Government report reveals.
The grim scenario also predicts that with a population of five million, car ownership could increase to beyond EU average levels.
The Department of Transport report obtained by the Irish Independent reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from transport could increase to 19 million tonnes of CO2 -- a 265pc increase over 1990 levels.
Under the Kyoto agreement Ireland is allowed to increase its emissions by only 13pc.
The report concludes that such increases in traffic, pollution and health damage are not acceptable or sustainable.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey is said to be determined to warn the public of the 2016 scenario and get people to leave their cars at home and switch to public transport.
The minister is going to launch a new public consultation process on the issue of sustainable travel and transport early in the coming weeks.
A discussion document is almost ready to be published.
It has to be signed by Cabinet before being published to kick-start the public consultation phase.
The minister's aim is that by June of next year a clear, detailed sustainable action plan will be in place.
His vision is that by 2020 Ireland will have one of the best transportation systems in the world, which will go a long way to tackling the problems.
But according to Mr Dempsey we cannot get to that point by relying on Transport 21 initiatives alone and cycling, walking, flexible work arrangements and car pooling will also have to be involved.
Once the public consultation phase is over, a detailed plan will be drawn up.
A public information campaign will be launched similar to the Power of One campaign or the Race Against Waste.
Mr Dempsey says the plan is about getting people out of cars and into public transport, walking and cycling.
He said: "If we keep our current travel patterns by allowing business as usual and let cars continue to pour onto our streets then traffic congestion will increase, quality of life will fall, economic progress will be impacted negatively and our greenhouse gas emissions will continue to grow."
According to the report:
- The total number of private cars licensed may increase from 1,800,000 to 2,600,000 by 2016.
- Car use will continue to increase and the share of walking and cycling of the total commute will continue to decline.
- Average speed in urban areas in morning peak hour in Dublin will have dropped from 13kmh in 2006 to 8kmh in 2016.
- Increased dependence on cars will contribute to obesity.
- Traffic pollution will cause increasing damage to health and contribute to acute and chronic diseases.
- There will be increased congestion, which could lead to a decline in competitiveness.
- Energy supply could be "fragile" as a result of continued dependence on imported fossil fuels in the transport sector.
Between 1996 and 2006 there was unprecedented economic growth which saw Ireland's GDP double.
Population also increased by 17pc from 3,630,000 to 4,240,000
There was a 115pc increase in total road freight vehicle kilometres travelled and a 250pc rise in total tonnes carried.
There was a 38pc increase in the number of private cars per 1,000 adults from 382 to 528, still below the EU average of 558.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
And car exhaust pollution is going to cause an alarming level of respiratory and other illnesses as well as obesity.
The average speed in urban areas in the the morning peak hour in the capital will have dropped from the current 13kmh to 8kmh in 2016, an official Government report reveals.
The grim scenario also predicts that with a population of five million, car ownership could increase to beyond EU average levels.
The Department of Transport report obtained by the Irish Independent reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from transport could increase to 19 million tonnes of CO2 -- a 265pc increase over 1990 levels.
Under the Kyoto agreement Ireland is allowed to increase its emissions by only 13pc.
The report concludes that such increases in traffic, pollution and health damage are not acceptable or sustainable.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey is said to be determined to warn the public of the 2016 scenario and get people to leave their cars at home and switch to public transport.
The minister is going to launch a new public consultation process on the issue of sustainable travel and transport early in the coming weeks.
A discussion document is almost ready to be published.
It has to be signed by Cabinet before being published to kick-start the public consultation phase.
The minister's aim is that by June of next year a clear, detailed sustainable action plan will be in place.
His vision is that by 2020 Ireland will have one of the best transportation systems in the world, which will go a long way to tackling the problems.
But according to Mr Dempsey we cannot get to that point by relying on Transport 21 initiatives alone and cycling, walking, flexible work arrangements and car pooling will also have to be involved.
Once the public consultation phase is over, a detailed plan will be drawn up.
A public information campaign will be launched similar to the Power of One campaign or the Race Against Waste.
Mr Dempsey says the plan is about getting people out of cars and into public transport, walking and cycling.
He said: "If we keep our current travel patterns by allowing business as usual and let cars continue to pour onto our streets then traffic congestion will increase, quality of life will fall, economic progress will be impacted negatively and our greenhouse gas emissions will continue to grow."
According to the report:
- The total number of private cars licensed may increase from 1,800,000 to 2,600,000 by 2016.
- Car use will continue to increase and the share of walking and cycling of the total commute will continue to decline.
- Average speed in urban areas in morning peak hour in Dublin will have dropped from 13kmh in 2006 to 8kmh in 2016.
- Increased dependence on cars will contribute to obesity.
- Traffic pollution will cause increasing damage to health and contribute to acute and chronic diseases.
- There will be increased congestion, which could lead to a decline in competitiveness.
- Energy supply could be "fragile" as a result of continued dependence on imported fossil fuels in the transport sector.
Between 1996 and 2006 there was unprecedented economic growth which saw Ireland's GDP double.
Population also increased by 17pc from 3,630,000 to 4,240,000
There was a 115pc increase in total road freight vehicle kilometres travelled and a 250pc rise in total tonnes carried.
There was a 38pc increase in the number of private cars per 1,000 adults from 382 to 528, still below the EU average of 558.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Top waste firm facing legal action over landfill breach
ONE of the country's biggest waste operators has been told it could face prosecution for not operating a dump properly.
The Environmental Protection Agency wrote to Greenstar last month warning that the company's failure to report a serious incident at the Knockharley landfill in Meath could result in legal action.
The dump, which has been found six times not to be complying with its waste licence, has caused odour and noise problems for residents since it opened three years ago.
The EPA says complaints have increased each year since it opened, with 305 made in 2007.
While Greenstar has been "largely compliant" with its waste licence, the environmental watchdog says it has been issued with one non-compliance notice -- but the company does not accept the report and has requested it be withdrawn.
But correspondence on the public file shows Greenstar has been warned since December 2005 it is not fully compliant.
That month, it was told gas from the landfill was not venting properly, a breach of the licence.
A warning letter noted: "While the agency acknowledges that the facility is in general very well maintained, it is concerned that the facility is subject to ongoing odour nuisance problems".
A month later, Greenstar was again issued with a non-compliance notice relating to odour. The following May there was another breach of the licence.
EPA inspectors also noted remedial work demanded the previous January had not been completed. It also said the landfill's 2005 annual environmental report did not show a non-compliance relating to odour, which would be regarded as "misleading".
In July 2007 another non-compliance notice was issued. Inspectors noted that odours were detected off-site on seven of 12 inspections. The following month another non-compliance notice was issued, again relating to odour.
On November 1 last, the EPA wrote to Greenstar saying it had again breached its licence by failing to report that a gas flare had stopped working, which it was required to do as it was deemed "an incident".
Residents are furious that the dump is not being run under the terms of the licence, and said last night the EPA had to act on their concerns.
"There is an apparent inability on the part of the EPA to enforce the waste licence," spokesman Paddy Lawlor of the Knockharley and District Residents Association said.
"No one will answer our questions. All we want is the EPA to enforce the conditions of the licence. If they do that we'll have no complaints. The EPA are not taking responsibility, they need to act."
The EPA said it had "expended significant resources" on addressing residents' concerns, and would continue to do so. Consultants had been employed to undertake an independent evaluation of practices on the site, and their report would "inform the enforcement plan for this site and any enforcement action proposed by the EPA".
Greenstar said its dump was "the most compliant waste facility in the country". It had received two non-compliance notices in 2007, which were being appealed, and there was "no fault" with the landfill.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The Environmental Protection Agency wrote to Greenstar last month warning that the company's failure to report a serious incident at the Knockharley landfill in Meath could result in legal action.
The dump, which has been found six times not to be complying with its waste licence, has caused odour and noise problems for residents since it opened three years ago.
The EPA says complaints have increased each year since it opened, with 305 made in 2007.
While Greenstar has been "largely compliant" with its waste licence, the environmental watchdog says it has been issued with one non-compliance notice -- but the company does not accept the report and has requested it be withdrawn.
But correspondence on the public file shows Greenstar has been warned since December 2005 it is not fully compliant.
That month, it was told gas from the landfill was not venting properly, a breach of the licence.
A warning letter noted: "While the agency acknowledges that the facility is in general very well maintained, it is concerned that the facility is subject to ongoing odour nuisance problems".
A month later, Greenstar was again issued with a non-compliance notice relating to odour. The following May there was another breach of the licence.
EPA inspectors also noted remedial work demanded the previous January had not been completed. It also said the landfill's 2005 annual environmental report did not show a non-compliance relating to odour, which would be regarded as "misleading".
In July 2007 another non-compliance notice was issued. Inspectors noted that odours were detected off-site on seven of 12 inspections. The following month another non-compliance notice was issued, again relating to odour.
On November 1 last, the EPA wrote to Greenstar saying it had again breached its licence by failing to report that a gas flare had stopped working, which it was required to do as it was deemed "an incident".
Residents are furious that the dump is not being run under the terms of the licence, and said last night the EPA had to act on their concerns.
"There is an apparent inability on the part of the EPA to enforce the waste licence," spokesman Paddy Lawlor of the Knockharley and District Residents Association said.
"No one will answer our questions. All we want is the EPA to enforce the conditions of the licence. If they do that we'll have no complaints. The EPA are not taking responsibility, they need to act."
The EPA said it had "expended significant resources" on addressing residents' concerns, and would continue to do so. Consultants had been employed to undertake an independent evaluation of practices on the site, and their report would "inform the enforcement plan for this site and any enforcement action proposed by the EPA".
Greenstar said its dump was "the most compliant waste facility in the country". It had received two non-compliance notices in 2007, which were being appealed, and there was "no fault" with the landfill.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Rail chiefs promise motorists extra car parking
RAIL commuters forced to park their cars at supermarkets and churches before running for the train are being promised more than 13,000 parking spaces at stations.
Drivers will have to pay, but at much lower rates than commercial car parks.
Rail chiefs have drawn up plans to provide new pay-parking facilities at over 60 stations, many of which are packed by 7.30am daily.
The move coincides with major increases in frequencies and capacities of services planned across the network under Transport 21.
The additional spaces will meet current demand and allow for further expansion into the future.
A spokesperson for Iarnrod Eireann said yesterday the spaces will cost €2 a day or €5 a week. The revenue will be used for maintenance of the car parks and the provision of CCTV.
Belt
Highlights of the proposals include: the largest public transport park and ride facility in the country; a 1,200 space car park, north of Dunboyne at the M3 interchange -- the terminus for the Clonsilla-Dunboyne (M3) line, which will serve the wider area of Co Meath and beyond.
It will also feaure major car parks at new stations such as Dunboyne, Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Dunkettle, Clondalkin's Fonthill Road and Oranmore, as well as enhancements to parking at over 50 existing stations, including over 20 in the greater Dublin commuter belt.
As well as expanding car park facilities, work will incorporate enhanced bicycle facilities, and CCTV and other security features.
The programme will be phased in over the coming five years and will be prioritised according to demand, land availability and as planning permission allows.
Dr John Lynch, CIE and Iarnrod Eireann chairman, said yesterday: "It is critical that we open up the benefits of rail investment to as wide a catchment area as possible through the development of quality car park facilities.
"Although this programme addresses over 60 stations, we will continue to seek opportunities for further car park development around our network," he added.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey TD said: "People can feel re-assured that they can leave their car at a station and take the train to work, thus reducing the hassle of getting in and out of work and improving their commuting experience."
Treacy Hogan and Shane Hickey
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Drivers will have to pay, but at much lower rates than commercial car parks.
Rail chiefs have drawn up plans to provide new pay-parking facilities at over 60 stations, many of which are packed by 7.30am daily.
The move coincides with major increases in frequencies and capacities of services planned across the network under Transport 21.
The additional spaces will meet current demand and allow for further expansion into the future.
A spokesperson for Iarnrod Eireann said yesterday the spaces will cost €2 a day or €5 a week. The revenue will be used for maintenance of the car parks and the provision of CCTV.
Belt
Highlights of the proposals include: the largest public transport park and ride facility in the country; a 1,200 space car park, north of Dunboyne at the M3 interchange -- the terminus for the Clonsilla-Dunboyne (M3) line, which will serve the wider area of Co Meath and beyond.
It will also feaure major car parks at new stations such as Dunboyne, Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Dunkettle, Clondalkin's Fonthill Road and Oranmore, as well as enhancements to parking at over 50 existing stations, including over 20 in the greater Dublin commuter belt.
As well as expanding car park facilities, work will incorporate enhanced bicycle facilities, and CCTV and other security features.
The programme will be phased in over the coming five years and will be prioritised according to demand, land availability and as planning permission allows.
Dr John Lynch, CIE and Iarnrod Eireann chairman, said yesterday: "It is critical that we open up the benefits of rail investment to as wide a catchment area as possible through the development of quality car park facilities.
"Although this programme addresses over 60 stations, we will continue to seek opportunities for further car park development around our network," he added.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey TD said: "People can feel re-assured that they can leave their car at a station and take the train to work, thus reducing the hassle of getting in and out of work and improving their commuting experience."
Treacy Hogan and Shane Hickey
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Convent demolition may cost firm €12.7m
DUBLIN City Council is to prosecute a developer who illegally demolished a 19th century convent in Terenure over a year ago.
Despite having been told in November 2006 to re-instate the building, which was in the process of becoming a protected structure, Kimpton Vale has failed to do so and now faces fines of up to €12.7m if found guilty of an offence.
The council has already given the company and its principal Laurence Keegan two opportunities to rebuild the Presentation Convent, and the matter will be referred to the courts.
It is understood that the company has not been in contact with the council.
Now city manager John Tierney has instructed the council's law agent to institute proceedings under the Planning and Development Act 2000 after Kimpton Vale failed to comply with an enforcement notice issued by the council.
The 1830s convent was part of a three-acre site on Terenure Road West sold for infill development in April 2006 for €15m. The convent was described as being in good condition at the time of the sale, but homebuilders Kimpton Vale Ltd razed it on November 4, just two weeks after Dublin City Council began the process of adding it to the Record of Protected Structures (RPS).
Bulldozers moved in to demolish the convent at 7am and by the time a dangerous buildings officer from the council arrived at 9.30am, so much was razed that the remainder had to be demolished on public safety grounds.
The company also faces legal proceedings because it failed to secure planning permission before demolishing the convent.
The enforcement proceedings are being taken under the 2000 Planning and Development Act, which states: "Any person who, without lawful authority, causes damage to a protected structure or a proposed protected structure shall be guilty of an offence."
Anyone seeking to demolish a "habitable" building is required to get permission prior to the work being carried out, which did not happen in this case.
Failed
The company was instructed to reinstate the convent "to the satisfaction of the planning department of Dublin City Council", but failed to do so.
Laurence Keegan was involved in a company which made a record tax settlement just four years ago.
Mr Keegan, of Parkmore House, Auburn Drive in Castleknock, was a director with Lido Construction until January 2002, nine months before it made a €7m settlement with the Revenue Commissioners for under-declaring corporation tax and VAT. At the time, it was the biggest published settlement in the history of the State.
As a result, Mr Keegan was restricted as a company director for five years from January 2004.
Mr Keegan also made a personal settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in 2002, totalling almost €84,000 for under-declaration of income tax -- of which €45,000 was interest and penalties.
He could not be contacted yesterday for comment, nor was anyone from Kimpton Vale available.
It is not yet known if Kimpton Vale was told that the convent was going through the process of becoming a listed building
City managers have previously forced developers to reinstate buildings after they were illegally destroyed. In 1999, the Art Deco Archer's Garage on Fenian Street was razed, but the council forced the developer to rebuild it.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Despite having been told in November 2006 to re-instate the building, which was in the process of becoming a protected structure, Kimpton Vale has failed to do so and now faces fines of up to €12.7m if found guilty of an offence.
The council has already given the company and its principal Laurence Keegan two opportunities to rebuild the Presentation Convent, and the matter will be referred to the courts.
It is understood that the company has not been in contact with the council.
Now city manager John Tierney has instructed the council's law agent to institute proceedings under the Planning and Development Act 2000 after Kimpton Vale failed to comply with an enforcement notice issued by the council.
The 1830s convent was part of a three-acre site on Terenure Road West sold for infill development in April 2006 for €15m. The convent was described as being in good condition at the time of the sale, but homebuilders Kimpton Vale Ltd razed it on November 4, just two weeks after Dublin City Council began the process of adding it to the Record of Protected Structures (RPS).
Bulldozers moved in to demolish the convent at 7am and by the time a dangerous buildings officer from the council arrived at 9.30am, so much was razed that the remainder had to be demolished on public safety grounds.
The company also faces legal proceedings because it failed to secure planning permission before demolishing the convent.
The enforcement proceedings are being taken under the 2000 Planning and Development Act, which states: "Any person who, without lawful authority, causes damage to a protected structure or a proposed protected structure shall be guilty of an offence."
Anyone seeking to demolish a "habitable" building is required to get permission prior to the work being carried out, which did not happen in this case.
Failed
The company was instructed to reinstate the convent "to the satisfaction of the planning department of Dublin City Council", but failed to do so.
Laurence Keegan was involved in a company which made a record tax settlement just four years ago.
Mr Keegan, of Parkmore House, Auburn Drive in Castleknock, was a director with Lido Construction until January 2002, nine months before it made a €7m settlement with the Revenue Commissioners for under-declaring corporation tax and VAT. At the time, it was the biggest published settlement in the history of the State.
As a result, Mr Keegan was restricted as a company director for five years from January 2004.
Mr Keegan also made a personal settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in 2002, totalling almost €84,000 for under-declaration of income tax -- of which €45,000 was interest and penalties.
He could not be contacted yesterday for comment, nor was anyone from Kimpton Vale available.
It is not yet known if Kimpton Vale was told that the convent was going through the process of becoming a listed building
City managers have previously forced developers to reinstate buildings after they were illegally destroyed. In 1999, the Art Deco Archer's Garage on Fenian Street was razed, but the council forced the developer to rebuild it.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Locals tell council to 'arise and go' with new bridge plan
It was a view that inspired a young WB Yeats to pen one of his most iconic poems.
Now Sligo Borough Council's plans to construct its own contemporary icon -- a bold, modern bridge across the Garavogue river which will drastically alter the mystical surroundings of the Isle of Innisfree on Lough Gill.
The famous poem begins with the immortal lines: "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree".
The proposed eastern crossing of the Garavogue river is being bitterly opposed by hundreds of the town's most elderly residents whose tranquil view of the island and lake will be replaced by two walls of up to three metres high which are to flank a new two kilometre long carriageway.
Anger
And what is a relatively quiet road which runs along the river taking about 900 cars daily is projected to clock up 20,000 car journeys per day by 2021.
"There is the strongest sense of anger in this community, where the average age is 70," said Eugene McGloin, spokesman for the Garavogue, Doorly Park, Martin Savage Park and Hazelview residents.
He maintained there had been no consultation between the council and the local residents before the publication of the Environmental Impact Statement which is currently in circulation.
"Most of these people moved here as the original tenants of these in the 1950's when this part of town was still countryside and they worked hard all their lives so that they could buy out their houses.
"Now they are being asked to spend their later years behind these eight- to 10-feet-high walls with a major carriageway on their doorsteps," he said.
For Sligo Borough Council, the bridge is the next step in upgrading the infrastructure of the growing city which has already seen the opening of an inner relief road and the pedestrianisation of some of the main streets.
It says the proposed bridge would provide an eastern relief road, reducing traffic congestion, and establish a vital link for communities south of the river with Sligo General Hospital and the Institute of Technology.
However, Eugene McGloin disagrees, arguing that a visually stunning landscape will be irreparably damaged.
"We are not opposed to a river crossing. However this is the wrong place for it.
Anita Guidera
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Now Sligo Borough Council's plans to construct its own contemporary icon -- a bold, modern bridge across the Garavogue river which will drastically alter the mystical surroundings of the Isle of Innisfree on Lough Gill.
The famous poem begins with the immortal lines: "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree".
The proposed eastern crossing of the Garavogue river is being bitterly opposed by hundreds of the town's most elderly residents whose tranquil view of the island and lake will be replaced by two walls of up to three metres high which are to flank a new two kilometre long carriageway.
Anger
And what is a relatively quiet road which runs along the river taking about 900 cars daily is projected to clock up 20,000 car journeys per day by 2021.
"There is the strongest sense of anger in this community, where the average age is 70," said Eugene McGloin, spokesman for the Garavogue, Doorly Park, Martin Savage Park and Hazelview residents.
He maintained there had been no consultation between the council and the local residents before the publication of the Environmental Impact Statement which is currently in circulation.
"Most of these people moved here as the original tenants of these in the 1950's when this part of town was still countryside and they worked hard all their lives so that they could buy out their houses.
"Now they are being asked to spend their later years behind these eight- to 10-feet-high walls with a major carriageway on their doorsteps," he said.
For Sligo Borough Council, the bridge is the next step in upgrading the infrastructure of the growing city which has already seen the opening of an inner relief road and the pedestrianisation of some of the main streets.
It says the proposed bridge would provide an eastern relief road, reducing traffic congestion, and establish a vital link for communities south of the river with Sligo General Hospital and the Institute of Technology.
However, Eugene McGloin disagrees, arguing that a visually stunning landscape will be irreparably damaged.
"We are not opposed to a river crossing. However this is the wrong place for it.
Anita Guidera
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
An Taisce hits out at council over library proposal
A local authority has been accused of neglecting its responsibility as a custodian of heritage after unveiling plans to build the biggest public library in the country.
An Taisce said Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will alter the heart of Dun Laoghaire if it goes ahead with a number of controversial developments.
They include a €35m library and a high-rise apartment development on the grounds of a landmark hotel. The coastal suburb is recognised in the County Development Plan for having the highest concentration of protected structures outside Dublin city.
A spokesperson for An Taisce in Dun Laoghaire said that the new library building would be "a massive, contemporary, structure" in a prominent position in the town. She said it would have a major impact on the architectural environment into which it was being placed.
The environmental protection lobby group has already raised concerns about a proposal to build 107 apartments over retail outlets at the Royal Marine Hotel.
It claims it will lead to the loss of open space and views of protected structures.
"The council insists that it is committed to ensuring that this heritage plays its part in the future of sustainable development of the county," said Mairead Mehigan of An Taisce, Dun Laoghaire. "However, its recent track record does not support this statement."
However, the council's director of Culture, Community Development and Amenities Charles MacNamara said: "Not only will this project offer the public a state-of-the-art facility, but it will offer unrivalled access to arts, culture and research facilities."
Anne-Marie Walsh
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
An Taisce said Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will alter the heart of Dun Laoghaire if it goes ahead with a number of controversial developments.
They include a €35m library and a high-rise apartment development on the grounds of a landmark hotel. The coastal suburb is recognised in the County Development Plan for having the highest concentration of protected structures outside Dublin city.
A spokesperson for An Taisce in Dun Laoghaire said that the new library building would be "a massive, contemporary, structure" in a prominent position in the town. She said it would have a major impact on the architectural environment into which it was being placed.
The environmental protection lobby group has already raised concerns about a proposal to build 107 apartments over retail outlets at the Royal Marine Hotel.
It claims it will lead to the loss of open space and views of protected structures.
"The council insists that it is committed to ensuring that this heritage plays its part in the future of sustainable development of the county," said Mairead Mehigan of An Taisce, Dun Laoghaire. "However, its recent track record does not support this statement."
However, the council's director of Culture, Community Development and Amenities Charles MacNamara said: "Not only will this project offer the public a state-of-the-art facility, but it will offer unrivalled access to arts, culture and research facilities."
Anne-Marie Walsh
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Tara album adds voice to protest
A new album featuring artists protesting against the building of the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara in Co Meath has been launched to coincide with the winter solstice.
The double album called Gather The Mighty In features artists including Liam Ó Maonlaí in collaboration with Steve Cooney, Kila, Mercury Music Prize nominee Lou Rhodes and the harpist Laoise Kelly, among 45 different contributors.
The album contains contributions from Nobel Prize winning laureate Seamus Heaney, actor Stuart Townsend and environmentalist and television presenter Duncan Stewart. It also contains details of an alternative to the M3 proposals put forward by environmentalists which would see the proposed motorway being replaced by a 2+1 road system which would be routed away from the Hill of Tara.
The album has been compiled over the last nine months by performance poet and environmentalist Seano Braonain.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The double album called Gather The Mighty In features artists including Liam Ó Maonlaí in collaboration with Steve Cooney, Kila, Mercury Music Prize nominee Lou Rhodes and the harpist Laoise Kelly, among 45 different contributors.
The album contains contributions from Nobel Prize winning laureate Seamus Heaney, actor Stuart Townsend and environmentalist and television presenter Duncan Stewart. It also contains details of an alternative to the M3 proposals put forward by environmentalists which would see the proposed motorway being replaced by a 2+1 road system which would be routed away from the Hill of Tara.
The album has been compiled over the last nine months by performance poet and environmentalist Seano Braonain.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dunne loses DDDA records case
Property developer Seán Dunne has lost a High Court bid to compel the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) to provide him with certain documents for his legal challenge relating to a €200 million development on the city's north quays.
In Commercial Court proceedings, Mr Dunne is seeking an order quashing the DDDA's decision that the project is exempted development and argues that it should be subject to particular conditions.
The action has been taken by Mr Dunne and North Wall Property Holding Company Ltd, with registered offices in the Isle of Man, against the DDDA and a company called North Quay Investments Ltd, a company controlled by rival developer Liam Carroll.
The DDDA has entered into an agreement with North Quay Investments to develop a site bounded by North Wall Quay, New Wapping Street, Mayor Street and Castleforbes Road.
Construction work is already underway. Mr Dunne's property is surrounded on three sides by the project. In his action, Mr Dunne claims the DDDA was wrong to conclude the project does not require planning permission. He claims the development does not comply with the Docklands North Lotts planning scheme, including the objective of providing an east-west route between New Wapping Street and Castleforbes Street.
The proposed mix of uses, height and design of the development is also inconsistent with the planning scheme, Mr Dunne claims. A "monolithic" eight storey apartment block proposed to the immediate eastern boundary of his property has no regard for these and other issues in the planning scheme, he claims.
The case was first before the Commercial Court on December 10th last and yesterday a lawyer for Mr Dunne applied for discovery of all records and documents relating to the decision taken by the DDDA on this project. Garrett Simons SC, for Mr Dunne, said the application had become necessary because, since the case first came before the court, an agreement between the DDDA and North Quay Investments made on May 31st last had come to Mr Dunne's attention. Mr Dunne was also seeking to amend his claim against the DDDA.
Michael Cush SC, for the DDDA, opposed the discovery application saying his clients had already co-operated with Mr Dunne. Counsel added that his side was not opposing the application to amend the claim.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly said applications for discovery in judicial review cases like this were very limited and the case had already been dealt with quickly and had a hearing date in the Commercial Court on January 22nd next. He believed Mr Dunne and the company could "do no better" than refer to the terms of the new agreement on May 31st, of which they now have possession, in terms of discovery of documents.
He refused the application for discovery but said the claim could be amended.
He also awarded costs to the DDDA for the hearing of yesterday's application for discovery.
The proceedings brought by Mr Dunne and North Wall Property Holdings, in relation to whether it is exempted development, arises out of a certificate issued by the DDDA under Section 25 of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997.
A second set of proceedings - brought under Section 160 of the Planning and Development Act 1960 - seeks orders restraining alleged unauthorised works at the site of the disputed development and an order requiring restoration of the lands.
According to court documents, development has already begun on the site with some €15 million spent to date by North Quay Investments. The company has expressed concern that the uncertainty caused by the proceedings had the potential to have serious adverse economic consequences for it.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In Commercial Court proceedings, Mr Dunne is seeking an order quashing the DDDA's decision that the project is exempted development and argues that it should be subject to particular conditions.
The action has been taken by Mr Dunne and North Wall Property Holding Company Ltd, with registered offices in the Isle of Man, against the DDDA and a company called North Quay Investments Ltd, a company controlled by rival developer Liam Carroll.
The DDDA has entered into an agreement with North Quay Investments to develop a site bounded by North Wall Quay, New Wapping Street, Mayor Street and Castleforbes Road.
Construction work is already underway. Mr Dunne's property is surrounded on three sides by the project. In his action, Mr Dunne claims the DDDA was wrong to conclude the project does not require planning permission. He claims the development does not comply with the Docklands North Lotts planning scheme, including the objective of providing an east-west route between New Wapping Street and Castleforbes Street.
The proposed mix of uses, height and design of the development is also inconsistent with the planning scheme, Mr Dunne claims. A "monolithic" eight storey apartment block proposed to the immediate eastern boundary of his property has no regard for these and other issues in the planning scheme, he claims.
The case was first before the Commercial Court on December 10th last and yesterday a lawyer for Mr Dunne applied for discovery of all records and documents relating to the decision taken by the DDDA on this project. Garrett Simons SC, for Mr Dunne, said the application had become necessary because, since the case first came before the court, an agreement between the DDDA and North Quay Investments made on May 31st last had come to Mr Dunne's attention. Mr Dunne was also seeking to amend his claim against the DDDA.
Michael Cush SC, for the DDDA, opposed the discovery application saying his clients had already co-operated with Mr Dunne. Counsel added that his side was not opposing the application to amend the claim.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly said applications for discovery in judicial review cases like this were very limited and the case had already been dealt with quickly and had a hearing date in the Commercial Court on January 22nd next. He believed Mr Dunne and the company could "do no better" than refer to the terms of the new agreement on May 31st, of which they now have possession, in terms of discovery of documents.
He refused the application for discovery but said the claim could be amended.
He also awarded costs to the DDDA for the hearing of yesterday's application for discovery.
The proceedings brought by Mr Dunne and North Wall Property Holdings, in relation to whether it is exempted development, arises out of a certificate issued by the DDDA under Section 25 of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997.
A second set of proceedings - brought under Section 160 of the Planning and Development Act 1960 - seeks orders restraining alleged unauthorised works at the site of the disputed development and an order requiring restoration of the lands.
According to court documents, development has already begun on the site with some €15 million spent to date by North Quay Investments. The company has expressed concern that the uncertainty caused by the proceedings had the potential to have serious adverse economic consequences for it.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
M&S opt for Killarney after planning setback
Marks & Spencer is to open a store in Killarney after An Bord Pleanála turned down its appeal for a store at a retail park in Tralee.
Earlier this year, in a controversial decision, Tralee's councillors denied the retail giant a material contravention.
The Killarney M&S outlet will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre employing 80 people, and its arrival has been gleefully welcomed in the town.
Although anxious to play down ancient rivalries, councillors and the business community can hardly believe their luck and see the arrival of M&S as boosting considerably the tourist town's retail cachet, which had fallen behind Tralee in recent years.
"The increased presence of international brands will appropriately compliment the superb traditional indigenous retail offerings for which Killarney is well known internationally," the Killarney Chamber of Commerce said this weekend.
Earlier this year, to considerable public surprise, town councillors in Tralee refused to grant M&S a material contravention of the town plan to allow them into the retail park at Manor West on the outskirts of Tralee.
Instead they hoped to persuade them to locate to a shopping centre nearer town.
Originally, a smooth passage was expected for M&S at Manor West, in line with other retail giants who now operate from there.
However, shortly before the first vote on the matter local developers announced plans for a shopping centre in the Austin Stack Park, Tralee, nearer the town centre.
The expectation was that M&S would be moved into the new retail park at Austin Stack Park. Some councillors said alternative locations nearer town might be considered.
However, there was a public outcry at the councillors' decision and even the Church of Ireland rector wrote to parishioners and joined in a protest outside the council chambers in support of M&S.
The rejection of the retail giant was the single biggest issue on the doorstep in the general election last May, candidates found, and cost Labour candidate Tralee Cllr Terry O'Brien and Fianna Fáil Cllr Norma Foley dearly in votes.
The Killarney store will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre where Tesco are the anchor tenants.
It will generate 80 full-time jobs. Moreover, it will be smaller than the €6 million store originally planned for Tralee but will also include a food hall, clothing store, bakery and cafe.
Chief executive of Marks and Spencer in Ireland Neil Hyslop said he was disappointed with the planning board's decision - especially as there had been overwhelming support in Tralee for the store, but confirmed the decision to open in Killarney.
The company had no plans to open elsewhere in Tralee, he said.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Earlier this year, in a controversial decision, Tralee's councillors denied the retail giant a material contravention.
The Killarney M&S outlet will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre employing 80 people, and its arrival has been gleefully welcomed in the town.
Although anxious to play down ancient rivalries, councillors and the business community can hardly believe their luck and see the arrival of M&S as boosting considerably the tourist town's retail cachet, which had fallen behind Tralee in recent years.
"The increased presence of international brands will appropriately compliment the superb traditional indigenous retail offerings for which Killarney is well known internationally," the Killarney Chamber of Commerce said this weekend.
Earlier this year, to considerable public surprise, town councillors in Tralee refused to grant M&S a material contravention of the town plan to allow them into the retail park at Manor West on the outskirts of Tralee.
Instead they hoped to persuade them to locate to a shopping centre nearer town.
Originally, a smooth passage was expected for M&S at Manor West, in line with other retail giants who now operate from there.
However, shortly before the first vote on the matter local developers announced plans for a shopping centre in the Austin Stack Park, Tralee, nearer the town centre.
The expectation was that M&S would be moved into the new retail park at Austin Stack Park. Some councillors said alternative locations nearer town might be considered.
However, there was a public outcry at the councillors' decision and even the Church of Ireland rector wrote to parishioners and joined in a protest outside the council chambers in support of M&S.
The rejection of the retail giant was the single biggest issue on the doorstep in the general election last May, candidates found, and cost Labour candidate Tralee Cllr Terry O'Brien and Fianna Fáil Cllr Norma Foley dearly in votes.
The Killarney store will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre where Tesco are the anchor tenants.
It will generate 80 full-time jobs. Moreover, it will be smaller than the €6 million store originally planned for Tralee but will also include a food hall, clothing store, bakery and cafe.
Chief executive of Marks and Spencer in Ireland Neil Hyslop said he was disappointed with the planning board's decision - especially as there had been overwhelming support in Tralee for the store, but confirmed the decision to open in Killarney.
The company had no plans to open elsewhere in Tralee, he said.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
University seeks waiver of €300,000 in planning levies
The University of Limerick (UL) is seeking to have the imposition of more than €300,000 in planning levies waived on its new Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.
Last month Clare County Council gave the university permission for the centre at Garraun, Clonlara, but imposed €304,000 in levies towards the provision of public infrastructure.
The university has appealed the conditions to An Bord Pleanála.
The new building will house two theatres, one for 80 people and the other for 240, and a number of lecture theatres.
In the appeal, the university says "the development is located on the Clare campus of the university and deliberately so to celebrate the rich tradition of Clare music and dance through learning, accreditation and research".
It states it is seeking to raise locally "in excess of €6 million".
"Donors have expressed interest in funding the project," it adds.
The appeal states: "The imposition of development contributions on this development . . . would impede the viability of the project and contradict the spirit and letter of the scheme by applying commercial levies to non-commercial voluntary work."
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Last month Clare County Council gave the university permission for the centre at Garraun, Clonlara, but imposed €304,000 in levies towards the provision of public infrastructure.
The university has appealed the conditions to An Bord Pleanála.
The new building will house two theatres, one for 80 people and the other for 240, and a number of lecture theatres.
In the appeal, the university says "the development is located on the Clare campus of the university and deliberately so to celebrate the rich tradition of Clare music and dance through learning, accreditation and research".
It states it is seeking to raise locally "in excess of €6 million".
"Donors have expressed interest in funding the project," it adds.
The appeal states: "The imposition of development contributions on this development . . . would impede the viability of the project and contradict the spirit and letter of the scheme by applying commercial levies to non-commercial voluntary work."
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
NRA attributes motorway services delay to Department
Three planning applications for service areas on the M1 and M/N4 are being held up as a result of delays by the Department of Transport, according to the National Roads Authority.
At a recent board meeting the NRA noted that the Department was required to approve regulations before planning could be sought. "Unfortunately this has not happened yet, notwithstanding its urgency, and we are delayed in submitting the M1/M4 service areas for planning approval," the board noted.
A spokesman for the NRA said that the planning applications were going through "parliamentary regulatory procedures" and that a response was expected "early in the new year".
Regulatory approval is required before the plans can be submitted to An Bord Pleanála.
The NRA has committed to having its first service areas operational by the end of 2009 and the spokesman said that, currently, it was still on course to meet this target.
Some 12 locations along the motorway network have been identified as suitable for service areas. The first will be sited on the M/N4 with two more along the M1. The Authority says it plans to have service areas on all the inter-urban motorways by 2010.
A Department of Transport spokeswoman said a piece of legislation was being drafted and work was progressing as fast as possible. "It is before the parliamentary council, but there is a lot of work there. However, as far as we are concerned the . . . service stops are on schedule. There are no delays."
Citing security and other concerns, the NRA recently changed its policy on rest areas and has decided against providing 11 such sites, which were to provide parking and toilet facilities.
Despite this decision, the NRA spokesman said that the number of service areas was not going to be increased.
The NRA recently awarded a contract to infrastructure consultants Halcrow Barry Ltd, to provide expert advice during the development of service areas.
Service areas will offer food for 16 hours a day and fuel and toilet facilities around the clock. They will also provide extensive parking for cars and HGVs and a Garda enforcement area.
Deciding on how best to provide motorway facilities has been a difficult process for the NRA. The initial NRA view, in 2004, was not to provide such areas along mainline carriageways for safety reasons.
However, this policy was changed, partly because the benefits of by-passing towns was being lost as commercial traffic left the main routes in search of fuel and food.
While the exact sites have yet to be determined, the NRA has said the service areas will be located along the carriageways, rather than at junctions, to prevent a build-up of development at junctions.
The locations chosen for service areas are: along the N11 near the Arklow bypass and on the proposed M9 north of Carlow and near Kilcullen.
For the M7, two service areas will be sited near Mountrath and between Nenagh and Roscea.
The M6 will also be served oneservice area near the M6 and N17 interchange and the second near Athlone.
Motorists on the M1 will be served by two service areas, one south of Dundalk and the other south of Ballbriggan.
And on the M8 drivers will also have a choice of one between Fermoy and Michelstown and the second near Cashel.
As a general rule the service areas will be around 50kms apart.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
At a recent board meeting the NRA noted that the Department was required to approve regulations before planning could be sought. "Unfortunately this has not happened yet, notwithstanding its urgency, and we are delayed in submitting the M1/M4 service areas for planning approval," the board noted.
A spokesman for the NRA said that the planning applications were going through "parliamentary regulatory procedures" and that a response was expected "early in the new year".
Regulatory approval is required before the plans can be submitted to An Bord Pleanála.
The NRA has committed to having its first service areas operational by the end of 2009 and the spokesman said that, currently, it was still on course to meet this target.
Some 12 locations along the motorway network have been identified as suitable for service areas. The first will be sited on the M/N4 with two more along the M1. The Authority says it plans to have service areas on all the inter-urban motorways by 2010.
A Department of Transport spokeswoman said a piece of legislation was being drafted and work was progressing as fast as possible. "It is before the parliamentary council, but there is a lot of work there. However, as far as we are concerned the . . . service stops are on schedule. There are no delays."
Citing security and other concerns, the NRA recently changed its policy on rest areas and has decided against providing 11 such sites, which were to provide parking and toilet facilities.
Despite this decision, the NRA spokesman said that the number of service areas was not going to be increased.
The NRA recently awarded a contract to infrastructure consultants Halcrow Barry Ltd, to provide expert advice during the development of service areas.
Service areas will offer food for 16 hours a day and fuel and toilet facilities around the clock. They will also provide extensive parking for cars and HGVs and a Garda enforcement area.
Deciding on how best to provide motorway facilities has been a difficult process for the NRA. The initial NRA view, in 2004, was not to provide such areas along mainline carriageways for safety reasons.
However, this policy was changed, partly because the benefits of by-passing towns was being lost as commercial traffic left the main routes in search of fuel and food.
While the exact sites have yet to be determined, the NRA has said the service areas will be located along the carriageways, rather than at junctions, to prevent a build-up of development at junctions.
The locations chosen for service areas are: along the N11 near the Arklow bypass and on the proposed M9 north of Carlow and near Kilcullen.
For the M7, two service areas will be sited near Mountrath and between Nenagh and Roscea.
The M6 will also be served oneservice area near the M6 and N17 interchange and the second near Athlone.
Motorists on the M1 will be served by two service areas, one south of Dundalk and the other south of Ballbriggan.
And on the M8 drivers will also have a choice of one between Fermoy and Michelstown and the second near Cashel.
As a general rule the service areas will be around 50kms apart.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Council says yes to residential scheme on Dalkey school grounds
Plans for a new housing development on part of the grounds of Castlepark school in Dalkey have been approved by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
The local authority has granted permission for 47 houses and apartments on a 3.7-acre part of the school grounds off Castlepark Road. The proposed site is off the main school avenue behind Mackeys garden centre, where developers Wesley Curran and Graham O'Donnell are looking to build 81 apartments. This scheme was approved by the local authority but is under appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Castlepark school has sold off portions of its large landholding at Castlepark Road for residential development over the years. This time around it's believed that the school had struck a deal with a consortium of developers, including David Arnold and John Lombard, so that the site would be sold to them for a figure of around €10 million subject to planning permission being granted for the residential scheme.
The proceeds would contribute towards the redevelopment of the school, which is currently underway. This will involve the construction of an additional 39 classrooms, an indoor swimming pool, assembly hall, PE hall, caretaker's flat and 90 surface car-parking spaces.
Last year the school sought permission for 81 residential units at the site but this was refused on appeal to An Bord Pleanála, which ruled that the scheme would "seriously injure" adjacent residential properties on Hyde Road, and in Castle Close and Castlelands.
The scheme has been scaled back in height and density and will now involve 14 four and five-bedroom semi-detached houses and one four-bedroom detached house, all over three storeys. Some 32 apartments will also be built in two blocks from three to five storeys. The local authority granted permission subject to 40 conditions including that the developer pay contributions totalling €1.4 million to the council as well as a tree bond of €500,000. The decision by the local authority to grant permission is likely be appealed to An Bord Pleanála by local residents who have opposed the development on a number of grounds.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The local authority has granted permission for 47 houses and apartments on a 3.7-acre part of the school grounds off Castlepark Road. The proposed site is off the main school avenue behind Mackeys garden centre, where developers Wesley Curran and Graham O'Donnell are looking to build 81 apartments. This scheme was approved by the local authority but is under appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Castlepark school has sold off portions of its large landholding at Castlepark Road for residential development over the years. This time around it's believed that the school had struck a deal with a consortium of developers, including David Arnold and John Lombard, so that the site would be sold to them for a figure of around €10 million subject to planning permission being granted for the residential scheme.
The proceeds would contribute towards the redevelopment of the school, which is currently underway. This will involve the construction of an additional 39 classrooms, an indoor swimming pool, assembly hall, PE hall, caretaker's flat and 90 surface car-parking spaces.
Last year the school sought permission for 81 residential units at the site but this was refused on appeal to An Bord Pleanála, which ruled that the scheme would "seriously injure" adjacent residential properties on Hyde Road, and in Castle Close and Castlelands.
The scheme has been scaled back in height and density and will now involve 14 four and five-bedroom semi-detached houses and one four-bedroom detached house, all over three storeys. Some 32 apartments will also be built in two blocks from three to five storeys. The local authority granted permission subject to 40 conditions including that the developer pay contributions totalling €1.4 million to the council as well as a tree bond of €500,000. The decision by the local authority to grant permission is likely be appealed to An Bord Pleanála by local residents who have opposed the development on a number of grounds.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Apartments planned for Hatch Hall
A former Jesuit student residence on Hatch Street in Dublin 2 is set to be transformed into a luxury residential development.
Six months after being refused planning permission to turn Hatch Hall into a five-star boutique hotel, Galway property developer Gerry Barrett is set to lodge a planning application to turn the listed building into a 36-unit apartment development.
Barrett acquired the building from the Jesuit community for over €16 million in 2004. It is currently in use as a 80-bedroom hostel for asylum seekers.
The 2,787sq m (30,000sq ft) redbrick building dates from the early 1900s and had been run by the Jesuits for around 90 years. It features attractive gardens, a courtyard and a chapel.
The plans drawn up by Edward Residential Assets, a subsidiary of Barrett's Edward Holdings, will involve the demolition of a two/three-storey building at Hatch Place to make way for a six-storey building - one storey lower than the previous hotel application.
Two additional storeys will be added to a four-storey building on Hatch Lane and 36 car-parking spaces will be provided at basement level.
The scheme, designed by Douglas Wallace Architects, will be firmly pitched at the top end of the market.
The majority of apartments will be two-bedroom units, including four duplexes.
The former chapel will be converted into two apartments, one of which will measure 120sq m (1,290sq ft) and will feature stained glass and an organ loft.
Barrett's previous hotel scheme was given approval by Dublin City Council, but this was overturned on appeal by An Bord Pleanála, which said the proposed hotel would involve altering the protected structure to an "unacceptable" level.
A proposed seven-storey addition to the hall would be "visually obtrusive" the board added.
Barrett, a former school teacher from Galway, started out building shopping centres before moving into building hotels and residential developments in Ireland and the UK.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Six months after being refused planning permission to turn Hatch Hall into a five-star boutique hotel, Galway property developer Gerry Barrett is set to lodge a planning application to turn the listed building into a 36-unit apartment development.
Barrett acquired the building from the Jesuit community for over €16 million in 2004. It is currently in use as a 80-bedroom hostel for asylum seekers.
The 2,787sq m (30,000sq ft) redbrick building dates from the early 1900s and had been run by the Jesuits for around 90 years. It features attractive gardens, a courtyard and a chapel.
The plans drawn up by Edward Residential Assets, a subsidiary of Barrett's Edward Holdings, will involve the demolition of a two/three-storey building at Hatch Place to make way for a six-storey building - one storey lower than the previous hotel application.
Two additional storeys will be added to a four-storey building on Hatch Lane and 36 car-parking spaces will be provided at basement level.
The scheme, designed by Douglas Wallace Architects, will be firmly pitched at the top end of the market.
The majority of apartments will be two-bedroom units, including four duplexes.
The former chapel will be converted into two apartments, one of which will measure 120sq m (1,290sq ft) and will feature stained glass and an organ loft.
Barrett's previous hotel scheme was given approval by Dublin City Council, but this was overturned on appeal by An Bord Pleanála, which said the proposed hotel would involve altering the protected structure to an "unacceptable" level.
A proposed seven-storey addition to the hall would be "visually obtrusive" the board added.
Barrett, a former school teacher from Galway, started out building shopping centres before moving into building hotels and residential developments in Ireland and the UK.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Appeals lodged against plan for building on Great Blasket
Appeals have been lodged against plans by An Blascaod Mór Teoranta for a cafe and services building on the Great Blasket Island off the coast of Kerry.
The realisation of the building is an integral part of the sale of most of the company's property on the island to the State, hammered out this summer.
New piers, paths and conservation of buildings are on hold until the building goes ahead, under the terms of the agreement reached with the OPW this summer.
A previous application for a somewhat larger services building was turned down by An Bord Pleanála two years ago.
The historic Irish writers' island, home to Tomás Ó Criomhtháin, Seán Ó Suilleabháin and Peig Sayers, also has a number of unique natural habitats and rare species. Already a special area of conservation, it is expected to be designated shortly as a special protected area for birds.
Last month Kerry County Council granted planning to An Blascaod Mór Teo, for the 330sq m construction, including a ranger room, a separate store for a tractor and a septic tank.
The appeals to An Bord Pleanála this week have been lodged by Sue Redican, the Blasket Island weaver, and by another third party.
Ms Redican, who has lived on the island for 20 years, said she feared the island's natural resources would be exploited for profit.
She has questioned how materials for the new building are to be transported from the pier and says the septic tank is inadequate.
Issues of scale and size and integration into the landscape have also been raised.
Dr Catherine McMullin, honorary planning officer with An Taisce in Kerry, said yesterday it was studying the appeal and expected to make a submission to An Bord Pleanála.
An Taisce has already questioned how a modern building will fit into an unspoilt island and how it is to be serviced with electricity.
The State has been attempting to purchase the island for almost 20 years.
It aims to turn it a national park and candidate for Unesco World Heritage Site status.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The realisation of the building is an integral part of the sale of most of the company's property on the island to the State, hammered out this summer.
New piers, paths and conservation of buildings are on hold until the building goes ahead, under the terms of the agreement reached with the OPW this summer.
A previous application for a somewhat larger services building was turned down by An Bord Pleanála two years ago.
The historic Irish writers' island, home to Tomás Ó Criomhtháin, Seán Ó Suilleabháin and Peig Sayers, also has a number of unique natural habitats and rare species. Already a special area of conservation, it is expected to be designated shortly as a special protected area for birds.
Last month Kerry County Council granted planning to An Blascaod Mór Teo, for the 330sq m construction, including a ranger room, a separate store for a tractor and a septic tank.
The appeals to An Bord Pleanála this week have been lodged by Sue Redican, the Blasket Island weaver, and by another third party.
Ms Redican, who has lived on the island for 20 years, said she feared the island's natural resources would be exploited for profit.
She has questioned how materials for the new building are to be transported from the pier and says the septic tank is inadequate.
Issues of scale and size and integration into the landscape have also been raised.
Dr Catherine McMullin, honorary planning officer with An Taisce in Kerry, said yesterday it was studying the appeal and expected to make a submission to An Bord Pleanála.
An Taisce has already questioned how a modern building will fit into an unspoilt island and how it is to be serviced with electricity.
The State has been attempting to purchase the island for almost 20 years.
It aims to turn it a national park and candidate for Unesco World Heritage Site status.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
EPA to decide quickly if it will hold Poolbeg hearing
A new oral hearing into the Poolbeg incinerator could be conducted next year by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following the receipt of objections to its proposal to grant a licence for the facility.
The EPA said yesterday it would decide "as soon as possible" in the New Year whether to accede to requests for the hearing.
The incinerator, which would be Dublin's first municipal waste incinerator and one of the largest in Europe, was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in November following a lengthy oral hearing this year.
Within days of the Bord Pleanála decision, the EPA announced its intention to grant a waste licence to Dublin City Council to operate the facility. A 28-day period of statutory public consultation on the proposal ensued. The consultation phase is now at an end, and the EPA has received 14 valid objections and eight requests for an oral hearing.
Had no objections or requests for a hearing been received, the board of the EPA would have automatically made a final decision at the end of the consultation period. However, it will now consider the possibility of a hearing.
"The closing date for submissions was just this week, and no decision on the requests for an oral hearing has been made yet, but that decision will be made in the New Year as early as possible," a spokeswoman said.
Objections to the licence were made by several politicians, local residents' groups and individuals.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley, before his appointment as Minister, made an objection to the potential granting of a licence in a letter dated October 5th, 2006.
Combined Residents Against Incineration, Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association and the Ringsend Irishtown and Sandymount Environmental Group also made objections.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The EPA said yesterday it would decide "as soon as possible" in the New Year whether to accede to requests for the hearing.
The incinerator, which would be Dublin's first municipal waste incinerator and one of the largest in Europe, was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in November following a lengthy oral hearing this year.
Within days of the Bord Pleanála decision, the EPA announced its intention to grant a waste licence to Dublin City Council to operate the facility. A 28-day period of statutory public consultation on the proposal ensued. The consultation phase is now at an end, and the EPA has received 14 valid objections and eight requests for an oral hearing.
Had no objections or requests for a hearing been received, the board of the EPA would have automatically made a final decision at the end of the consultation period. However, it will now consider the possibility of a hearing.
"The closing date for submissions was just this week, and no decision on the requests for an oral hearing has been made yet, but that decision will be made in the New Year as early as possible," a spokeswoman said.
Objections to the licence were made by several politicians, local residents' groups and individuals.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley, before his appointment as Minister, made an objection to the potential granting of a licence in a letter dated October 5th, 2006.
Combined Residents Against Incineration, Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association and the Ringsend Irishtown and Sandymount Environmental Group also made objections.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Several shades of Green
Environment: Only six months in Government, and already the Green Party has discovered that power brings its problems, writes Frank McDonald , Environment Editor.
Getting into Government was a baptism of fire for Green Party leader John Gormley. On the day he took office last June, he was informed that his predecessor, Dick Roche, had signed an order for the "preservation by record" of a newly found national monument at Lismullen on the route of the M3 motorway.
Re-routing the M3 away from the Hill of Tara and the archaeological landscape that surrounds it was one of the Greens' demands in the negotiations to form a Government, but their Fianna Fáil partners wouldn't budge; the motorway was to go ahead as planned. Legally, there was nothing the new Minister could do to set aside Roche's directions that the prehistoric Lismullen henge should be archaeologically excavated, properly recorded and then removed from the path of the M3.
Gormley pledged to protect Tara and its environs by designating it a "landscape conservation area", even though this was an essentially meaningless gesture when the Gabhra Valley between the ancient seat of Ireland's high kings and the Hill of Skryne to the east was about to be scarred by a motorway snaking right through it.
But the new Minister, whose portfolio includes heritage protection, repeatedly said he had no authority to order a re-routing of the M3. Campaigners for the preservation of Tara's setting were outraged by what they saw as a betrayal of their cause by a party all too anxious to get its hands on the levers of power.
Five months later, Gormley suffered a major political setback when An Bord Pleanála decided unanimously to approve plans by Dublin City Council for a huge municipal waste incinerator on the Poolbeg peninsula - a highly contentious project that he had vigorously opposed as one of the local TDs. Again, there was nothing he could do to alter the outcome. Under the Planning Act 2000, the Minister for the Environment is debarred from interfering in the deliberations of the planning appeals board or, indeed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which issued a draft licence for the proposed "waste-to-energy" plant a week later.
All Gormley could do - and he did so regularly over several months - was to indicate quite publicly that national waste-management policy favouring incineration was in the process of being changed. However, it hadn't been changed by statute, so An Bord Pleanála and the EPA could only base their decisions on existing policy.
The fact that the appeals board declined to cap the tonnage of waste to be incinerated at the Poolbeg plant - as its own senior planning inspector, Padraig Thornton, had recommended - made its decision an even more bitter pill to swallow; it certainly didn't go down well in Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount.
The Minister may seek to circumvent approval for the incinerator by issuing a policy directive under the Waste Management Act 1996 that would have the effect of undermining the economic viability of the project. But it is difficult to see how he could set aside the council's contract with a Danish-American consortium lined up to run it.
However, there were many things Gormley could do to advance the "green agenda". For example, he moved swiftly in publishing an amendment to the building regulations that would increase the energy-efficiency of new homes by 40 per cent. Another measure, which he announced in the State's first "carbon budget" earlier this month, will ban wasteful incandescent light bulbs from the Irish market from January 1st, 2009. This is expected to deliver carbon emissions savings of up to 700,000 tonnes per year and cut householders' electricity bills by €185 million annually.
Gormley's party colleague, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, has published a draft Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which provides additional funding for the highly successful Greener Homes Scheme as well as a limited "initial pilot programme" to encourage owners of older houses to upgrade their energy performance.
CHANGES IN MOTOR taxation, with all vehicles to be rated exclusively on the basis of their CO2 emissions (with larger ones such as SUVs paying proportionately more), are designed to enable motorists to make more informed choices in buying new vehicles - so that, ultimately, the "gas guzzlers" will be shunned as much as energy-wasting fridges.
However, as Gormley noted in his carbon budget speech, emissions from Ireland's transport sector have risen by 180 per cent since 1990 - mainly as a result of the spectacular increase in car ownership and use. Yet the lion's share (€2.7 billion) of public investment in transport during 2008 is earmarked for more roads and motorways.
The Minister billed the first "pilot" carbon budget as bringing climate change to "the heart of Government decision-making" - putting it on a par with managing the economy.
"We have to think carbon," he told the Dáil on December 6th. "If we are to successfully tackle climate change, if we have to de-carbonise society, then we have to put a price on carbon, and I hope that all deputies in this House will begin to understand the necessity of a carbon levy." Obviously, many of his Fianna Fáil colleagues in Government didn't share this view, because there was no provision in the Minister's carbon budget to impose such a levy. Instead, the issue was referred for further study to the proposed Commission on Taxation, which could take years to report back. In short, the carbon levy was flunked.
Comhar, the Sustainable Development Council, which sees the levy as key to ensuring that we meet our Kyoto Protocol targets, was disappointed. "Every year that passes without a levy is a year lost in making the progress that has to be made," said chairman Prof Frank Convery. "It is imperative that we introduce this levy in the next 12 months."The decision to kick for touch, even on the introduction of a modest €5 per tonne, would suggest that Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has yet to "buy in" to the firm pledge in the Programme for Government that the State would reduce its CO2 emissions by an average of 3 per cent, year on year, between now and 2012, when the current Kyoto "commitment period" is due to expire.
Budget Day provides the clearest indication of a Government's priorities, and this year's was no exception. However it was dressed up by Gormley in his carbon budget speech, it is evident that the Green Party has a tough road to travel in effecting real change.
Ireland's ranking in 44th place (out of 56 countries) in the latest Climate Change Performance Index will have come as a disappointment to the Greens. But then, they're barely more than six months in office and it will take a lot more time for them to make an impact.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Getting into Government was a baptism of fire for Green Party leader John Gormley. On the day he took office last June, he was informed that his predecessor, Dick Roche, had signed an order for the "preservation by record" of a newly found national monument at Lismullen on the route of the M3 motorway.
Re-routing the M3 away from the Hill of Tara and the archaeological landscape that surrounds it was one of the Greens' demands in the negotiations to form a Government, but their Fianna Fáil partners wouldn't budge; the motorway was to go ahead as planned. Legally, there was nothing the new Minister could do to set aside Roche's directions that the prehistoric Lismullen henge should be archaeologically excavated, properly recorded and then removed from the path of the M3.
Gormley pledged to protect Tara and its environs by designating it a "landscape conservation area", even though this was an essentially meaningless gesture when the Gabhra Valley between the ancient seat of Ireland's high kings and the Hill of Skryne to the east was about to be scarred by a motorway snaking right through it.
But the new Minister, whose portfolio includes heritage protection, repeatedly said he had no authority to order a re-routing of the M3. Campaigners for the preservation of Tara's setting were outraged by what they saw as a betrayal of their cause by a party all too anxious to get its hands on the levers of power.
Five months later, Gormley suffered a major political setback when An Bord Pleanála decided unanimously to approve plans by Dublin City Council for a huge municipal waste incinerator on the Poolbeg peninsula - a highly contentious project that he had vigorously opposed as one of the local TDs. Again, there was nothing he could do to alter the outcome. Under the Planning Act 2000, the Minister for the Environment is debarred from interfering in the deliberations of the planning appeals board or, indeed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which issued a draft licence for the proposed "waste-to-energy" plant a week later.
All Gormley could do - and he did so regularly over several months - was to indicate quite publicly that national waste-management policy favouring incineration was in the process of being changed. However, it hadn't been changed by statute, so An Bord Pleanála and the EPA could only base their decisions on existing policy.
The fact that the appeals board declined to cap the tonnage of waste to be incinerated at the Poolbeg plant - as its own senior planning inspector, Padraig Thornton, had recommended - made its decision an even more bitter pill to swallow; it certainly didn't go down well in Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount.
The Minister may seek to circumvent approval for the incinerator by issuing a policy directive under the Waste Management Act 1996 that would have the effect of undermining the economic viability of the project. But it is difficult to see how he could set aside the council's contract with a Danish-American consortium lined up to run it.
However, there were many things Gormley could do to advance the "green agenda". For example, he moved swiftly in publishing an amendment to the building regulations that would increase the energy-efficiency of new homes by 40 per cent. Another measure, which he announced in the State's first "carbon budget" earlier this month, will ban wasteful incandescent light bulbs from the Irish market from January 1st, 2009. This is expected to deliver carbon emissions savings of up to 700,000 tonnes per year and cut householders' electricity bills by €185 million annually.
Gormley's party colleague, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, has published a draft Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which provides additional funding for the highly successful Greener Homes Scheme as well as a limited "initial pilot programme" to encourage owners of older houses to upgrade their energy performance.
CHANGES IN MOTOR taxation, with all vehicles to be rated exclusively on the basis of their CO2 emissions (with larger ones such as SUVs paying proportionately more), are designed to enable motorists to make more informed choices in buying new vehicles - so that, ultimately, the "gas guzzlers" will be shunned as much as energy-wasting fridges.
However, as Gormley noted in his carbon budget speech, emissions from Ireland's transport sector have risen by 180 per cent since 1990 - mainly as a result of the spectacular increase in car ownership and use. Yet the lion's share (€2.7 billion) of public investment in transport during 2008 is earmarked for more roads and motorways.
The Minister billed the first "pilot" carbon budget as bringing climate change to "the heart of Government decision-making" - putting it on a par with managing the economy.
"We have to think carbon," he told the Dáil on December 6th. "If we are to successfully tackle climate change, if we have to de-carbonise society, then we have to put a price on carbon, and I hope that all deputies in this House will begin to understand the necessity of a carbon levy." Obviously, many of his Fianna Fáil colleagues in Government didn't share this view, because there was no provision in the Minister's carbon budget to impose such a levy. Instead, the issue was referred for further study to the proposed Commission on Taxation, which could take years to report back. In short, the carbon levy was flunked.
Comhar, the Sustainable Development Council, which sees the levy as key to ensuring that we meet our Kyoto Protocol targets, was disappointed. "Every year that passes without a levy is a year lost in making the progress that has to be made," said chairman Prof Frank Convery. "It is imperative that we introduce this levy in the next 12 months."The decision to kick for touch, even on the introduction of a modest €5 per tonne, would suggest that Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has yet to "buy in" to the firm pledge in the Programme for Government that the State would reduce its CO2 emissions by an average of 3 per cent, year on year, between now and 2012, when the current Kyoto "commitment period" is due to expire.
Budget Day provides the clearest indication of a Government's priorities, and this year's was no exception. However it was dressed up by Gormley in his carbon budget speech, it is evident that the Green Party has a tough road to travel in effecting real change.
Ireland's ranking in 44th place (out of 56 countries) in the latest Climate Change Performance Index will have come as a disappointment to the Greens. But then, they're barely more than six months in office and it will take a lot more time for them to make an impact.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 21 December 2007
Emissions target will hammer the economy -- experts
THE Government's targets for tackling global warming are impossible to achieve without huge increases in fuel prices and severe damage to the economy, a new study published by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) concludes.
The Government target is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 3pc a year to 2012.
"It is not clear where this target comes from," says Richard Tol, a researches with the ESRI. "It can only be achieved by drastic measures, such as a rapid reduction in the numbers of people or cattle."
He said a serious attempt to achieve such a 15pc reduction in the space of just five years would require the price of petrol to rise above €2 a litre and a threefold increase in the cost of electricity.
The resulting fall in demand would knock more than 2pc off economic growth by 2012, the research calculates.
Problem
"The Irish economy is currently projected to grow by 2.9pc. With climate policy this fall to 2.5-2.6pc; a reduction of one tenth to one fifth -- provided emission reduction is announced well in advance," the analysis says.
"In fact, the problem is more severe than this. In a five-year period, emissions are largely reduced on the demand side. This would imply that either one half of the population emigrates, or the average resident uses 50pc less energy.
"One would have to give up the television, the dishwasher, the washing machine and the refrigerator, and refrain from travelling by car four days a week," the report states.
Mr Tol said our models cannot find a way to get this reduction by 2012. "If one put the burden on agriculture, half the cattle in the country would have to be culled," he said.
"If it were industry, two-fifths of production would have to move overseas. And that would do nothing for global emissions -- just moving dairy farming or industry out of Ireland."
He said the problem is that nothing major can be done about the main sources of greenhouse gases over five, or even 10 years. There can be little change in the stock of power stations in five years, the housing stock will largely be the same as now, and public transport will increase marginally.
"The emission reduction target of the Irish Government can only be met by draconian measures. It would therefore be better abandoned," the analysis concludes.
The issue is serious because the Irish taxpayer could end up paying large sums to "buy" carbon if Ireland does not meet targets agreed at EU and international level.
Mr Tol favours a carbon tax which would rise slowly over time on emissions which are not covered by EU rules.
Brendan Keenan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The Government target is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 3pc a year to 2012.
"It is not clear where this target comes from," says Richard Tol, a researches with the ESRI. "It can only be achieved by drastic measures, such as a rapid reduction in the numbers of people or cattle."
He said a serious attempt to achieve such a 15pc reduction in the space of just five years would require the price of petrol to rise above €2 a litre and a threefold increase in the cost of electricity.
The resulting fall in demand would knock more than 2pc off economic growth by 2012, the research calculates.
Problem
"The Irish economy is currently projected to grow by 2.9pc. With climate policy this fall to 2.5-2.6pc; a reduction of one tenth to one fifth -- provided emission reduction is announced well in advance," the analysis says.
"In fact, the problem is more severe than this. In a five-year period, emissions are largely reduced on the demand side. This would imply that either one half of the population emigrates, or the average resident uses 50pc less energy.
"One would have to give up the television, the dishwasher, the washing machine and the refrigerator, and refrain from travelling by car four days a week," the report states.
Mr Tol said our models cannot find a way to get this reduction by 2012. "If one put the burden on agriculture, half the cattle in the country would have to be culled," he said.
"If it were industry, two-fifths of production would have to move overseas. And that would do nothing for global emissions -- just moving dairy farming or industry out of Ireland."
He said the problem is that nothing major can be done about the main sources of greenhouse gases over five, or even 10 years. There can be little change in the stock of power stations in five years, the housing stock will largely be the same as now, and public transport will increase marginally.
"The emission reduction target of the Irish Government can only be met by draconian measures. It would therefore be better abandoned," the analysis concludes.
The issue is serious because the Irish taxpayer could end up paying large sums to "buy" carbon if Ireland does not meet targets agreed at EU and international level.
Mr Tol favours a carbon tax which would rise slowly over time on emissions which are not covered by EU rules.
Brendan Keenan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Proposals for €40m Limerick city centre development to be lodged
PLANS for a €40 million development in Limerick city centre will be lodged with council planners later this week, it was announced yesterday.
One of the most ambitious projects to be undertaken in the city will involve the construction of six floors of commercial units.
This will consist of 60,000 sq ft of office and retail space developed on a site framed by Catherine Street, Glentworth Street and Mallow Street in the heart of the city.
Up to 600 jobs will be created within the office and retail complex.
A basement car park will hold 110 vehicles.
The project is being undertaken by the Catherine Street Partnership, a consortium which includes Limerick businessman Noel Harrington.
It is hoped work can get under way by next June.
The proposed site, adjacent to O’Connell Street, lies within the single largest employment centre in the mid-west with more than 12,000 people employed.
Zoned as commercial, the site forms part of the city area identified for conservation and re-generation activities by Limerick City Council. It includes the former printing works of the Limerick Leader newspaper.
Mr Harrington said the addition of office and retail accommodation would be a tremendous fillip to the city centre and would enhance its marketability as a location for business investment.
He said: “The project makes a confident statement about the future of Limerick. We believe it will be well received by local businesses and residents who will see it as creating critical mass of commercial and amenity infrastructure in an area earmarked for significant investment by Limerick City Council.”
The design is based around a free-flowing courtyard which will be accessible by pedestrians from Catherine Street and Mallow Street.
Mr Harrington said: “The courtyard provides light and ventilation to the surroundings spaces and access to the two main office entrances.
“The building design, by award winning architects Murray O’Laoire, is innovative and sustainable. The office accommodation is naturally ventilated with the openable sections concealed behind perforated copper mesh to simplify the facade. Glazing is sued in moderation and recessed throughout the building in order to reduce heat gains and provide cool light.”
Many of the existing buildings within the proposed development site are dilapidated and unoccupied.
Mr Harrington said: “This is a wonderful city centre site which, because of its overall condition, is crying out for development and rejuvenation.
“Our project is very much in keeping with the development strategies of Limerick City Council which see the city centre having, in addition to significant restoration of the old historic quarter of the city, a mix of high quality commercial, retail and amenity development. In terms of user access, the site is ideal. Catherine Street is within easy walking distance of Colbert Station, the primary rail and business station in the mid-west. This affords users of the proposed development comprehensive public transport connections to Ennis, Shannon, Cork, Dublin and other locations.”
The developers will be engaging in consultation on the project with local businesses, residents and other stakeholders over the coming months.
The announcement comes days after a revitalisation plan for the city centre was unveiled.
The authors of the plan warned the city centre was in need of development to keep pace with the retailing schemes which have raced ahead in the suburbs.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
One of the most ambitious projects to be undertaken in the city will involve the construction of six floors of commercial units.
This will consist of 60,000 sq ft of office and retail space developed on a site framed by Catherine Street, Glentworth Street and Mallow Street in the heart of the city.
Up to 600 jobs will be created within the office and retail complex.
A basement car park will hold 110 vehicles.
The project is being undertaken by the Catherine Street Partnership, a consortium which includes Limerick businessman Noel Harrington.
It is hoped work can get under way by next June.
The proposed site, adjacent to O’Connell Street, lies within the single largest employment centre in the mid-west with more than 12,000 people employed.
Zoned as commercial, the site forms part of the city area identified for conservation and re-generation activities by Limerick City Council. It includes the former printing works of the Limerick Leader newspaper.
Mr Harrington said the addition of office and retail accommodation would be a tremendous fillip to the city centre and would enhance its marketability as a location for business investment.
He said: “The project makes a confident statement about the future of Limerick. We believe it will be well received by local businesses and residents who will see it as creating critical mass of commercial and amenity infrastructure in an area earmarked for significant investment by Limerick City Council.”
The design is based around a free-flowing courtyard which will be accessible by pedestrians from Catherine Street and Mallow Street.
Mr Harrington said: “The courtyard provides light and ventilation to the surroundings spaces and access to the two main office entrances.
“The building design, by award winning architects Murray O’Laoire, is innovative and sustainable. The office accommodation is naturally ventilated with the openable sections concealed behind perforated copper mesh to simplify the facade. Glazing is sued in moderation and recessed throughout the building in order to reduce heat gains and provide cool light.”
Many of the existing buildings within the proposed development site are dilapidated and unoccupied.
Mr Harrington said: “This is a wonderful city centre site which, because of its overall condition, is crying out for development and rejuvenation.
“Our project is very much in keeping with the development strategies of Limerick City Council which see the city centre having, in addition to significant restoration of the old historic quarter of the city, a mix of high quality commercial, retail and amenity development. In terms of user access, the site is ideal. Catherine Street is within easy walking distance of Colbert Station, the primary rail and business station in the mid-west. This affords users of the proposed development comprehensive public transport connections to Ennis, Shannon, Cork, Dublin and other locations.”
The developers will be engaging in consultation on the project with local businesses, residents and other stakeholders over the coming months.
The announcement comes days after a revitalisation plan for the city centre was unveiled.
The authors of the plan warned the city centre was in need of development to keep pace with the retailing schemes which have raced ahead in the suburbs.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
We're top of the population charts as immigration soars
Ireland has the fastest growing population in the European Union, even though most migrants leave after four years.
Only Spain and Cyprus came anywhere close to our steep annual growth rate among the 27 member states in the 12 months to April this year.
This is the third year in a row in which a rise of over 2pc in the number of people living in the Republic was recorded.
And the first in-depth survey of foreign nationals working in Ireland, also published yesterday, indicates that almost two-thirds of them leave within four years.
Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal that just 34pc of those given personal public service numbers (PPSN) in 2002 were still in employment last year.
Of the 83,140 foreign nationals who were allocated a number five years ago, 53pc were working the following year.
This dropped to 41pc the following year before diving to 34pc last year.
CSO officials said soaring levels of immigration was the main factor pushing up the population by 2.5pc this year, to an estimated total of 4.3 million people. The total number of immigrants in the year to April was 109,500, far higher than any year since 1987.
Predicted
Analysts predicted last night that there will be no interruption in the inward flow of non-nationals over the next few years.
Speaking at the launch of the results yesterday, CSO senior statistician Aidan Punch said the population rate places us "way above our European counterparts".
He said the massive rate of growth that followed the addition of 10 accession countries to the EU in 2004 led to a dramatic 7.5pc rise in numbers living here since then. The new arrivals are mostly young and male and come from the 10 accession states.
In 2002 and 2003, there were less than 10,000 arrivals from these countries, but there was an influx of 59,000 in 2004.
The trend gathered momentum and last year there were 139,000 arrivals from the accession states, accounting for 61pc of all arrivals.
A total of 42pc were aged between 15 and 24, and 43pc were aged between 24 and 44, statistics show.
Arrivals
Most came from Poland, which accounted for 94,000 new arrivals last year, while 22,000 came from the UK.
However, many of the UK arrivals may be Irish nationals, or people who came from other EU countries after travelling to the UK first.
Of those from the accession countries, 67pc were Polish, 12pc Lithuanian, 8pc were Slovakian, and 6pc Latvian.
Our population growth rate is far ahead of the second most expanding country, Spain, where the growth rate is 1.64pc, according to figures from EU statistics agency Eurostat.
The third fastest growing state in the EU is Cyprus, which is increasing at a rate of 1.6pc.
Our population is growing at almost three times the rate it is in the UK, which saw a rise of 0.8pc this year.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Only Spain and Cyprus came anywhere close to our steep annual growth rate among the 27 member states in the 12 months to April this year.
This is the third year in a row in which a rise of over 2pc in the number of people living in the Republic was recorded.
And the first in-depth survey of foreign nationals working in Ireland, also published yesterday, indicates that almost two-thirds of them leave within four years.
Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal that just 34pc of those given personal public service numbers (PPSN) in 2002 were still in employment last year.
Of the 83,140 foreign nationals who were allocated a number five years ago, 53pc were working the following year.
This dropped to 41pc the following year before diving to 34pc last year.
CSO officials said soaring levels of immigration was the main factor pushing up the population by 2.5pc this year, to an estimated total of 4.3 million people. The total number of immigrants in the year to April was 109,500, far higher than any year since 1987.
Predicted
Analysts predicted last night that there will be no interruption in the inward flow of non-nationals over the next few years.
Speaking at the launch of the results yesterday, CSO senior statistician Aidan Punch said the population rate places us "way above our European counterparts".
He said the massive rate of growth that followed the addition of 10 accession countries to the EU in 2004 led to a dramatic 7.5pc rise in numbers living here since then. The new arrivals are mostly young and male and come from the 10 accession states.
In 2002 and 2003, there were less than 10,000 arrivals from these countries, but there was an influx of 59,000 in 2004.
The trend gathered momentum and last year there were 139,000 arrivals from the accession states, accounting for 61pc of all arrivals.
A total of 42pc were aged between 15 and 24, and 43pc were aged between 24 and 44, statistics show.
Arrivals
Most came from Poland, which accounted for 94,000 new arrivals last year, while 22,000 came from the UK.
However, many of the UK arrivals may be Irish nationals, or people who came from other EU countries after travelling to the UK first.
Of those from the accession countries, 67pc were Polish, 12pc Lithuanian, 8pc were Slovakian, and 6pc Latvian.
Our population growth rate is far ahead of the second most expanding country, Spain, where the growth rate is 1.64pc, according to figures from EU statistics agency Eurostat.
The third fastest growing state in the EU is Cyprus, which is increasing at a rate of 1.6pc.
Our population is growing at almost three times the rate it is in the UK, which saw a rise of 0.8pc this year.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Santry Cross in Ballymun
Recent newspaper reports concerning Santry Cross in Ballymun appear to contain a number of points which portray the development in a light which is disputed by residents Having received emails regarding an article reproduced on this blog complaining about mis-leading comments, I have withdrawn this article.
Santry Cross residents consider the development to have met their expectations. Teething issues appear to have been experienced, but, according to emails received, these have been and are being addressed.
Brendan Buck
Santry Cross residents consider the development to have met their expectations. Teething issues appear to have been experienced, but, according to emails received, these have been and are being addressed.
Brendan Buck
Bono meets match with searing attack on 'brazen' hotel plan
BONO is not a man known to be short of words but he may have met his match in an opponent to his hotel expansion plans.
The U2 frontman and his bandmate, The Edge, who are partners in the Clarence Hotel in Dublin city centre, have been accused of "brazenness", "pique" and "anachronistic insensitivity" in their plan to demolish all but the famous facade of the protected building and create an enlarged premises behind.
Their critic is environmentalist Michael Smith, former chairman of heritage group An Taisce, who has lodged a formal objection with An Bord Pleanála urging rejection of the proposal, which was approved by Dublin City Council last month.
In a searing 22-page attack on the rock stars, Mr Smith says the proposed development is too big, out of character with the area, damaging to neighbouring buildings and destructive to the Liffey riverscape.
"The proposal is contextually illiterate, showing no awareness of the importance, subtlety or uniqueness of Dublin's quays. It provides for a parodying ragbag Leviathan of all the three forms, oversailed by a greedy cybership.
"The effect is to create a silly setpiece on the scale of the civic offices but comprising a mismatch of eviscerated typologies under a single roofscape which is somewhat redolent of the civic offices."
Mr Smith accuses Bono and The Edge of bastardising the original building when they took it over in the 1990s and mocks the reported losses the venture has racked up.
"The fact that the current owners are not up to running a hotel does not give them a right to demolish and start again. The owners clearly still have not found what they are looking for. Without presuming too much, I venture it is not a hotel," he writes.
Objections have also been lodged by An Taisce and a neighbouring firm of solicitors. A decision is due from An Bord Pleanála by April 22 next year.
Caroline O'Doherty
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The U2 frontman and his bandmate, The Edge, who are partners in the Clarence Hotel in Dublin city centre, have been accused of "brazenness", "pique" and "anachronistic insensitivity" in their plan to demolish all but the famous facade of the protected building and create an enlarged premises behind.
Their critic is environmentalist Michael Smith, former chairman of heritage group An Taisce, who has lodged a formal objection with An Bord Pleanála urging rejection of the proposal, which was approved by Dublin City Council last month.
In a searing 22-page attack on the rock stars, Mr Smith says the proposed development is too big, out of character with the area, damaging to neighbouring buildings and destructive to the Liffey riverscape.
"The proposal is contextually illiterate, showing no awareness of the importance, subtlety or uniqueness of Dublin's quays. It provides for a parodying ragbag Leviathan of all the three forms, oversailed by a greedy cybership.
"The effect is to create a silly setpiece on the scale of the civic offices but comprising a mismatch of eviscerated typologies under a single roofscape which is somewhat redolent of the civic offices."
Mr Smith accuses Bono and The Edge of bastardising the original building when they took it over in the 1990s and mocks the reported losses the venture has racked up.
"The fact that the current owners are not up to running a hotel does not give them a right to demolish and start again. The owners clearly still have not found what they are looking for. Without presuming too much, I venture it is not a hotel," he writes.
Objections have also been lodged by An Taisce and a neighbouring firm of solicitors. A decision is due from An Bord Pleanála by April 22 next year.
Caroline O'Doherty
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Kerry developments breach planing permissions
Hundreds of developments are the subject of enforcement procedures in Kerry and up to 400 files are "open and active" at any one time, according to a report published by the county council yesterday.
Quarries as well as waste outlets are the subject of enforcement proceedings and several developers of housing estates in Kerry are in breach of their planning permissions. A number are not complying with footpath completion, street lighting and wastewater disposal, while two large-scale developments are not adhering to the social and affordable housing provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Some of the issues go back to 1999, the councillor who requested the report stated.
A number of houses in the 42-house development at Drimabeg, Sneem, were found to have floor levels higher or lower than granted permission for, and, following notice from the council, the developer, Coolfada Ltd, Bandon, had ceased the unauthorized building and was in discussion with the council, according to the report.
A number of houses in a 33-house development granted permission at Garranearagh, Caherciveen, were built in the wrong location. Retention had been granted for some, but legal proceedings were also pending against the developers, Threejay Construction Ltd, Waterville, and John Reeve, Beenbawn, Waterville.
A hotel in Killorglin on the former site of the Goat Inn had no underground car park as agreed in the original planning permission and the building itself was "larger towards the rear than originally intended".
Dingle developer Southbound Properties Ltd was granted planning for 64 houses at Gortorna, Dingle, and had not signed an agreement with the council housing department with regard to social and housing provision. It is also the subject of proceedings.
Cllr Brendan Cronin (Ind), who requested the report by council resolution last month, said four housing estates granted planning in 1999 still had no public lighting.
Only the Christmas decorations were lighting the way, he said.
Cllr Cronin said developers who had not complied with the public part of their obligations should not be granted permission for further developments until they had complied.
"Every person that buys into a development is entitled to public footpaths, roads and lighting. This is a condition of planning."
Council director of planning services Michael McMahon said a 2006 amendment to the planning acts allowed the local authority to take past performance into account, and the council intended to do so.
He said quarrying was also the subject of enforcement proceedings. Some 24 cases had reached the Circuit Court in the 12-month period to August 2007 and a number of structures had been demolished.
Enforcement took "enormous resources", Mr McMahon said.
Anne Lucey
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Quarries as well as waste outlets are the subject of enforcement proceedings and several developers of housing estates in Kerry are in breach of their planning permissions. A number are not complying with footpath completion, street lighting and wastewater disposal, while two large-scale developments are not adhering to the social and affordable housing provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Some of the issues go back to 1999, the councillor who requested the report stated.
A number of houses in the 42-house development at Drimabeg, Sneem, were found to have floor levels higher or lower than granted permission for, and, following notice from the council, the developer, Coolfada Ltd, Bandon, had ceased the unauthorized building and was in discussion with the council, according to the report.
A number of houses in a 33-house development granted permission at Garranearagh, Caherciveen, were built in the wrong location. Retention had been granted for some, but legal proceedings were also pending against the developers, Threejay Construction Ltd, Waterville, and John Reeve, Beenbawn, Waterville.
A hotel in Killorglin on the former site of the Goat Inn had no underground car park as agreed in the original planning permission and the building itself was "larger towards the rear than originally intended".
Dingle developer Southbound Properties Ltd was granted planning for 64 houses at Gortorna, Dingle, and had not signed an agreement with the council housing department with regard to social and housing provision. It is also the subject of proceedings.
Cllr Brendan Cronin (Ind), who requested the report by council resolution last month, said four housing estates granted planning in 1999 still had no public lighting.
Only the Christmas decorations were lighting the way, he said.
Cllr Cronin said developers who had not complied with the public part of their obligations should not be granted permission for further developments until they had complied.
"Every person that buys into a development is entitled to public footpaths, roads and lighting. This is a condition of planning."
Council director of planning services Michael McMahon said a 2006 amendment to the planning acts allowed the local authority to take past performance into account, and the council intended to do so.
He said quarrying was also the subject of enforcement proceedings. Some 24 cases had reached the Circuit Court in the 12-month period to August 2007 and a number of structures had been demolished.
Enforcement took "enormous resources", Mr McMahon said.
Anne Lucey
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 17 December 2007
RPS announce route Corridor variations for Corrib onshore pipeline
RPS, the consultants appointed by Shell E&P Ireland Limited (SEPIL) to facilitate the identification of a new pipeline route for the Corrib gas project, have announced two further Corridor options within the core study area.
These Corridors (Corridors A1 and C1) are variations of two of the previously short-listed corridors. They were identified following further technical and environmental studies, as well as feedback from the public consultation process.
Corridor A1 deviates south of Corridor A and, therefore, limits the distance that the pipeline traverses intact blanket bog in Rossport. Corridor C1 limits the distance that the pipeline traverses Sruwaddacon Bay. All of the Corridors are further away from housing than the original pipeline route.
All of the Corridor options have pros and cons and the final route will need to strike a balance between community, environmental/legal and technical issues.
RPS is now seeking input and views on these corridors from landowners and the local community, as well as other stakeholders and statutory bodies. The public consultation period that is now underway will finish on January 18th 2008.
Commenting, PJ Rudden, Director RPS said - "We have been engaging in public consultation for nearly a year and, during that time, we have heard many views from the local community. I would urge people to once again take the time to consider the corridor options and give us their feedback."
He added - "Due to some delays in conducting surveys and the fact that we want to ensure we have allowed adequate time for consultation, the process of identifying a final route is taking longer than anticipated. However, I feel that this time is being put to very good use and will help to make sure that the final outcome will be the identification of a route that strikes the best balance between all of the issues and selection criteria."
Further details on all of the corridors options are available in the Community Update Brochure that is being distributed to the Erris community.
All of the information is also on public display in the RPS Project Office in Seafield House, Belmullet. People can visit the office or make an appointment to view the Corridors and meet with RPS staff during office hours. The office can also be contacted by telephone - (097) 20720.
www.buckplanning.ie
These Corridors (Corridors A1 and C1) are variations of two of the previously short-listed corridors. They were identified following further technical and environmental studies, as well as feedback from the public consultation process.
Corridor A1 deviates south of Corridor A and, therefore, limits the distance that the pipeline traverses intact blanket bog in Rossport. Corridor C1 limits the distance that the pipeline traverses Sruwaddacon Bay. All of the Corridors are further away from housing than the original pipeline route.
All of the Corridor options have pros and cons and the final route will need to strike a balance between community, environmental/legal and technical issues.
RPS is now seeking input and views on these corridors from landowners and the local community, as well as other stakeholders and statutory bodies. The public consultation period that is now underway will finish on January 18th 2008.
Commenting, PJ Rudden, Director RPS said - "We have been engaging in public consultation for nearly a year and, during that time, we have heard many views from the local community. I would urge people to once again take the time to consider the corridor options and give us their feedback."
He added - "Due to some delays in conducting surveys and the fact that we want to ensure we have allowed adequate time for consultation, the process of identifying a final route is taking longer than anticipated. However, I feel that this time is being put to very good use and will help to make sure that the final outcome will be the identification of a route that strikes the best balance between all of the issues and selection criteria."
Further details on all of the corridors options are available in the Community Update Brochure that is being distributed to the Erris community.
All of the information is also on public display in the RPS Project Office in Seafield House, Belmullet. People can visit the office or make an appointment to view the Corridors and meet with RPS staff during office hours. The office can also be contacted by telephone - (097) 20720.
www.buckplanning.ie
World agrees road-map to post-2012 climate pact
World governments agreed a negotiating framework to decide a new global climate policy by 2009 at the UN climate conference in Bali, Indonesia on Saturday.
The Bali road-map commits all developed countries to quantified greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and says "deep cuts" will be needed. Developing countries will commit to "appropriate mitigation actions".
Upon the insistence of the US, the road-map suggests no concrete emission reduction targets. But a footnote makes reference to documents from the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) which say reductions of up to 40 per cent by 2020 are needed to head off dangerous climate change.
The agreement came on Saturday afternoon after a sleepless night of high drama. Emotional speeches led by UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang eventually prompted the US to drop opposition to wording changes on developing country commitments. This led to cheers for the US delegation.
"We consider this to be a historical day with a historical outcome, everything will be different in relation to climate change," Portuguese environment minister Francisco Correia Nunes said on behalf of the EU.
The UN climate convention's secretary, Yvo de Boer, described the new agreement as "ambitious" - because it "very clearly" references the IPCC science - "transparent" - because it specifically asks business and civil society for input - and "flexible" - because it brings on board all developed and developing countries.
The business community welcomed the deal. "We are deeply satisfied," said Guy Sebban of the International chamber of commerce (ICC). "Now that we have a better perspective of what lies ahead, companies can better design their research and development programmes and their investment plans."
But others reached different conclusions. Carbon market expert Abyd Karmali of Merrill Lynch said the absence of concrete emission reduction targets in the road-map was a disappointment. And Greenpeace lamented the lack of references to "crucial cuts" and the "relegation of science to a footnote".
Meanwhile there was general approval for consensuses reached on development and transfer, and on stimulating financial flows to fund all climate change-related action.
Despite the optimism generated by the outcome at Bali, the next two years of talks promise to be difficult. Some observers say the US's ongoing "major emitters" initiative may complicate the process.
Several media reported US officials saying that they had "serious concerns" about the Bali deal. White House spokesman Dana Perino said climate negotiators "must give sufficient emphasis to the important and appropriate role that the larger emitting developing countries should play" - a clear reference to India and China.
In a separate agreement in Bali, parties to the Kyoto protocol agreed to be fully guided by the IPCC's recommendations in setting a second round of commitments by 2009. It is intended for the two tracks - the Bali road-map and Kyoto - eventually to merge. A review of the protocol, which will focus also on how to enhance carbon markets, was also launched.
Follow-up: UNFCCC Bali website http://unfccc.int/2860.php, plus meeting outcomes http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php and UN press release http://www.un.org/climatechange/blog/index.asp. See also European commission reaction and analysis http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/588 and ENB coverage http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop13/. See reactions from the White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071215-1.html, ICC http://www.iccwbo.org/iccbidba/index.html and Greenpeace http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/bali. For more detail and a graphic first-hand account of the conference and its outcome visit the ENDS Bali Blog http://endsbali.wordpress.com/.
Friends of the Irish Environment
www.buckplanning.ie
The Bali road-map commits all developed countries to quantified greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and says "deep cuts" will be needed. Developing countries will commit to "appropriate mitigation actions".
Upon the insistence of the US, the road-map suggests no concrete emission reduction targets. But a footnote makes reference to documents from the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) which say reductions of up to 40 per cent by 2020 are needed to head off dangerous climate change.
The agreement came on Saturday afternoon after a sleepless night of high drama. Emotional speeches led by UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang eventually prompted the US to drop opposition to wording changes on developing country commitments. This led to cheers for the US delegation.
"We consider this to be a historical day with a historical outcome, everything will be different in relation to climate change," Portuguese environment minister Francisco Correia Nunes said on behalf of the EU.
The UN climate convention's secretary, Yvo de Boer, described the new agreement as "ambitious" - because it "very clearly" references the IPCC science - "transparent" - because it specifically asks business and civil society for input - and "flexible" - because it brings on board all developed and developing countries.
The business community welcomed the deal. "We are deeply satisfied," said Guy Sebban of the International chamber of commerce (ICC). "Now that we have a better perspective of what lies ahead, companies can better design their research and development programmes and their investment plans."
But others reached different conclusions. Carbon market expert Abyd Karmali of Merrill Lynch said the absence of concrete emission reduction targets in the road-map was a disappointment. And Greenpeace lamented the lack of references to "crucial cuts" and the "relegation of science to a footnote".
Meanwhile there was general approval for consensuses reached on development and transfer, and on stimulating financial flows to fund all climate change-related action.
Despite the optimism generated by the outcome at Bali, the next two years of talks promise to be difficult. Some observers say the US's ongoing "major emitters" initiative may complicate the process.
Several media reported US officials saying that they had "serious concerns" about the Bali deal. White House spokesman Dana Perino said climate negotiators "must give sufficient emphasis to the important and appropriate role that the larger emitting developing countries should play" - a clear reference to India and China.
In a separate agreement in Bali, parties to the Kyoto protocol agreed to be fully guided by the IPCC's recommendations in setting a second round of commitments by 2009. It is intended for the two tracks - the Bali road-map and Kyoto - eventually to merge. A review of the protocol, which will focus also on how to enhance carbon markets, was also launched.
Follow-up: UNFCCC Bali website http://unfccc.int/2860.php, plus meeting outcomes http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php and UN press release http://www.un.org/climatechange/blog/index.asp. See also European commission reaction and analysis http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/588 and ENB coverage http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop13/. See reactions from the White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071215-1.html, ICC http://www.iccwbo.org/iccbidba/index.html and Greenpeace http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/bali. For more detail and a graphic first-hand account of the conference and its outcome visit the ENDS Bali Blog http://endsbali.wordpress.com/.
Friends of the Irish Environment
www.buckplanning.ie
Newbridge development stalls over state of sewers
BUILDERS in the Newbridge area are losing out on millions of euro as local development is stalled owing to inadequate sewerage facilities.
While developers and builders are generally regarded as the chief beneficiaries of the recent boom years, it appears that some of those who purchased land in the Newbridge area, zoned for residential development, are now left sitting on literal-ly hundreds of acres as permission to build cannot be granted.
One builder told the Kildare Nationalist that he had purchased land three years ago and was still awaiting planning permission because the necessary infrastructure was not in place. Others have been given permission, but only on condition that development does not go ahead until the new sewerage facility is in place. In all, it is estimated that a land bank totalling around 300 acres in the Newbridge area is at present zoned residential but is unable to be developed for reasons of inadequate infrastructure.
The builders are frustrated because they say that the council would have been aware for years that the sewerage system needed to be upgraded. Furthermore, they point out that huge sums of money have been handed over by developers towards infrastructure, in the spate of building that took place over the past decade. The builder who spoke to the Kildare Nationalist stated that his company had paid almost •2m in levies designed to fund infrastructure, as part of his last residential development.
Given the current slowdown in the housing market overall, the delay in getting new homes built and onto the market is a considerable concern to developers in the area. In recent weeks, a mixed residential and commercial development in the Rickardstown area was also rejected by Kildare Co Council, citing the inadequacy of the sewerage service as one of the major reasons for the refusal.
A recent statement from the local branch of Fine Gael, however, indicated that according to calculations it carried out, an estimated •150m was paid by Newbridge people in stamp duty and VAT on new houses built between 2002 and
2007. The Fine Gael state-ment was intended to highlight the need for money collected locally in this way to be spent in the area, in terms of providing local facilities and amenities.
Asked for a comment on the issue of the sewerage capacity for Newbridge, county council spokesman Charlie Talbot said on Monday: "We have a proposal that has been approved by the Department of the Environment for the improvement of the Osberstown waste water treatment plant, which takes the sewage from Newbridge.
"This is in design review at the moment and we hope to go to public consultation by the end of 2008. This major project will be completed in 2011/2012.
"In addition, there are two advance elements to be put into place at an earlier date. These include a storm water, storage and pump house facility at Kilbelin and a new pumping station and storage capacity for foul sewage at Newhall. We would hope that these works would be completed by June 2009."
Acknowledging that the Osberstown plant is at present operating at close to capacity, Mr Talbot said that the council was currently giving planning permission priority to projects that involved an element of longer-term employment. "We would assign high priority to developments which offer local employment beyond just the construction phase itself and that applies to Newbridge and to anywhere else served by the Osberstown plant."
Mr Talbot said the reason for this was that the council had a long-term aim of tackling the problems of commuting, and creating "sustainable local employment" was viewed as a key element in resolving this issue.
Kildare Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
While developers and builders are generally regarded as the chief beneficiaries of the recent boom years, it appears that some of those who purchased land in the Newbridge area, zoned for residential development, are now left sitting on literal-ly hundreds of acres as permission to build cannot be granted.
One builder told the Kildare Nationalist that he had purchased land three years ago and was still awaiting planning permission because the necessary infrastructure was not in place. Others have been given permission, but only on condition that development does not go ahead until the new sewerage facility is in place. In all, it is estimated that a land bank totalling around 300 acres in the Newbridge area is at present zoned residential but is unable to be developed for reasons of inadequate infrastructure.
The builders are frustrated because they say that the council would have been aware for years that the sewerage system needed to be upgraded. Furthermore, they point out that huge sums of money have been handed over by developers towards infrastructure, in the spate of building that took place over the past decade. The builder who spoke to the Kildare Nationalist stated that his company had paid almost •2m in levies designed to fund infrastructure, as part of his last residential development.
Given the current slowdown in the housing market overall, the delay in getting new homes built and onto the market is a considerable concern to developers in the area. In recent weeks, a mixed residential and commercial development in the Rickardstown area was also rejected by Kildare Co Council, citing the inadequacy of the sewerage service as one of the major reasons for the refusal.
A recent statement from the local branch of Fine Gael, however, indicated that according to calculations it carried out, an estimated •150m was paid by Newbridge people in stamp duty and VAT on new houses built between 2002 and
2007. The Fine Gael state-ment was intended to highlight the need for money collected locally in this way to be spent in the area, in terms of providing local facilities and amenities.
Asked for a comment on the issue of the sewerage capacity for Newbridge, county council spokesman Charlie Talbot said on Monday: "We have a proposal that has been approved by the Department of the Environment for the improvement of the Osberstown waste water treatment plant, which takes the sewage from Newbridge.
"This is in design review at the moment and we hope to go to public consultation by the end of 2008. This major project will be completed in 2011/2012.
"In addition, there are two advance elements to be put into place at an earlier date. These include a storm water, storage and pump house facility at Kilbelin and a new pumping station and storage capacity for foul sewage at Newhall. We would hope that these works would be completed by June 2009."
Acknowledging that the Osberstown plant is at present operating at close to capacity, Mr Talbot said that the council was currently giving planning permission priority to projects that involved an element of longer-term employment. "We would assign high priority to developments which offer local employment beyond just the construction phase itself and that applies to Newbridge and to anywhere else served by the Osberstown plant."
Mr Talbot said the reason for this was that the council had a long-term aim of tackling the problems of commuting, and creating "sustainable local employment" was viewed as a key element in resolving this issue.
Kildare Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
Protest over Oranmore flooding
Residents affected by flooding in Oranmore, Co Galway staged a protest at the weekend to highlight lack of official action.
The council blames the flooding on a poorly-maintained drain, while others say that poor planning and overdevelopment may be to blame.
Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames said she was totally dissatisfied at the response from Galway County Council over the past week, when flooding occurred around the Moneymore area.
She said she had received reports of a mother without a car who couldn't get her children to school, a school bus that couldn't travel, septic tanks filling up, and refuse trucks being prevented from picking up the rubbish.
"This is a very serious health and safety issue," Senator Healy Eames said.
"For more than a week now I have been trying to resolve this with Galway council. In their view they are free of all blame and the problem is all down to a single drain which hasn't been maintained by a local developer."
She said she wasn't convinced that the drain was the sole cause of the problem.
It is understood that both the local authority and the developer are taking legal advice. "In the meantime, there is much local hardship and people in Moneymore can't lead normal lives," Senator Healy Eames said.
As the local authority had granted planning permission in the first place, it should take the lead in terms of action, she said.
The impact of development on Oranmore's floodplains has long been a source of concern to Oranmore Community Development Association, given the pressure from construction companies to take advantage of its proximity to Galway city.
One developer pursued a successful legal case against Galway County Council over zoning of the floodplain as amenity/ environment.
In February, Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for a housing development on a sensitive floodplain. The proximity of the location to low-lying coastline and to the Frenchfort stream and its "associated ecological corridor" was cited by the appeals board as one of the main reasons for its decision. This corridor links two designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
Lorna Siggins
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The council blames the flooding on a poorly-maintained drain, while others say that poor planning and overdevelopment may be to blame.
Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames said she was totally dissatisfied at the response from Galway County Council over the past week, when flooding occurred around the Moneymore area.
She said she had received reports of a mother without a car who couldn't get her children to school, a school bus that couldn't travel, septic tanks filling up, and refuse trucks being prevented from picking up the rubbish.
"This is a very serious health and safety issue," Senator Healy Eames said.
"For more than a week now I have been trying to resolve this with Galway council. In their view they are free of all blame and the problem is all down to a single drain which hasn't been maintained by a local developer."
She said she wasn't convinced that the drain was the sole cause of the problem.
It is understood that both the local authority and the developer are taking legal advice. "In the meantime, there is much local hardship and people in Moneymore can't lead normal lives," Senator Healy Eames said.
As the local authority had granted planning permission in the first place, it should take the lead in terms of action, she said.
The impact of development on Oranmore's floodplains has long been a source of concern to Oranmore Community Development Association, given the pressure from construction companies to take advantage of its proximity to Galway city.
One developer pursued a successful legal case against Galway County Council over zoning of the floodplain as amenity/ environment.
In February, Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for a housing development on a sensitive floodplain. The proximity of the location to low-lying coastline and to the Frenchfort stream and its "associated ecological corridor" was cited by the appeals board as one of the main reasons for its decision. This corridor links two designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
Lorna Siggins
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Allen the Fall Guy?
AS THE saga continues surrounding the issue of Cllr. Lorcan Allen's involvement in excessive land zoning in Gorey and his alleged subsequent bust up with fellow Cllr. Malcolm Byrne, the Local Government Enquiry Forum has asked the question is Cllr. Allen to be used as the fall guy, while the real issues at the centre of this controversy are left untouched.
In a statement this week released by the Forum, the question was asked can the Fianna Fáil Party afford such a bust up and the departure of one of its longest serving members.
"Whether the party is big enough to accommodate Cllr. Allen after his performance on Prime Time is another question. Whether it can survive without him is even closer to the point. If he goes will he bring the heart and soul of the party with him? A culture of playing wild and loose with the rules has been well inculcated into the body politic in the county. It didn't happen over night. The display on Prime Time was a well practised seasoned ideology without content or direction, symptomatic of a grab all quick buck culture. Too much land was zoned in Gorey, fine, but who made the decisions. Who stood to gain, more importantly, who will suffer the consequences?"
According to the Forum, Cllr. Allen is not alone where bad planning practices have been put in place across the county and the entire system must be addressed as well as individuals.
"Planning permission is the problem. So that constituents can be accommodated Co. Councillors have to cooperate with planning executives. The ballot box always beckons. Compromise becomes paramount, a working relationship develops. This leads to the slippery slope where roles become confused. It is not the role of the councillor to pander to the whim of the executives. Planning permission should be available by right not given on the basis of preferment.
"The councillors should not have to sell their souls in order to keep on the right side of officials; the tail should not wag the dog. The Co. Councillors are elected to represent the public good not to do the bidding of paid executives. They are also elected to look after public assets. They are not doing this. They might as well not be there at all."
The statement also suggested that should Cllr. Allen walk from Fianna Fáil, then what becomes of the greater issue at hand.
"Is Cllr. Allen being used as the fall guy to distract attention away from other more contentious areas? If he leaves the party as threatened will this act as a safety valve. A sacrificial lamb so that other reputations maybe salvaged. Prime Time was only the tip of the iceberg. It would be ironic that after all the promise the programme served to allay the fears of those parties involved in the racecourse deal rather than confound them."
This week the suggestions that Cllr. Allen may walk have not become reality and both he and Cllr. Byrne are still members.
Cllr. Byrne told the Gorey Echo that he never called for the resignation of his party colleague and that he will make himself available for any mediation talks suggested by Fianna Fáil but still stands over his recently expressed views.
Cllr. Allen refused to comment on the issue this week.
Deborah Coleman
Gorey Echo
www.buckplanning.ie
In a statement this week released by the Forum, the question was asked can the Fianna Fáil Party afford such a bust up and the departure of one of its longest serving members.
"Whether the party is big enough to accommodate Cllr. Allen after his performance on Prime Time is another question. Whether it can survive without him is even closer to the point. If he goes will he bring the heart and soul of the party with him? A culture of playing wild and loose with the rules has been well inculcated into the body politic in the county. It didn't happen over night. The display on Prime Time was a well practised seasoned ideology without content or direction, symptomatic of a grab all quick buck culture. Too much land was zoned in Gorey, fine, but who made the decisions. Who stood to gain, more importantly, who will suffer the consequences?"
According to the Forum, Cllr. Allen is not alone where bad planning practices have been put in place across the county and the entire system must be addressed as well as individuals.
"Planning permission is the problem. So that constituents can be accommodated Co. Councillors have to cooperate with planning executives. The ballot box always beckons. Compromise becomes paramount, a working relationship develops. This leads to the slippery slope where roles become confused. It is not the role of the councillor to pander to the whim of the executives. Planning permission should be available by right not given on the basis of preferment.
"The councillors should not have to sell their souls in order to keep on the right side of officials; the tail should not wag the dog. The Co. Councillors are elected to represent the public good not to do the bidding of paid executives. They are also elected to look after public assets. They are not doing this. They might as well not be there at all."
The statement also suggested that should Cllr. Allen walk from Fianna Fáil, then what becomes of the greater issue at hand.
"Is Cllr. Allen being used as the fall guy to distract attention away from other more contentious areas? If he leaves the party as threatened will this act as a safety valve. A sacrificial lamb so that other reputations maybe salvaged. Prime Time was only the tip of the iceberg. It would be ironic that after all the promise the programme served to allay the fears of those parties involved in the racecourse deal rather than confound them."
This week the suggestions that Cllr. Allen may walk have not become reality and both he and Cllr. Byrne are still members.
Cllr. Byrne told the Gorey Echo that he never called for the resignation of his party colleague and that he will make himself available for any mediation talks suggested by Fianna Fáil but still stands over his recently expressed views.
Cllr. Allen refused to comment on the issue this week.
Deborah Coleman
Gorey Echo
www.buckplanning.ie
Parking meters a first for city
A SOLAR-POWERED pay and display parking system will be introduced in selected locations in Cork this week.
It will be the first time the city has seen parking meters on the streets.
Installation of the coin- operated machines on the South Mall, Fr Mathew Quay and Morrison’s Quay will begin today.
The system will be live in some areas within days and across the zone by next month.
Motorists will have the option of using this method of paying for parking, of using the traditional parking disc method or the city’s award-winning pay-by-phone system.
The price — €1.80 an hour — will remain the same for all methods of paying for parking.
The uptake by motorists of the pay and display system, as well as its back-office computer operations, will be closely monitored for the 12- month trial period before a decision is taken on whether to expand it further.
The city council has agreed to cover the costs of running and maintaining the system.
Independent Councillor Dave McCarthy, who has called repeatedly for the roll-out of this system, welcomed the news.
“This system will be of tremendous help to people who up until now risked being clamped, or ticketed while searching for an outlet that sells parking discs,” he said.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
It will be the first time the city has seen parking meters on the streets.
Installation of the coin- operated machines on the South Mall, Fr Mathew Quay and Morrison’s Quay will begin today.
The system will be live in some areas within days and across the zone by next month.
Motorists will have the option of using this method of paying for parking, of using the traditional parking disc method or the city’s award-winning pay-by-phone system.
The price — €1.80 an hour — will remain the same for all methods of paying for parking.
The uptake by motorists of the pay and display system, as well as its back-office computer operations, will be closely monitored for the 12- month trial period before a decision is taken on whether to expand it further.
The city council has agreed to cover the costs of running and maintaining the system.
Independent Councillor Dave McCarthy, who has called repeatedly for the roll-out of this system, welcomed the news.
“This system will be of tremendous help to people who up until now risked being clamped, or ticketed while searching for an outlet that sells parking discs,” he said.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Village's big conservation bill is a bridge too far for local council
DESPERATE attempts to protect a famous 14th century bridge from the ravages of modern traffic have undermined a village's attempts to expand tourism and industrial investment.
Now, the Government has been urged to sanction a special one-off grant package for a new bridge for the village of Glanworth in north Cork after council members acknowledged that financing such a project would consume most of their entire regional budget.
Glanworth village is famed for its narrow stone bridge. It is ranked as one of the finest medieval stone bridges in Europe -- and has been crossed by kings, chieftains and even Oliver Cromwell, according to local legend.
Despite its size -- it ranks as one of the narrowest stone bridges in Europe -- it remained in full use, even for heavy vehicles, until a decade ago. But when an accident involving a heavy lorry demolished part of the approach to the bridge, tough traffic restrictions were imposed to protect the structure.
These measures have successfully protected the bridge from excessive wear-and-tear -- but locals are now worried that it has also limited the attraction of Glanworth as a tourism and investment location.
Labour TD Sean Sherlock said that the magnificent bridge should underpin a money-spinning tourism industry for the village -- if it could be complemented by a modern bridge for easy access.
Such enhanced access would help make the village -- which also boasts a picturesque mill, castle and abbey -- more attractive for small-and-medium scale investment.
Local councillor Kevin O'Keefe (FF) said: "The simple fact is that the village is being slowly suffocated.
"On the one hand, it has a magnificent medieval bridge but then, on the other, it can't exploit the potential of the bridge because of the traffic problems in the village."
Ralph Riegel
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Now, the Government has been urged to sanction a special one-off grant package for a new bridge for the village of Glanworth in north Cork after council members acknowledged that financing such a project would consume most of their entire regional budget.
Glanworth village is famed for its narrow stone bridge. It is ranked as one of the finest medieval stone bridges in Europe -- and has been crossed by kings, chieftains and even Oliver Cromwell, according to local legend.
Despite its size -- it ranks as one of the narrowest stone bridges in Europe -- it remained in full use, even for heavy vehicles, until a decade ago. But when an accident involving a heavy lorry demolished part of the approach to the bridge, tough traffic restrictions were imposed to protect the structure.
These measures have successfully protected the bridge from excessive wear-and-tear -- but locals are now worried that it has also limited the attraction of Glanworth as a tourism and investment location.
Labour TD Sean Sherlock said that the magnificent bridge should underpin a money-spinning tourism industry for the village -- if it could be complemented by a modern bridge for easy access.
Such enhanced access would help make the village -- which also boasts a picturesque mill, castle and abbey -- more attractive for small-and-medium scale investment.
Local councillor Kevin O'Keefe (FF) said: "The simple fact is that the village is being slowly suffocated.
"On the one hand, it has a magnificent medieval bridge but then, on the other, it can't exploit the potential of the bridge because of the traffic problems in the village."
Ralph Riegel
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
City goes back to future with harbour ferry plan
AN IRISH city is to go back to the future with a novel new transport project which aims revive its historic harbour ferries.
Cork is now considering a special ferry service to link the city with booming harbour towns -- for the first time in more than 100 years.
The proposal has been hailed as a 'green' transport initiative that might also create a major tourist attraction.
Harbour Cat Ferries is proposing to contract for a speedy vessel to link the city quays with Cobh, Crosshaven, Passage West, Monkstown and even Haulbowline Island.
Cork is also considering a proposal to reinstate its famous 19th century tram-cable car service to link the city centre with Patrick's Hill.
The tram-cable car proposal has been tabled as offering a potentially huge tourism attraction similar to San Francisco's famous trams.
However, the harbour ferry has been endorsed by both business groups and politicians, who have hailed it as a practical answer to transport needs. Green Party senator Dan Boyle said Cork should seek to exploit the enormous potential of its waterways to ease traffic on busy city roads.
Under the new proposal, Harbour Cat Ferries would provide a privately-funded vessel, and the local authorities would supply docking facilities.
The last ferrymen disappeared from Cork harbour and the River Lee in the late 1980s after a crackdown on unlicensed operators -- who ferried GAA fans across the river to Pairc Ui Chaoimh for major matches.
Ralph Riegel
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Cork is now considering a special ferry service to link the city with booming harbour towns -- for the first time in more than 100 years.
The proposal has been hailed as a 'green' transport initiative that might also create a major tourist attraction.
Harbour Cat Ferries is proposing to contract for a speedy vessel to link the city quays with Cobh, Crosshaven, Passage West, Monkstown and even Haulbowline Island.
Cork is also considering a proposal to reinstate its famous 19th century tram-cable car service to link the city centre with Patrick's Hill.
The tram-cable car proposal has been tabled as offering a potentially huge tourism attraction similar to San Francisco's famous trams.
However, the harbour ferry has been endorsed by both business groups and politicians, who have hailed it as a practical answer to transport needs. Green Party senator Dan Boyle said Cork should seek to exploit the enormous potential of its waterways to ease traffic on busy city roads.
Under the new proposal, Harbour Cat Ferries would provide a privately-funded vessel, and the local authorities would supply docking facilities.
The last ferrymen disappeared from Cork harbour and the River Lee in the late 1980s after a crackdown on unlicensed operators -- who ferried GAA fans across the river to Pairc Ui Chaoimh for major matches.
Ralph Riegel
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 14 December 2007
€46m sculpture planned for Liffey
A MASSIVE human sculpture could tower over Dublin if a planning application lodged yesterday is given the green light.
The €46m figure — almost half the height of Dublin’s landmark Spire — is to be sited on the River Liffey in the city next to the Seán O’Casey bridge.
It was designed by artist Antony Gormley, best known for the Angel Of The North in England.
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority confirmed a planning application was lodged with the city council yesterday.
The final site was chosen because of its prominent location.
The authority’s chief executive Paul Maloney said: “It is positioned at a point between the old and new development areas of Dublin city and on a prominent site when viewed along the Liffey corridor and along one of the main thoroughfares down to the River Liffey.
“It is also at a location where north/south and east/west pedestrian movements intersect.
“In addition, the proposed site allows the sculpture to be viewed against the skyline within an area of Dublin that has low-rise buildings on both sides of the river and it does not interfere with navigation on the River Liffey.”
The sculpture would have a huge impact on Dublin’s quickly changing docklands area, where there are already plans for Ireland’s first skyscraper, the U2 Tower.
The Spire came to signify Ireland’s Celtic Tiger economy and towers O’Connell Street, near the proposed site of the sculpture.
Subject to planning permission, construction is likely to start on the €1.6m project during 2008 and will take about a year.
It will be built in sections off-site and then welded together on-site over a three-month period. Painted black and unlit, it would be put on a single pile driven into the river bedrock.
Gormley’s Angel Of The North has become one of the best-known artistic landmarks in Europe.
Any submissions must be made within five weeks to Dublin City Council’s planning office.
Irish Examiner
The €46m figure — almost half the height of Dublin’s landmark Spire — is to be sited on the River Liffey in the city next to the Seán O’Casey bridge.
It was designed by artist Antony Gormley, best known for the Angel Of The North in England.
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority confirmed a planning application was lodged with the city council yesterday.
The final site was chosen because of its prominent location.
The authority’s chief executive Paul Maloney said: “It is positioned at a point between the old and new development areas of Dublin city and on a prominent site when viewed along the Liffey corridor and along one of the main thoroughfares down to the River Liffey.
“It is also at a location where north/south and east/west pedestrian movements intersect.
“In addition, the proposed site allows the sculpture to be viewed against the skyline within an area of Dublin that has low-rise buildings on both sides of the river and it does not interfere with navigation on the River Liffey.”
The sculpture would have a huge impact on Dublin’s quickly changing docklands area, where there are already plans for Ireland’s first skyscraper, the U2 Tower.
The Spire came to signify Ireland’s Celtic Tiger economy and towers O’Connell Street, near the proposed site of the sculpture.
Subject to planning permission, construction is likely to start on the €1.6m project during 2008 and will take about a year.
It will be built in sections off-site and then welded together on-site over a three-month period. Painted black and unlit, it would be put on a single pile driven into the river bedrock.
Gormley’s Angel Of The North has become one of the best-known artistic landmarks in Europe.
Any submissions must be made within five weeks to Dublin City Council’s planning office.
Irish Examiner
Transport to blame for increase in CO2 emissions
PRIVATE cars, haulage trucks and air travel are driving Ireland's growth in CO2 emissions and energy consumption, according to two new reports published yesterday.
The reports, by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), show that if transport, excluding international flights, had experienced no growth in 2006, the country's overall carbon emissions would have dropped by almost 3pc.
The sector took up more than a third of Ireland's overall carbon emissions and 41pc of final energy demand.
Every area except transport, and including industry and electricity generation, recorded a decrease or small increase in energy-related carbon emissions.
And, with an increase of more than 7pc in energy consumption and emissions, it was the fastest growing sector in 2006.
Overall, Ireland's carbon-related energy emissions increased by 0.4pc last year and energy use increased by 1pc.
Although the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources said the reports showed that reductions in carbon emissions were possible, he singled out transport as a problem area.
"Transport remains an increasing area of energy use," Eamon Ryan said. "Even without the spectre of climate change, we will have to alter how we travel and how we fuel that travel."
The two reports, one on Energy in Ireland and the other on Energy in Transport, also illustrate the growth in car ownership since 1990, with the number of cars on the road growing by almost 50pc by 2006. A 5pc increase was recorded for last year alone.
And not only were more cars bought -- purchases of higher-polluting cars also increased.
In 1990, the largest share of private cars was below the 1.2 litre mark.
In 2006, the dominant share of private cars was in the 1.2 to 1.5 litre range. The number of cars on the road with engine sizes over 1.7 litres has grown from 13pc to 29pc.
However, sales of bigger polluting cars may drop when the new carbon-based car tax system takes effect from next July.
SEI's report on transport also shows that, since 1990, energy use by road freight has jumped by 255pc, car transport energy has more than doubled and energy use by air transport has risen by two-and-a-half times.
Dependency
Virtually all energy use in the transport sector was dependent on imported oil products.
Although the reports showed that renewable energy in Ireland grew by 15pc in 2006, with the highest increase coming in the wind energy sector, Labour's Liz McManus described the figures as "pitiful".
"In 2006, the contribution made by renewable energy sources, like wind power, only reached 5pc of our total energy requirements," she said.
"Even in electricity generation the results are disappointing. Renewable energy only contributed 8.6pc to electricity generation."
Fiach Kelly
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The reports, by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), show that if transport, excluding international flights, had experienced no growth in 2006, the country's overall carbon emissions would have dropped by almost 3pc.
The sector took up more than a third of Ireland's overall carbon emissions and 41pc of final energy demand.
Every area except transport, and including industry and electricity generation, recorded a decrease or small increase in energy-related carbon emissions.
And, with an increase of more than 7pc in energy consumption and emissions, it was the fastest growing sector in 2006.
Overall, Ireland's carbon-related energy emissions increased by 0.4pc last year and energy use increased by 1pc.
Although the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources said the reports showed that reductions in carbon emissions were possible, he singled out transport as a problem area.
"Transport remains an increasing area of energy use," Eamon Ryan said. "Even without the spectre of climate change, we will have to alter how we travel and how we fuel that travel."
The two reports, one on Energy in Ireland and the other on Energy in Transport, also illustrate the growth in car ownership since 1990, with the number of cars on the road growing by almost 50pc by 2006. A 5pc increase was recorded for last year alone.
And not only were more cars bought -- purchases of higher-polluting cars also increased.
In 1990, the largest share of private cars was below the 1.2 litre mark.
In 2006, the dominant share of private cars was in the 1.2 to 1.5 litre range. The number of cars on the road with engine sizes over 1.7 litres has grown from 13pc to 29pc.
However, sales of bigger polluting cars may drop when the new carbon-based car tax system takes effect from next July.
SEI's report on transport also shows that, since 1990, energy use by road freight has jumped by 255pc, car transport energy has more than doubled and energy use by air transport has risen by two-and-a-half times.
Dependency
Virtually all energy use in the transport sector was dependent on imported oil products.
Although the reports showed that renewable energy in Ireland grew by 15pc in 2006, with the highest increase coming in the wind energy sector, Labour's Liz McManus described the figures as "pitiful".
"In 2006, the contribution made by renewable energy sources, like wind power, only reached 5pc of our total energy requirements," she said.
"Even in electricity generation the results are disappointing. Renewable energy only contributed 8.6pc to electricity generation."
Fiach Kelly
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 13 December 2007
How barrier-free tolling system will operate
Motorists using the M50 motorway from next August will have three payment options.
The first is a pre-paid electronic tag, under which the toll will be €2. These tags are operated by up to six different companies. Users will have to register and deposit at least €36 with one of the companies. They will have to top up by at least €18 when the initial deposit expires or they will no longer have the facility. There is a monthly administration fee, which will range from 36c to €1 depending on which company is used. There is no registration fee.
The second system, which involves a €2.5 toll, is for drivers who use a number plate-based account system. You register and give your car number details as well as your credit or debit card details.
The third is for those who pay for each trip separately. They will pay €3. There will be a machine in shops where you can register your car's number plate and pay. Bills must be paid by 8pm the day after use of the toll. Otherwise a bill will be posted to you.
If the bill is not paid within 10 days, you incur a penalty of €3. Failure to pay will invoke a minimum €40 fine and possible prosecution. Cameras mounted above each carriageway of the motorway photographs number plate details of the vehicles using the toll road.
Specialist equipment detects if an oncoming vehicle has an electronic tag fitted. Equipment is connected with the National Vehicle Driver Database, which has names and addresses of every vehicle owner.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The first is a pre-paid electronic tag, under which the toll will be €2. These tags are operated by up to six different companies. Users will have to register and deposit at least €36 with one of the companies. They will have to top up by at least €18 when the initial deposit expires or they will no longer have the facility. There is a monthly administration fee, which will range from 36c to €1 depending on which company is used. There is no registration fee.
The second system, which involves a €2.5 toll, is for drivers who use a number plate-based account system. You register and give your car number details as well as your credit or debit card details.
The third is for those who pay for each trip separately. They will pay €3. There will be a machine in shops where you can register your car's number plate and pay. Bills must be paid by 8pm the day after use of the toll. Otherwise a bill will be posted to you.
If the bill is not paid within 10 days, you incur a penalty of €3. Failure to pay will invoke a minimum €40 fine and possible prosecution. Cameras mounted above each carriageway of the motorway photographs number plate details of the vehicles using the toll road.
Specialist equipment detects if an oncoming vehicle has an electronic tag fitted. Equipment is connected with the National Vehicle Driver Database, which has names and addresses of every vehicle owner.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Barrier-free toll to cost 50pc more in new plan
Those who use the M50 motorway occasionally face paying tolls 50pc higher than the normal charge, when barrier-free tolling is introduced next year.
And drivers who refuse to pay toll fees face fines of at least €40 -- and the possibility of being brought to court.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday revealed that, from August, motorists who use a pre-paid electronic tag on the M50 will pay €2 per trip.
Those who set up a number plate-based payment account will pay €2.50. But car owners who do not have a tag, or do not have an account, will be hit with a €3 toll.
The move has been slammed by consumer groups which said it was "unfair" and "anti-consumer". They said that, unless the system was changed, people would avoid using the upgraded motorway.
The charges were outlined at a public hearing into the tolling system yesterday. The NRA has had six objections to its proposals to remove barriers and replace them with electronic tolling.
The move is certain to affect thousands of holidaymakers from outside the capital who make their way to Dublin Airport via the motorway every summer.
Unfair
Hauliers without an account will also be hit with increased charges of up to €6.10 per journey, while concerns have been raised on whether cars from outside the state could be tolled.
National Consumer Agency chairwoman Ann Fitzgerald said it made "no economic sense" for occasional users to purchase an electronic tag.
"It forces you to get a tag," she said. "This is the first time that barrier-free tolling has been used and it's going to be rolled-out across the country so it has to be fair," she said.
"There's a tag with hidden charges. If you're an occasional user it makes no sense. It's a question of doing it in a fair way."
Consumers Association of Ireland chief Dermott Jewell said there should be no difference in the tolls paid. The measure was "inequitable, unfair and anti-consumer", he said.
Some 90,000 motorists a day use the M50 and earlier this year the Government paid a reported €600m to buy back the road from National Toll Roads, which operated the Westlink toll bridge.
The NRA admitted that when barrier-free tolling was introduced next August, some motorists from outside Ireland would escape paying the charge.
Not until a pan-European database of vehicle registrations was available could it guarantee that all vehicles would pay the toll, a spokesman said.
The AA described the proposed system as a "monster in the making", saying it would be overly complex and costly. It would cost €25m a year to run, and a two cent per litre "infrastructure levy" on fuel should be introduced instead of a toll.
"What the NRA is proposing for the M50 is insanely complex and enormously expensive," AA public affairs manager Conor Faughnan said, labelling it, "an expensive and complex mechanism for collecting a tax".
He added of the €80m collected in revenue each year, over 30pc would disappear in costs, which was "scandalously wasteful".
But the NRA defended the new system, saying that tags would allow motorists to use any tolled road in the country. Incentive schemes were common in countries which used barrier-free tolling, as using an electronic tag resulted in lower administration costs.
On the increased charges for hauliers, a spokesman said that truckers paid lower tolls on the Westlink toll bridge because the cost of the trip was subsidised by the taxpayer. The improved motorway would result in speedier journey times, leading to savings.
Paul Melia
www.buckplanning.ie
And drivers who refuse to pay toll fees face fines of at least €40 -- and the possibility of being brought to court.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday revealed that, from August, motorists who use a pre-paid electronic tag on the M50 will pay €2 per trip.
Those who set up a number plate-based payment account will pay €2.50. But car owners who do not have a tag, or do not have an account, will be hit with a €3 toll.
The move has been slammed by consumer groups which said it was "unfair" and "anti-consumer". They said that, unless the system was changed, people would avoid using the upgraded motorway.
The charges were outlined at a public hearing into the tolling system yesterday. The NRA has had six objections to its proposals to remove barriers and replace them with electronic tolling.
The move is certain to affect thousands of holidaymakers from outside the capital who make their way to Dublin Airport via the motorway every summer.
Unfair
Hauliers without an account will also be hit with increased charges of up to €6.10 per journey, while concerns have been raised on whether cars from outside the state could be tolled.
National Consumer Agency chairwoman Ann Fitzgerald said it made "no economic sense" for occasional users to purchase an electronic tag.
"It forces you to get a tag," she said. "This is the first time that barrier-free tolling has been used and it's going to be rolled-out across the country so it has to be fair," she said.
"There's a tag with hidden charges. If you're an occasional user it makes no sense. It's a question of doing it in a fair way."
Consumers Association of Ireland chief Dermott Jewell said there should be no difference in the tolls paid. The measure was "inequitable, unfair and anti-consumer", he said.
Some 90,000 motorists a day use the M50 and earlier this year the Government paid a reported €600m to buy back the road from National Toll Roads, which operated the Westlink toll bridge.
The NRA admitted that when barrier-free tolling was introduced next August, some motorists from outside Ireland would escape paying the charge.
Not until a pan-European database of vehicle registrations was available could it guarantee that all vehicles would pay the toll, a spokesman said.
The AA described the proposed system as a "monster in the making", saying it would be overly complex and costly. It would cost €25m a year to run, and a two cent per litre "infrastructure levy" on fuel should be introduced instead of a toll.
"What the NRA is proposing for the M50 is insanely complex and enormously expensive," AA public affairs manager Conor Faughnan said, labelling it, "an expensive and complex mechanism for collecting a tax".
He added of the €80m collected in revenue each year, over 30pc would disappear in costs, which was "scandalously wasteful".
But the NRA defended the new system, saying that tags would allow motorists to use any tolled road in the country. Incentive schemes were common in countries which used barrier-free tolling, as using an electronic tag resulted in lower administration costs.
On the increased charges for hauliers, a spokesman said that truckers paid lower tolls on the Westlink toll bridge because the cost of the trip was subsidised by the taxpayer. The improved motorway would result in speedier journey times, leading to savings.
Paul Melia
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
€200m Tralee retail development draws concerns from businesses
OBJECTIONS are already surfacing to yet another huge shopping development planned for Tralee.
The proposed €200 million retail complex is destined to change the face of Kerry’s county town.
Backed by a Kerry consortium, the project envisages the creation of 1,000 jobs in a redeveloped Austin Stack Park, the county’s GAA grounds.
Reportedly the biggest project of its kind in Kerry, the proposed promoters are businessmen John Casey and Seamus O’Halloran.
But, among those lodging reservations or making submissions to Tralee Town Council about the project, are Tralee Chamber of Commerce, the Garvey supermarket group and Denis Rusk, manager of the town’s Manor West Retail Park.
Their concerns include traffic congestion, lack of parking facilities and fears that a development of such a huge scale would threaten the survival of existing business in Tralee town centre.
The council has already rezoned Austin Stack Park from “park/recreation” to “town centre” status, paving the way for the building of a large number of shops, including a high-profile anchor tenant, brand name stores, a financial services centre and up to 2,000 parking spaces.
The development would also see the GAA move to a new 15,000-seater stadium, a mile away at Ballybeggan Park Racecourse which is soon to be sold.
Tralee town councillor Kieran Moriarty said the council had unanimously decided to rezone the Austin Stack property.
He claimed the Garvey group and others were objecting because the development would “provide competition for them in their own backyard”.
He said any project creating 1,000 jobs should be welcomed.
“If this project gets the go-ahead, it will be a massive boost for Tralee,” Mr Moriarty said. “It will send out the signal that Tralee is vibrant and willing to accept competition.” Meanwhile, the long-running row about plans by Marks and Spencer (M&S) to open in Tralee is unresolved and a decision on whether M&S can proceed is expected, next month.
Town centre businesses claimed they would lose €17.5m to the& store, earmarked for the Manor West Retail Park, on the southside of the town.
A decision by Tralee Town Council to reject the €6m M&S plan provoked public fury earlier this year. Councillors said they took the decision to protect the town centre where businesses are being hit by competition from out-of-town shopping facilities in Manor West.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The proposed €200 million retail complex is destined to change the face of Kerry’s county town.
Backed by a Kerry consortium, the project envisages the creation of 1,000 jobs in a redeveloped Austin Stack Park, the county’s GAA grounds.
Reportedly the biggest project of its kind in Kerry, the proposed promoters are businessmen John Casey and Seamus O’Halloran.
But, among those lodging reservations or making submissions to Tralee Town Council about the project, are Tralee Chamber of Commerce, the Garvey supermarket group and Denis Rusk, manager of the town’s Manor West Retail Park.
Their concerns include traffic congestion, lack of parking facilities and fears that a development of such a huge scale would threaten the survival of existing business in Tralee town centre.
The council has already rezoned Austin Stack Park from “park/recreation” to “town centre” status, paving the way for the building of a large number of shops, including a high-profile anchor tenant, brand name stores, a financial services centre and up to 2,000 parking spaces.
The development would also see the GAA move to a new 15,000-seater stadium, a mile away at Ballybeggan Park Racecourse which is soon to be sold.
Tralee town councillor Kieran Moriarty said the council had unanimously decided to rezone the Austin Stack property.
He claimed the Garvey group and others were objecting because the development would “provide competition for them in their own backyard”.
He said any project creating 1,000 jobs should be welcomed.
“If this project gets the go-ahead, it will be a massive boost for Tralee,” Mr Moriarty said. “It will send out the signal that Tralee is vibrant and willing to accept competition.” Meanwhile, the long-running row about plans by Marks and Spencer (M&S) to open in Tralee is unresolved and a decision on whether M&S can proceed is expected, next month.
Town centre businesses claimed they would lose €17.5m to the& store, earmarked for the Manor West Retail Park, on the southside of the town.
A decision by Tralee Town Council to reject the €6m M&S plan provoked public fury earlier this year. Councillors said they took the decision to protect the town centre where businesses are being hit by competition from out-of-town shopping facilities in Manor West.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Windfarms in Wicklow
The future of the Arklow offshore windfarm looks even less certain this week with owners Airtricity, putting themselves on the market for and estimated €2 billion.The Arklow windbank was to be the jewel in the crown for the company. Originally designed to have 200 turbines, only seven went in and Airtricity stalled on the project citing paltry government subsidies for offshore,
The future of the Arklow offshore windfarm looks even less certain this week with owners Airtricity, putting themselves on the market for and estimated €2 billion.
The Arklow windbank was to be the jewel in the crown for the company. Originally designed to have 200 turbines, only seven went in and Airtricity stalled on the project citing paltry government subsidies for offshore, as opposed to onshore wind energy projects.
Wicklow People
www.buckplanning.ie
The future of the Arklow offshore windfarm looks even less certain this week with owners Airtricity, putting themselves on the market for and estimated €2 billion.
The Arklow windbank was to be the jewel in the crown for the company. Originally designed to have 200 turbines, only seven went in and Airtricity stalled on the project citing paltry government subsidies for offshore, as opposed to onshore wind energy projects.
Wicklow People
www.buckplanning.ie
New plan for Corrib gas to avoid more homes
NEW routes unveiled yesterday for the controversial Corrib gas pipeline in north Co Mayo will avoid more houses than under the original plan.
Shell said the new routes are variations on the two previously shortlisted options for bringing gas ashore in Co Mayo.
One would limit the distance the pipeline crosses unspoiled bogland in Rossport, while the other would mean a shorter route through Sruwaddacon Bay.
Both are further away from housing than the original proposal.
The project, which promises to generate 60pc of Ireland's gas supply for the next 20 years, has been dogged by massive delays, objections protests and clashes with gardai.
Interested parties have until January 18 to make submissions on the new routes
RPS, the consultants appointed by Shell E&P Ireland Limited (SEPIL) to facilitate the identification of a new pipeline route for the Corrib gas project, said the two new routes (corridors A1 and C1 on the map) are variations of two of the previously short-listed corridors.
They were identified following further technical and environmental studies as well as feedback from the public consultation process.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Shell said the new routes are variations on the two previously shortlisted options for bringing gas ashore in Co Mayo.
One would limit the distance the pipeline crosses unspoiled bogland in Rossport, while the other would mean a shorter route through Sruwaddacon Bay.
Both are further away from housing than the original proposal.
The project, which promises to generate 60pc of Ireland's gas supply for the next 20 years, has been dogged by massive delays, objections protests and clashes with gardai.
Interested parties have until January 18 to make submissions on the new routes
RPS, the consultants appointed by Shell E&P Ireland Limited (SEPIL) to facilitate the identification of a new pipeline route for the Corrib gas project, said the two new routes (corridors A1 and C1 on the map) are variations of two of the previously short-listed corridors.
They were identified following further technical and environmental studies as well as feedback from the public consultation process.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Dunne in legal challenge to Dublin docklands development
Property developer Seán Dunne has brought legal proceedings challenging a decision by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority that a €200 million development on Dublin's north quays, which surrounds on three sides development lands owned by Mr Dunne, is exempted development.
Mr Dunne claims the development is unauthorised and that the docklands authority was wrong to conclude it was an exempted development and so did not require planning permission.
He claims a certificate of exempted development was invalid and unlawfully issued because the proposed development did not comply with the objective of the Docklands North Lotts planning scheme, including the objective of providing an east-west route between New Wapping Street and Castleforbes Road.
The height and design of the development are also inconsistent with the planning scheme, Mr Dunne claims. A "monolithic" eight-storey apartment block proposed to the immediate eastern boundary of his property has no regard for planning issues, he claims.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday admitted to the Commercial Court list two related sets of proceedings arising from the decision of the docks authority of July 13th last that a proposed development by Liam Carroll's North Quay Investments Ltd, at a site bounded by North Wall Quay, New Wapping Street, Mayor Street and Castleforbes Road, Dublin, was exempted development.
The action has been taken by Mr Dunne and North Wall Property Holding Company Ltd, with registered offices in the Isle of Man, against the docks authority and North Quay Investments.
Garrett Simons, for Mr Dunne and North Wall Properties, said the development is proceeding and his side was anxious for an early hearing date.
In a second set of proceedings brought under Section 160 of the Planning and Development Act 1960, Mr Dunne and North Wall Properties are seeking orders restraining alleged unauthorised works on the site of the disputed development and also want an order requiring restoration of the lands.
According to court documents, development has already begun on the site, with €15 million spent to date by North Quay Investment, which has expressed concern that the uncertainty caused by the proceedings had the potential to have serious adverse economic consequences for it.
Mr Justice Kelly fixed the judicial review case for hearing on January 22nd.
Mary Carolan
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Dunne claims the development is unauthorised and that the docklands authority was wrong to conclude it was an exempted development and so did not require planning permission.
He claims a certificate of exempted development was invalid and unlawfully issued because the proposed development did not comply with the objective of the Docklands North Lotts planning scheme, including the objective of providing an east-west route between New Wapping Street and Castleforbes Road.
The height and design of the development are also inconsistent with the planning scheme, Mr Dunne claims. A "monolithic" eight-storey apartment block proposed to the immediate eastern boundary of his property has no regard for planning issues, he claims.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday admitted to the Commercial Court list two related sets of proceedings arising from the decision of the docks authority of July 13th last that a proposed development by Liam Carroll's North Quay Investments Ltd, at a site bounded by North Wall Quay, New Wapping Street, Mayor Street and Castleforbes Road, Dublin, was exempted development.
The action has been taken by Mr Dunne and North Wall Property Holding Company Ltd, with registered offices in the Isle of Man, against the docks authority and North Quay Investments.
Garrett Simons, for Mr Dunne and North Wall Properties, said the development is proceeding and his side was anxious for an early hearing date.
In a second set of proceedings brought under Section 160 of the Planning and Development Act 1960, Mr Dunne and North Wall Properties are seeking orders restraining alleged unauthorised works on the site of the disputed development and also want an order requiring restoration of the lands.
According to court documents, development has already begun on the site, with €15 million spent to date by North Quay Investment, which has expressed concern that the uncertainty caused by the proceedings had the potential to have serious adverse economic consequences for it.
Mr Justice Kelly fixed the judicial review case for hearing on January 22nd.
Mary Carolan
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tax breaks for Cork docks renewal not assured
Tax incentives in the Finance Act will be crucial to the €2 billion redevelopment of the Cork docklands area but special tax breaks cannot be guaranteed at this juncture, according to Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin.
Following the inaugural meeting of the Cork Docklands Development Forum in the city, Mr Martin said all tax breaks were subject to discussion but the forum would attempt to get to the "nitty-gritty" of these issues.
He refuted Opposition criticism that tax incentives should have been allocated in the Budget.
"Clearly the Finance Act is where tax changes happen in terms of urban designation. It never happens in a budget."
Mr Martin added: "You can take it that it is the Finance Act that the Department of Finance will be responding to in terms of the submissions that are being made but a number of meetings will be held between obviously the forum and the department."
He dismissed suggestions that the role of the docklands forum was as a type of think tank, saying members would actively work on the issues involved in making the regeneration of the area a reality.
He said the forum's central role was to co-ordinate activities between Cork City Council, local agencies and government departments with a view to implementing the docklands plan.
It is charged with presenting a report by June 2008 but he said members would be working until then to move on some of the pressing concerns.
The forum comprises department officials and community representatives. It will support Cork City Council which is spearheading the development of the docklands which extends both sides of the river Lee from the Port of Cork building to Tivoli on the northern side and Blackrock on the southern side.
The forum, chaired by former UCC president Prof Gerry Wrixon, is being brought together to oversee and drive development of the area.
The objective would be to promote the effective co-ordination and delivery of investment by the State, particularly in roads, water services, port relocation and associated infrastructure to facilitate the docklands regeneration and private investment in the area.
Olivia Kelleher
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Following the inaugural meeting of the Cork Docklands Development Forum in the city, Mr Martin said all tax breaks were subject to discussion but the forum would attempt to get to the "nitty-gritty" of these issues.
He refuted Opposition criticism that tax incentives should have been allocated in the Budget.
"Clearly the Finance Act is where tax changes happen in terms of urban designation. It never happens in a budget."
Mr Martin added: "You can take it that it is the Finance Act that the Department of Finance will be responding to in terms of the submissions that are being made but a number of meetings will be held between obviously the forum and the department."
He dismissed suggestions that the role of the docklands forum was as a type of think tank, saying members would actively work on the issues involved in making the regeneration of the area a reality.
He said the forum's central role was to co-ordinate activities between Cork City Council, local agencies and government departments with a view to implementing the docklands plan.
It is charged with presenting a report by June 2008 but he said members would be working until then to move on some of the pressing concerns.
The forum comprises department officials and community representatives. It will support Cork City Council which is spearheading the development of the docklands which extends both sides of the river Lee from the Port of Cork building to Tivoli on the northern side and Blackrock on the southern side.
The forum, chaired by former UCC president Prof Gerry Wrixon, is being brought together to oversee and drive development of the area.
The objective would be to promote the effective co-ordination and delivery of investment by the State, particularly in roads, water services, port relocation and associated infrastructure to facilitate the docklands regeneration and private investment in the area.
Olivia Kelleher
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 10 December 2007
Landowners set for huge windfall over zoning
LANDOWNERS on the northern and western outskirts of Killarney are set for a huge financial windfall, with large amounts of property due to be zoned for housing.
A total of 127 hectares are included in a variation of the Northern Gateway Action Area Plan which covers the area between the Tralee Road and the Killarney bypass.
According to Killarney Labour councillor Sean O’Grady, upwards of 1,300 houses will be built on this land in the coming years.
However, the land runs close to the route of a proposed N22 road between Killarney and Farranfore and the National Roads Authority (NRA) has warned Killarney Town Council that any new zonings should not increase the cost of acquiring land for the road.
In a submission to the council, NRA planner Tara Spain said while there could be major financial gains for property owners, that would not be in the public interest and would reduce funding for road works generally.
Also in a submission, Catherine McMullin, of An Taisce (Kerry), stressed the need for better roads to cater for the extra traffic to be generated.
She called for the development of land closer to the town centre, prior to the development of the northern gateway to Killarney.
But Killarney town manager John Breen said it was necessary to zone the gateway land for development.
He said the plan for the area was part of a 20-year masterplan for Killarney and was meant to cater for the future expansion of the town.
Mr Breen disagreed with the view that there is an oversupply of land zoned for housing within Killarney town.
However, he believed Killarney had a continuing problem in relation to the lack of zoned land coming onto the market.
“It is generally considered that Killarney has suffered as a consequence and the planning authority believes that some of the land included in this variation will be released to the market,” Mr Breen went on.
FF councillor Brian O’Leary called for discussions with the NRA regarding new entrances andexits from national primary roads to facilitate future development. He also asked if the envisaged development was realistic.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
A total of 127 hectares are included in a variation of the Northern Gateway Action Area Plan which covers the area between the Tralee Road and the Killarney bypass.
According to Killarney Labour councillor Sean O’Grady, upwards of 1,300 houses will be built on this land in the coming years.
However, the land runs close to the route of a proposed N22 road between Killarney and Farranfore and the National Roads Authority (NRA) has warned Killarney Town Council that any new zonings should not increase the cost of acquiring land for the road.
In a submission to the council, NRA planner Tara Spain said while there could be major financial gains for property owners, that would not be in the public interest and would reduce funding for road works generally.
Also in a submission, Catherine McMullin, of An Taisce (Kerry), stressed the need for better roads to cater for the extra traffic to be generated.
She called for the development of land closer to the town centre, prior to the development of the northern gateway to Killarney.
But Killarney town manager John Breen said it was necessary to zone the gateway land for development.
He said the plan for the area was part of a 20-year masterplan for Killarney and was meant to cater for the future expansion of the town.
Mr Breen disagreed with the view that there is an oversupply of land zoned for housing within Killarney town.
However, he believed Killarney had a continuing problem in relation to the lack of zoned land coming onto the market.
“It is generally considered that Killarney has suffered as a consequence and the planning authority believes that some of the land included in this variation will be released to the market,” Mr Breen went on.
FF councillor Brian O’Leary called for discussions with the NRA regarding new entrances andexits from national primary roads to facilitate future development. He also asked if the envisaged development was realistic.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Council says Prime Time misled it
RTE has been accused of misleading Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council after the State broadcaster used the council's chamber to film part of its Prime Time Investigates programme into alleged planning malpractice by councillors in a number of local authorities.
County Manager Owen Keegan also told councillors last week that after a preliminary examination he was confident that Prime Time also misrepresented the council in the part of the programme that dealt with the date-stamping of the Ethics Register and Annual Declaration Forms.
However, RTE says it stands by the content of the programme and insists there had not been any misrepresentation at any stage.
The documentary, entitled The Pressure Zone, was screened on RTE1 on Monday, November 26. The programme probed councillors in local authorities around the country about the alleged misuse of their power regarding the rezoning of land and the declaration of their interests.
In an internal memo from Mr Keegan to councillors he said he was "surprised . . . to see the council chamber featuring in the programme" entitled The Pressure Zone.
The memo contains a report from a council official who says she believes RTE misled the council into believing the programme was a "low budget, public information programme" and a "positive representation of local government".
The memo contains a report from the council's Corporate Services department, which dealt with RTE on the filming of the programme. In the report, a council official says initially she asked RTE to pay a fee of €480 to use the council chamber to film reconstructions that featured in the documentary.
However, when RTE subsequently told council officials they could not afford to pay the fee, they decided to waive the charge because "we were . . . under the impression that it was going to be a positive representation of local government".
The official said RTE filmed in the chamber on November 8 but says "at no time during any of our dealings with RTE did they mention that the filming had anything to do with Prime Time Investigates.
"I took the booking in good faith but I believe RTE misled me into believing that it was a low budget, public information programme," she said.
Mr Keegan said if RTE had been more "forthcoming about the true nature of the programme" the matter would have been brought to his attention and that of the cathaoirleach before any decision was made on the request.
He has also rejected a specific part of the programme relating to the Ethics Register, which claims the majority of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors' Annual Declaration Forms were not stamped.
In an effort to force councillors to take ethical standards seriously it has been made a criminal offence to submit an incomplete complete declaration of their interests to their local authority before the end of February each year.
The programme said Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown had told Prime Time they had fully date-stamped all their Annual Declaration forms. However, Prime Time claimed that when it examined the local authority's returns more than 68 per cent of them were not stamped or were illegible.
In the memo Mr Keegan said he was "satisfied that RTE have misrepresented the position of the council on this matter. This is potentially much more serious. I will write to you again tomorrow when I have a transcript of what was actually said".
RTE has ordered an internal investigation. A spokeswoman said: "We're absolutely satisfied that the facts contained in the programme were correct and that there was no misrepresentation."
Jamie Deasy
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
County Manager Owen Keegan also told councillors last week that after a preliminary examination he was confident that Prime Time also misrepresented the council in the part of the programme that dealt with the date-stamping of the Ethics Register and Annual Declaration Forms.
However, RTE says it stands by the content of the programme and insists there had not been any misrepresentation at any stage.
The documentary, entitled The Pressure Zone, was screened on RTE1 on Monday, November 26. The programme probed councillors in local authorities around the country about the alleged misuse of their power regarding the rezoning of land and the declaration of their interests.
In an internal memo from Mr Keegan to councillors he said he was "surprised . . . to see the council chamber featuring in the programme" entitled The Pressure Zone.
The memo contains a report from a council official who says she believes RTE misled the council into believing the programme was a "low budget, public information programme" and a "positive representation of local government".
The memo contains a report from the council's Corporate Services department, which dealt with RTE on the filming of the programme. In the report, a council official says initially she asked RTE to pay a fee of €480 to use the council chamber to film reconstructions that featured in the documentary.
However, when RTE subsequently told council officials they could not afford to pay the fee, they decided to waive the charge because "we were . . . under the impression that it was going to be a positive representation of local government".
The official said RTE filmed in the chamber on November 8 but says "at no time during any of our dealings with RTE did they mention that the filming had anything to do with Prime Time Investigates.
"I took the booking in good faith but I believe RTE misled me into believing that it was a low budget, public information programme," she said.
Mr Keegan said if RTE had been more "forthcoming about the true nature of the programme" the matter would have been brought to his attention and that of the cathaoirleach before any decision was made on the request.
He has also rejected a specific part of the programme relating to the Ethics Register, which claims the majority of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors' Annual Declaration Forms were not stamped.
In an effort to force councillors to take ethical standards seriously it has been made a criminal offence to submit an incomplete complete declaration of their interests to their local authority before the end of February each year.
The programme said Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown had told Prime Time they had fully date-stamped all their Annual Declaration forms. However, Prime Time claimed that when it examined the local authority's returns more than 68 per cent of them were not stamped or were illegible.
In the memo Mr Keegan said he was "satisfied that RTE have misrepresented the position of the council on this matter. This is potentially much more serious. I will write to you again tomorrow when I have a transcript of what was actually said".
RTE has ordered an internal investigation. A spokeswoman said: "We're absolutely satisfied that the facts contained in the programme were correct and that there was no misrepresentation."
Jamie Deasy
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Wind energy conference concerns
IRELAND must plan for a "multiple" of its current wind energy capacity on the national electricity grid if it is to continue to thrive as an economy. That was the message from Eamon Ryan Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources atMeitheal na Gaoithe's recent annual conference.
The Minister was one of many important guest speakers at the Irish Wind Farmers Cooperative Society conference in the Anner Hotel, Thurles. It attracted a high level of interest as speakers and presentations addressed critical issues facing renewable energy generators, grid access and the future of energy in Ireland.
The meeting also discussed Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) and single electricity market (SME).
"After a decade of talking about renewable energy its time to walk the walk", said Tommy Cooke, Chairman Meitheal na Gaoithe (MnaG) before the conference. "There is an unprecedented interest in renewable energy, as concerns about fossil fuel prices and the environmental impact of global warming has raised renewable energy to the top of the public agenda."
On the day, Minster Ryan stated that he has a vision for Ireland becoming a net exporter of energy in the future. These views were shared by Dr Josef Pesch, an international expert in the wind energy field. Dr Pesch said that Ireland needs a clear cut grid connections strategy that allows wind power and other renewable forms of power to connect to the grid in a quick and efficient manner. MnaG members heard the Minister give strong expressions of his support for the development of the industry. However, members expressed concerns about wind farmers who are frustrated with the long delays of up to eight years to build grid connections and the poor price for renewables which do not reflect current project costs.
Mr Cooke said: "Small scale and local developers are now under severe pressure due to the lack of performance on grid connection and Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) price issues. It is now taking longer to build wires than roads and this is a totally unacceptable situation. Most people are astonished at the grid connection situation as it is so expensive and goes beyond the wind farm planning permit expiry dates, thus adding more risk and cost."
Guest speaker Michael Tutty, a member of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), demonstrated the CER commitment to the government renewable targets. Speakers from ESB Networks outlined the enormous tasks they face due to the build up of applications for grid connection.
MnaG has noted that onshore wind energy is the most economical and the fastest growing renewable technology in Ireland and can potentially meet a substantial amount of our electricity needs. However to accommodate this, Ireland needs a progressive grid connection policy and a viable market price for renewable electricity.
Ireland is now 90% dependent on imported fossil fuels, and the cost of oil to industry has seen a 45% increase in the period between 2000 and 2007
Linda Pearson
Tipperary Voice
www.buckplanning.ie
The Minister was one of many important guest speakers at the Irish Wind Farmers Cooperative Society conference in the Anner Hotel, Thurles. It attracted a high level of interest as speakers and presentations addressed critical issues facing renewable energy generators, grid access and the future of energy in Ireland.
The meeting also discussed Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) and single electricity market (SME).
"After a decade of talking about renewable energy its time to walk the walk", said Tommy Cooke, Chairman Meitheal na Gaoithe (MnaG) before the conference. "There is an unprecedented interest in renewable energy, as concerns about fossil fuel prices and the environmental impact of global warming has raised renewable energy to the top of the public agenda."
On the day, Minster Ryan stated that he has a vision for Ireland becoming a net exporter of energy in the future. These views were shared by Dr Josef Pesch, an international expert in the wind energy field. Dr Pesch said that Ireland needs a clear cut grid connections strategy that allows wind power and other renewable forms of power to connect to the grid in a quick and efficient manner. MnaG members heard the Minister give strong expressions of his support for the development of the industry. However, members expressed concerns about wind farmers who are frustrated with the long delays of up to eight years to build grid connections and the poor price for renewables which do not reflect current project costs.
Mr Cooke said: "Small scale and local developers are now under severe pressure due to the lack of performance on grid connection and Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) price issues. It is now taking longer to build wires than roads and this is a totally unacceptable situation. Most people are astonished at the grid connection situation as it is so expensive and goes beyond the wind farm planning permit expiry dates, thus adding more risk and cost."
Guest speaker Michael Tutty, a member of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), demonstrated the CER commitment to the government renewable targets. Speakers from ESB Networks outlined the enormous tasks they face due to the build up of applications for grid connection.
MnaG has noted that onshore wind energy is the most economical and the fastest growing renewable technology in Ireland and can potentially meet a substantial amount of our electricity needs. However to accommodate this, Ireland needs a progressive grid connection policy and a viable market price for renewable electricity.
Ireland is now 90% dependent on imported fossil fuels, and the cost of oil to industry has seen a 45% increase in the period between 2000 and 2007
Linda Pearson
Tipperary Voice
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 7 December 2007
Proper planning needed to guard against 'white flight'
NEW GUIDELINES at local authority level, to provide for sustainable housing development that will prevent the creation of ghettoes and social segregation, have been called for by Deputy Denis Naughten.
Speaking to the Roscommon Herald Deputy Naughten expressed his concern that unless the necessary measures were taken we could see the proliferation of ghettoes and greater social segregation within our communities.
His comments follow the recent school controversy in Dublin, which prompted the Department of Education to provide an emergency school in Balbriggan to accommodate a population of immigrant children, who had been turned away from everywhere else. There has also been evidence of Irish families moving out of neighbourhoods and out of schools where immigrants have settled in large numbers - a phenomenon referred to as 'white flight'.
"It {white flight) is a significant issue now right across the country in areas where there has been rapid housing development. Where you have a more sustained progressive level of housing development it doesn't seem to be as big an issue. But around the likes of Athlone where you have had rapid housing development in a very short number of years this issue seems to arise," Deputy Naughten said.
"The one concern that I would have with what is happening is that you will end up creating ghettoes where people will be able to function without integrating into the local community," he added.
While Deputy Naughten has come across a "couple of cases" of 'white flight' in the Athlone area, he said he was not overly concerned that it was a problem at this stage.
"I have seen a small amount of it but it's not something that I would be concerned about at this particular stage. There has been a small amount of it happening, but if we can get our act together, we can address it before it becomes a problem in this part of the country," he told the Roscommon Herald.
"It is now a very significant problem in certain parts of Dublin. It isn't a problem to any great extent yet in our own local area. But unless the proper procedures are put in place and put in place quickly then it will turn into a problem," he said.
Deputy Naughten, who is Fine Gael's Immigration & Integration, spokesman raised the matter with the Environment Minister John Gormley in the Dail in recent weeks. In response the Environment Minister replied that the government had already taken action and that there was no need to be alarmist about the issue, as good integration had taken place.
Deputy Naughten, however, feels that guidelines encouraging more sustainable housing development were necessary to curb the current trend: "If guidelines come down from the Department of Environment to each local authority 1 think we will be lucky enough to nip this in the bud".
Deputy Naughten also stressed that education had a key role to play in integration both for children and for adults in the workforce and he stressed the need for VECs and employers to come on board and provide language supports for adults.
He said that the issue of enrolment policies in national schools did not present a problem in the South Roscommon area but that some issues were evident elsewhere in the county. "There are problems with children not being taken into schools, not in South Roscommon, but in some parts of the county 1 know that there are children not being taken in schools because of the increase in the non national community," he said.
"In relation to the controversy in Dublin, that hasn't arisen here. In all of the local schools in South Roscommon and throughout the county where there is an immigrant population, there is a pretty good mix in all of those schools. But capacity is becoming an issue," he said.
Deputy Naughten added that work was in progress to acquire additional lands to provide for extensions at a number of national schools in high growth areas such as Bealnamullia and Summerhill.
"The issue that has been suggested in other parts of the country that children are being discriminated on religion thai hasn't happened here," he stressed.
"I'm satisfied with the enrolment policies that are in place locally. They are very fair and they give equal opportunity to people from all communities. The reality is that each school should prioritise children from within their catchment area," he added.
He said that inadequate funding for language support services in schools was of significant concern and that where newcomer children with little English started school midstream it placed even greater pressures on teaching resources.
Roscommon Herald
www.buckplanning.ie
Speaking to the Roscommon Herald Deputy Naughten expressed his concern that unless the necessary measures were taken we could see the proliferation of ghettoes and greater social segregation within our communities.
His comments follow the recent school controversy in Dublin, which prompted the Department of Education to provide an emergency school in Balbriggan to accommodate a population of immigrant children, who had been turned away from everywhere else. There has also been evidence of Irish families moving out of neighbourhoods and out of schools where immigrants have settled in large numbers - a phenomenon referred to as 'white flight'.
"It {white flight) is a significant issue now right across the country in areas where there has been rapid housing development. Where you have a more sustained progressive level of housing development it doesn't seem to be as big an issue. But around the likes of Athlone where you have had rapid housing development in a very short number of years this issue seems to arise," Deputy Naughten said.
"The one concern that I would have with what is happening is that you will end up creating ghettoes where people will be able to function without integrating into the local community," he added.
While Deputy Naughten has come across a "couple of cases" of 'white flight' in the Athlone area, he said he was not overly concerned that it was a problem at this stage.
"I have seen a small amount of it but it's not something that I would be concerned about at this particular stage. There has been a small amount of it happening, but if we can get our act together, we can address it before it becomes a problem in this part of the country," he told the Roscommon Herald.
"It is now a very significant problem in certain parts of Dublin. It isn't a problem to any great extent yet in our own local area. But unless the proper procedures are put in place and put in place quickly then it will turn into a problem," he said.
Deputy Naughten, who is Fine Gael's Immigration & Integration, spokesman raised the matter with the Environment Minister John Gormley in the Dail in recent weeks. In response the Environment Minister replied that the government had already taken action and that there was no need to be alarmist about the issue, as good integration had taken place.
Deputy Naughten, however, feels that guidelines encouraging more sustainable housing development were necessary to curb the current trend: "If guidelines come down from the Department of Environment to each local authority 1 think we will be lucky enough to nip this in the bud".
Deputy Naughten also stressed that education had a key role to play in integration both for children and for adults in the workforce and he stressed the need for VECs and employers to come on board and provide language supports for adults.
He said that the issue of enrolment policies in national schools did not present a problem in the South Roscommon area but that some issues were evident elsewhere in the county. "There are problems with children not being taken into schools, not in South Roscommon, but in some parts of the county 1 know that there are children not being taken in schools because of the increase in the non national community," he said.
"In relation to the controversy in Dublin, that hasn't arisen here. In all of the local schools in South Roscommon and throughout the county where there is an immigrant population, there is a pretty good mix in all of those schools. But capacity is becoming an issue," he said.
Deputy Naughten added that work was in progress to acquire additional lands to provide for extensions at a number of national schools in high growth areas such as Bealnamullia and Summerhill.
"The issue that has been suggested in other parts of the country that children are being discriminated on religion thai hasn't happened here," he stressed.
"I'm satisfied with the enrolment policies that are in place locally. They are very fair and they give equal opportunity to people from all communities. The reality is that each school should prioritise children from within their catchment area," he added.
He said that inadequate funding for language support services in schools was of significant concern and that where newcomer children with little English started school midstream it placed even greater pressures on teaching resources.
Roscommon Herald
www.buckplanning.ie
Coghlan probes new Designated Land Bill
KILLARNEY Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan has drawn attention to apparent contradictions in Government approval for a new Bill which will impose a 'use it or lose it' requirement on land which has been designated for housing.
"The Designated Land Bill would require planning authorities to enter into a binding agreement with, or impose requirements on, the owners of designated land in order to bring land into housing development," he told the Seanad.
"This Bill would also provide an amended compensation mechanism whereby designated land, if not developed in agreement with or in accordance with requirements imposed by the relevant planning authority, could be compulsorily acquired at below market value. And it would allow planning authorities to impose an annual development incentive levy on designated land as a possible alternative to compulsory acquisition.
"But in response to a recent Dail question, Environment Minister John Gormley indicated that the principal recommendation in the Ninth Progress Report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution on private property, was for the implementation of the central proposal of the 1973 majority 'Kenny Report'.
"This proposal was for a 'designated area scheme' under which local authorities would be empowered to compulsorily acquire land for general development purposes at its existing use value plus 25 per cent, rather than at open market value. However, the Minister stated he has no proposals to proceed with such a scheme despite the contrary proposal outlined in the Programme for Government," Senator Coghlan said.
The Kerryman
www.buckplanning.ie
"The Designated Land Bill would require planning authorities to enter into a binding agreement with, or impose requirements on, the owners of designated land in order to bring land into housing development," he told the Seanad.
"This Bill would also provide an amended compensation mechanism whereby designated land, if not developed in agreement with or in accordance with requirements imposed by the relevant planning authority, could be compulsorily acquired at below market value. And it would allow planning authorities to impose an annual development incentive levy on designated land as a possible alternative to compulsory acquisition.
"But in response to a recent Dail question, Environment Minister John Gormley indicated that the principal recommendation in the Ninth Progress Report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution on private property, was for the implementation of the central proposal of the 1973 majority 'Kenny Report'.
"This proposal was for a 'designated area scheme' under which local authorities would be empowered to compulsorily acquire land for general development purposes at its existing use value plus 25 per cent, rather than at open market value. However, the Minister stated he has no proposals to proceed with such a scheme despite the contrary proposal outlined in the Programme for Government," Senator Coghlan said.
The Kerryman
www.buckplanning.ie
They are wrecking our town'
OAK PARK residents are furious this week at the decision by some councillors to take the side of developers over their own electorate, depriving the town of its unique and much-loved green space.
The residents were dealt a crushing blow at Monday's meeting of Carlow County Council when the decision was taken to put Carlow Towns Environs Area Plan on public display with the Oak Park area zoned for residential lowdensity housing.
The decision removes the possibility of locating either a cemetery or additional amenity/open space area in Oak Park and bitterly divided the council chamber.
The Oak Park residents believe this opening shot by the council will now be impossible to overturn resulting in Carlow losing forever this wonderful and historic amenity.
Greencore's ambitious Gateway Carlow proposal also looks on course with the majority of councillors backing the mixed-use and residential zoning of the site of the former sugar factory.
"This is a sad day for Carlow when the wishes of its people have been ignored in their councillors' desire to appease developers. Our elected representatives have chosen to put party-political loyalty before their responsibilities to the electorate. Shame on them," said Paul White, a spokesperson for the Save Oak Park Group.
The crucial vote divided the council chamber largely along party lines with Fine Gael and Labour backing the rezoning and the release of the plan to public display while Fianna Fáil divided between a core group of four against the rezoning and the plan's release and three abstentions.
The debate resulted in five public roll-call votes, with each of the 20 members present having to publicly declare their intentions, watched by a large group of interested parties viewing from the public gallery.
Carlow Towns Environs Area Plan will now go on public display and invites further submissions for the next eight weeks.
Suzanne Pender
Carlow Nationalist
The residents were dealt a crushing blow at Monday's meeting of Carlow County Council when the decision was taken to put Carlow Towns Environs Area Plan on public display with the Oak Park area zoned for residential lowdensity housing.
The decision removes the possibility of locating either a cemetery or additional amenity/open space area in Oak Park and bitterly divided the council chamber.
The Oak Park residents believe this opening shot by the council will now be impossible to overturn resulting in Carlow losing forever this wonderful and historic amenity.
Greencore's ambitious Gateway Carlow proposal also looks on course with the majority of councillors backing the mixed-use and residential zoning of the site of the former sugar factory.
"This is a sad day for Carlow when the wishes of its people have been ignored in their councillors' desire to appease developers. Our elected representatives have chosen to put party-political loyalty before their responsibilities to the electorate. Shame on them," said Paul White, a spokesperson for the Save Oak Park Group.
The crucial vote divided the council chamber largely along party lines with Fine Gael and Labour backing the rezoning and the release of the plan to public display while Fianna Fáil divided between a core group of four against the rezoning and the plan's release and three abstentions.
The debate resulted in five public roll-call votes, with each of the 20 members present having to publicly declare their intentions, watched by a large group of interested parties viewing from the public gallery.
Carlow Towns Environs Area Plan will now go on public display and invites further submissions for the next eight weeks.
Suzanne Pender
Carlow Nationalist
Supreme Court overturns M50 costs award
A Dublin man is facing an estimated €500,000 legal bill after the Supreme Court overturned a High Court order directing the State to pay the costs of his unsuccessful challenge to controversial new laws. They had been enacted to speedily complete the south eastern section of the M50 motorway which was delayed by court actions aimed at protecting the Carrickmines Castle site.
When awarding Dominic Dunne his costs in the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said that although he had lost his case, she considered the issues raised were "truly ones of general public importance".
The Supreme Court yesterday unanimously overturned that costs decision and also awarded costs against Mr Dunne of his unsuccessful Supreme Court appeal. Mr Dunne, of Collins Square, Benburb Street, is facing a legal bill of some €500,000.
The Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, said he believed "undue weight" was given by the High Court to two principles as determining factors on costs - that (1) Mr Dunne was acting in the public interest in a matter which involved no private personal advantage and (2) the issues raised were of sufficient general public importance to warrant an order for costs in his favour.
The High Court went "too far" in saying the court's discretion on costs in this type of public law litigation was not in any way dependent on one or more of the issues of fact or law in the case being decided in favour of Mr Dunne.
That approach seemed to discount excessively, if not altogether exclude from consideration, the normal costs rule that when the issues in a case were decided in favour of one side, that the successful side was entitled to its costs.
He also believed Ms Justice Laffoy incorrectly took into account that there had been other successful proceedings against the State relating to the Carrickmines site. Against that background, she considered the issues in Mr Dunne's proceedings "truly ones of general public importance".
The Chief Justice was giving the court's reserved judgment on an appeal by the State and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council against the High Court costs decision.
The proceedings arose from Mr Dunne's challenge to the constitutionality of section 8 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004. In rejecting that challenge last year, the Supreme Court noted the disputed legislation "removes a bundle of protections" from national monuments, but found the Oireachtas was not prohibited under the Constitution from enacting such laws.
In the costs ruling, Mr Justice Murray, with whom Ms Justice Susan Denham, Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan and Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns agreed, said the law governing costs of civil actions was that costs went to the winning party unless the court ordered otherwise.
There was no fixed rule or principle governing the court's discretion on costs and no overriding principle which determined it should be exercised in favour of an unsuccessful plaintiff in specified circumstances, or in a particular class of case.
The fact a plaintiff was not seeking a personal private advantage and that the issues raised were of special and general public importance were factors which may be taken into account.
However, the legal authorities did not support the view of the High Court judge that the principles to which she referred were in themselves the determining factors on costs in a category of public interest litigation cases. They might be "relevant" factors but were not "determinative".
The Chief Justice also noted there was "no predetermined category" of cases which fell outside the ambit of the courts' discretionary jurisdiction on costs. Such a category would have to be done by legislation, he said.
Mary Carolan
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
When awarding Dominic Dunne his costs in the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said that although he had lost his case, she considered the issues raised were "truly ones of general public importance".
The Supreme Court yesterday unanimously overturned that costs decision and also awarded costs against Mr Dunne of his unsuccessful Supreme Court appeal. Mr Dunne, of Collins Square, Benburb Street, is facing a legal bill of some €500,000.
The Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, said he believed "undue weight" was given by the High Court to two principles as determining factors on costs - that (1) Mr Dunne was acting in the public interest in a matter which involved no private personal advantage and (2) the issues raised were of sufficient general public importance to warrant an order for costs in his favour.
The High Court went "too far" in saying the court's discretion on costs in this type of public law litigation was not in any way dependent on one or more of the issues of fact or law in the case being decided in favour of Mr Dunne.
That approach seemed to discount excessively, if not altogether exclude from consideration, the normal costs rule that when the issues in a case were decided in favour of one side, that the successful side was entitled to its costs.
He also believed Ms Justice Laffoy incorrectly took into account that there had been other successful proceedings against the State relating to the Carrickmines site. Against that background, she considered the issues in Mr Dunne's proceedings "truly ones of general public importance".
The Chief Justice was giving the court's reserved judgment on an appeal by the State and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council against the High Court costs decision.
The proceedings arose from Mr Dunne's challenge to the constitutionality of section 8 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004. In rejecting that challenge last year, the Supreme Court noted the disputed legislation "removes a bundle of protections" from national monuments, but found the Oireachtas was not prohibited under the Constitution from enacting such laws.
In the costs ruling, Mr Justice Murray, with whom Ms Justice Susan Denham, Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan and Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns agreed, said the law governing costs of civil actions was that costs went to the winning party unless the court ordered otherwise.
There was no fixed rule or principle governing the court's discretion on costs and no overriding principle which determined it should be exercised in favour of an unsuccessful plaintiff in specified circumstances, or in a particular class of case.
The fact a plaintiff was not seeking a personal private advantage and that the issues raised were of special and general public importance were factors which may be taken into account.
However, the legal authorities did not support the view of the High Court judge that the principles to which she referred were in themselves the determining factors on costs in a category of public interest litigation cases. They might be "relevant" factors but were not "determinative".
The Chief Justice also noted there was "no predetermined category" of cases which fell outside the ambit of the courts' discretionary jurisdiction on costs. Such a category would have to be done by legislation, he said.
Mary Carolan
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dempsey reveals feasibility study into Cork Luas system at advanced stage
CORK could become the first city outside Dublin to have a Luas system as Transport Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday revealed a feasibility study on having a light rail system in the city was at an advanced stage.
Cork local authorities have commissioned consultants to provide an update of the Cork Area Strategic Plan examining the case for new city transport services.
They are expected to deliver a final report next summer, with recommendations about the cost-benefit of a Luas line for Cork.
The existing Cork Area Strategic Plan, published in 2001, suggests a role for light rail in order to cater for transport demands in the city up to 2020. Council sources indicate that there is a strong case for the construction of a light rail system running from the Douglas/Mahon area through the city centre via the docklands and on to Ballincollig, serving UCC and Victoria Cross en route.
“The continuing projected growth for the Cork area over the next 20 years would seem to strengthen the existing case that a light rail project is viable,” said one senior council official.
It is believed that a more detailed cost-benefit analysis would still have to be commissioned before the project would be passed to the Railway Procurement Agency, which would have responsibility for the delivery of any Luas project for Cork.
However, Mr Dempsey said it was still possible that rapid bus schemes could be a cheaper, speedier option than light rail projects.
Similar studies to examine the viability of light rail and rapid bus schemes in Limerick, Galway and Waterford are also set to get under way.
Mr Dempsey said a draft bill to set up the a Dublin transport authority (DTA) had been held up due to a formal complaint to the EU that the CIÉ subvention.
Mr Dempsey also expressed concern that transport needs were not reflected in many county development plans.
He said there were no surprises regarding the €3.8bn budget allocation as most projects had already be identified under the National Development Plan and Transport 21.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Cork local authorities have commissioned consultants to provide an update of the Cork Area Strategic Plan examining the case for new city transport services.
They are expected to deliver a final report next summer, with recommendations about the cost-benefit of a Luas line for Cork.
The existing Cork Area Strategic Plan, published in 2001, suggests a role for light rail in order to cater for transport demands in the city up to 2020. Council sources indicate that there is a strong case for the construction of a light rail system running from the Douglas/Mahon area through the city centre via the docklands and on to Ballincollig, serving UCC and Victoria Cross en route.
“The continuing projected growth for the Cork area over the next 20 years would seem to strengthen the existing case that a light rail project is viable,” said one senior council official.
It is believed that a more detailed cost-benefit analysis would still have to be commissioned before the project would be passed to the Railway Procurement Agency, which would have responsibility for the delivery of any Luas project for Cork.
However, Mr Dempsey said it was still possible that rapid bus schemes could be a cheaper, speedier option than light rail projects.
Similar studies to examine the viability of light rail and rapid bus schemes in Limerick, Galway and Waterford are also set to get under way.
Mr Dempsey said a draft bill to set up the a Dublin transport authority (DTA) had been held up due to a formal complaint to the EU that the CIÉ subvention.
Mr Dempsey also expressed concern that transport needs were not reflected in many county development plans.
He said there were no surprises regarding the €3.8bn budget allocation as most projects had already be identified under the National Development Plan and Transport 21.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Undramatic yet promising start on rocky emissions road
IT WASN’T very dramatic in the end — after all carbon emissions are as exciting as double physics on a Monday morning in January — but yesterday was the day when the Green Party justified itself in government.
John Gormley’s carbon budget was the first of its kind ever attempted in Western Europe and the Environment Minister accepted that in some ways it was a shot in the dark.
“The concept of the carbon budget is new, and this year’s format can be seen as a pilot. I will consider how its content and format will be developed and improved in future years,” he said.
What Gormley got from Tánaiste Brian Cowen was the go-ahead for the much-touted 3% reduction in carbon emissions. And yesterday Gormley essentially painted a picture of where we are now and where we need to be in 2012. Moreover, he announced the first measures needed in order to reach those ambitious targets.
The 2006 figures will show that Ireland emitted 70 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent that year. To meet the 3% annual reduction and to meet our Kyoto targets, we need to reduce that by an average of 6 million tonnes each year.
It’s a huge ask and will mean some pain. Gormley accepted that we might not achieve it but he said it would not be for the want of trying.
“We are not making it easy on ourselves. There is always a danger we may fail. We have set the bar high in striving for a 3% annual reduction,” he said yesterday.
And to that end, when you look at the chart produced, it looks very like the Government will have to rely on what is euphemised as ‘flexible methods’. In simple terms, that means a carbon fund. At the moment we have €290m invested in it. In opposition, the Greens railed against it saying Ireland was buying its way out of its Kyoto commitments. But even with the new political dispensation, we may still need to rely on it. Note the subtle use of language in Gormley’s Dáil speech:
“I recognise, as Al Gore did when he was in Dublin last weekend, that flexible mechanisms are an integral part of the Kyoto Protocol agreement and an important instrument in promoting low emissions investment in developing countries. Notwithstanding this, the Government is committed to ensuring Ireland is able to fulfil its commitments by emission reductions.”
The message is: we may have to resort (reluctantly, sure) to some buying our way out of the problem.
There were positives yesterday: the new measures that will phase out traditional incandescent light bulbs in favour of energy-efficient ones; the new motor tax system that will be based on emissions not engine size; and the mandatory environment label system for cars.
But it’s all about Lord Make Me Green, but not yet. The new system for light bulbs will not arrive until 2009. And despite the changes in vehicle registration tax being flagged in last year’s budget, they won’t be introduced until July.
And it has generally been recognised that to achieve a 3% reduction in CO2, the Government will have to introduce a carbon tax. This was in the 2002 Government’s programme but was ditched in 2004. Now it’s back on the agenda. But Brian Cowen announced on Wednesday that the issue has been kicked to touch, with a Commission for Taxation being established. When will it decide? How long is a piece of string?
Still, yesterday was a good start for the Greens and for Gormley. It was an undramatic yet promising start for the carbon budget.
There is still a long way to go on the road to reach the targets but at least Gormley and the Greens have finally got their hands on a road map.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
John Gormley’s carbon budget was the first of its kind ever attempted in Western Europe and the Environment Minister accepted that in some ways it was a shot in the dark.
“The concept of the carbon budget is new, and this year’s format can be seen as a pilot. I will consider how its content and format will be developed and improved in future years,” he said.
What Gormley got from Tánaiste Brian Cowen was the go-ahead for the much-touted 3% reduction in carbon emissions. And yesterday Gormley essentially painted a picture of where we are now and where we need to be in 2012. Moreover, he announced the first measures needed in order to reach those ambitious targets.
The 2006 figures will show that Ireland emitted 70 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent that year. To meet the 3% annual reduction and to meet our Kyoto targets, we need to reduce that by an average of 6 million tonnes each year.
It’s a huge ask and will mean some pain. Gormley accepted that we might not achieve it but he said it would not be for the want of trying.
“We are not making it easy on ourselves. There is always a danger we may fail. We have set the bar high in striving for a 3% annual reduction,” he said yesterday.
And to that end, when you look at the chart produced, it looks very like the Government will have to rely on what is euphemised as ‘flexible methods’. In simple terms, that means a carbon fund. At the moment we have €290m invested in it. In opposition, the Greens railed against it saying Ireland was buying its way out of its Kyoto commitments. But even with the new political dispensation, we may still need to rely on it. Note the subtle use of language in Gormley’s Dáil speech:
“I recognise, as Al Gore did when he was in Dublin last weekend, that flexible mechanisms are an integral part of the Kyoto Protocol agreement and an important instrument in promoting low emissions investment in developing countries. Notwithstanding this, the Government is committed to ensuring Ireland is able to fulfil its commitments by emission reductions.”
The message is: we may have to resort (reluctantly, sure) to some buying our way out of the problem.
There were positives yesterday: the new measures that will phase out traditional incandescent light bulbs in favour of energy-efficient ones; the new motor tax system that will be based on emissions not engine size; and the mandatory environment label system for cars.
But it’s all about Lord Make Me Green, but not yet. The new system for light bulbs will not arrive until 2009. And despite the changes in vehicle registration tax being flagged in last year’s budget, they won’t be introduced until July.
And it has generally been recognised that to achieve a 3% reduction in CO2, the Government will have to introduce a carbon tax. This was in the 2002 Government’s programme but was ditched in 2004. Now it’s back on the agenda. But Brian Cowen announced on Wednesday that the issue has been kicked to touch, with a Commission for Taxation being established. When will it decide? How long is a piece of string?
Still, yesterday was a good start for the Greens and for Gormley. It was an undramatic yet promising start for the carbon budget.
There is still a long way to go on the road to reach the targets but at least Gormley and the Greens have finally got their hands on a road map.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley delivers first carbon budget
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley yesterday delivered the first carbon budget in the history of the State — the first of its kind in Western Europe — claiming it marked the moment climate change moved to the heart of government.
The Green Party leader yesterday spelt out the detailed measures needed in 2008 to implement Tánaiste Brian Cowen’s budget announcement that carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland will fall from 70 million tonnes to 64 million tonnes, on average, between now and 2012. To put them into effect, Mr Gormley announced radical changes in the motor tax calculation, new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs and mandatory environment labelling for new cars from next July.
Outlining the carbon budget in the Dáil, Mr Gormley said Ireland must put a price on carbon.
However, the minister was not in a position to say if a carbon tax will be introduced next year.
A new Commission for Taxation has been charged with looking into this question but no date has been given for the completion of its work. Mr Gormley insisted yesterday that it would be established as a matter of urgency early next year.
Mr Gormley also accepted that even with the ambitious reductions, Ireland would still need to buy some carbon credits.
“If we can achieve the 3% annual reduction on average between now and 2012, we will need to purchase only 1 million carbon credits on average each year. Such a reduction is a challenge but we are determined to meet it,” he said.
There was also a strong sustainability aspect to the housing programme announced by Housing Minister Batt O’Keeffe yesterday.
He said with €1.7 billion in funding, it would allow the acquisition of, or starts on, about 9,000 houses. Mr O’Keeffe revealed projects would be “sustainable community proofed” and also stressed the regeneration being carried on, in particular in Limerick.
About €50 million will be provided for affordable housing partnerships helping about 500 home purchasers.
In addition, the shared ownership scheme is being changed to a shared equity scheme to boost participation.
The new scheme will make the process less burdensome on the prospective home-owner.
Q&A
How will motor tax change?
At present the different motor tax bands are based on engine size.
In his speech on Wednesday, Finance Minister Brian Cowen said the tax would be increased by 9% and 11% for cars over 2.5 litres.
Yesterday, John Gormley announced that motor tax will also be calculated on the same basis as vehicle registration tax. So the amount of tax you pay on your car each year will depend not on engine size but on how carbon efficient your car is.
There are seven bands (A to G) based on CO2 emissions. Each new car will get a label telling you its efficiency. If your car is A-rated it’s a Toyota Prius. If it’s G-rated, it’s a Mercedes or a Range Rover.
How will it be calculated?
Those who have gas-guzzlers will pay more. The maximum car tax payable at present is €1,343 a year for cars over 3 litres.
Under the new bands the maximum payable will be €2,000 a year for cars that emit over 226 grams of CO2 per kilometre. If you look at the limousines used by ministers, every one of them will at the maximum G-band of €2,000, including the Mercedes cars of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and six ministers; the Lexus cars used by two ministers; the Volvos used by two ministers and the Audi A6 used by Mary Harney. There are two exceptions — both Green ministers use Toyota Prius cars. which are A-rated — thus motor tax is only €100 per annum.
So motor tax will be paid on a sliding scale based on carbon emissions. In general, diesel cars will benefit. For example, one of the BMW 3 series saloons (diesel naturally) emits only 128 grams of CO2 and the motor tax will be only €150 per annum.
If you take the average family car (the 1.6 litre petrol saloon) most emit between 170 and 180g of CO2 per km giving a tax bill of €600 per annum, which is a €200 hike.
Will it affect second-hand cars?
No, unless they are being imported. The new motor tax will apply to new cars only. Environment strategists argue it’s better to start with a clean sheet. Proper CO2 labelling of cars started only in 2005. It was suggested yesterday that second-hand cars could be tested for CO2 emissions when getting the NCT but Mr Gormley said it was not possible to do this properly.
The fact that the new bands for both motor tax and VRT will be delayed until July has led to postulation that it may have a short-term impact on the car market. Some say the sale of high-powered SUV and other cars will rise between now and July to escape the punitive 36% VRT tax and higher motor tax. Others say many will wait until after July so they can save buying more efficient cars.
Experts like Conor Faughnan of the AA are not unduly concerned. He said these problems will iron out in the long term and the majority of the new fleet will be carbon-rated vehicles within five years.
Will it make a difference?
Yes and no. The new VRT and motor tax bands will dissuade many mid-market buyers from buying gas-guzzling cars. The motor price hikes will probably not affect those buying cars worth over six figures, though the higher VRT rate may give some pause for thought. In general, the new system will persuade most motorists to think of their cars in terms of carbon efficiency.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The Green Party leader yesterday spelt out the detailed measures needed in 2008 to implement Tánaiste Brian Cowen’s budget announcement that carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland will fall from 70 million tonnes to 64 million tonnes, on average, between now and 2012. To put them into effect, Mr Gormley announced radical changes in the motor tax calculation, new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs and mandatory environment labelling for new cars from next July.
Outlining the carbon budget in the Dáil, Mr Gormley said Ireland must put a price on carbon.
However, the minister was not in a position to say if a carbon tax will be introduced next year.
A new Commission for Taxation has been charged with looking into this question but no date has been given for the completion of its work. Mr Gormley insisted yesterday that it would be established as a matter of urgency early next year.
Mr Gormley also accepted that even with the ambitious reductions, Ireland would still need to buy some carbon credits.
“If we can achieve the 3% annual reduction on average between now and 2012, we will need to purchase only 1 million carbon credits on average each year. Such a reduction is a challenge but we are determined to meet it,” he said.
There was also a strong sustainability aspect to the housing programme announced by Housing Minister Batt O’Keeffe yesterday.
He said with €1.7 billion in funding, it would allow the acquisition of, or starts on, about 9,000 houses. Mr O’Keeffe revealed projects would be “sustainable community proofed” and also stressed the regeneration being carried on, in particular in Limerick.
About €50 million will be provided for affordable housing partnerships helping about 500 home purchasers.
In addition, the shared ownership scheme is being changed to a shared equity scheme to boost participation.
The new scheme will make the process less burdensome on the prospective home-owner.
Q&A
How will motor tax change?
At present the different motor tax bands are based on engine size.
In his speech on Wednesday, Finance Minister Brian Cowen said the tax would be increased by 9% and 11% for cars over 2.5 litres.
Yesterday, John Gormley announced that motor tax will also be calculated on the same basis as vehicle registration tax. So the amount of tax you pay on your car each year will depend not on engine size but on how carbon efficient your car is.
There are seven bands (A to G) based on CO2 emissions. Each new car will get a label telling you its efficiency. If your car is A-rated it’s a Toyota Prius. If it’s G-rated, it’s a Mercedes or a Range Rover.
How will it be calculated?
Those who have gas-guzzlers will pay more. The maximum car tax payable at present is €1,343 a year for cars over 3 litres.
Under the new bands the maximum payable will be €2,000 a year for cars that emit over 226 grams of CO2 per kilometre. If you look at the limousines used by ministers, every one of them will at the maximum G-band of €2,000, including the Mercedes cars of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and six ministers; the Lexus cars used by two ministers; the Volvos used by two ministers and the Audi A6 used by Mary Harney. There are two exceptions — both Green ministers use Toyota Prius cars. which are A-rated — thus motor tax is only €100 per annum.
So motor tax will be paid on a sliding scale based on carbon emissions. In general, diesel cars will benefit. For example, one of the BMW 3 series saloons (diesel naturally) emits only 128 grams of CO2 and the motor tax will be only €150 per annum.
If you take the average family car (the 1.6 litre petrol saloon) most emit between 170 and 180g of CO2 per km giving a tax bill of €600 per annum, which is a €200 hike.
Will it affect second-hand cars?
No, unless they are being imported. The new motor tax will apply to new cars only. Environment strategists argue it’s better to start with a clean sheet. Proper CO2 labelling of cars started only in 2005. It was suggested yesterday that second-hand cars could be tested for CO2 emissions when getting the NCT but Mr Gormley said it was not possible to do this properly.
The fact that the new bands for both motor tax and VRT will be delayed until July has led to postulation that it may have a short-term impact on the car market. Some say the sale of high-powered SUV and other cars will rise between now and July to escape the punitive 36% VRT tax and higher motor tax. Others say many will wait until after July so they can save buying more efficient cars.
Experts like Conor Faughnan of the AA are not unduly concerned. He said these problems will iron out in the long term and the majority of the new fleet will be carbon-rated vehicles within five years.
Will it make a difference?
Yes and no. The new VRT and motor tax bands will dissuade many mid-market buyers from buying gas-guzzling cars. The motor price hikes will probably not affect those buying cars worth over six figures, though the higher VRT rate may give some pause for thought. In general, the new system will persuade most motorists to think of their cars in terms of carbon efficiency.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Docklands forum to hold first meeting
THE national forum charged with co-ordinating one of the country’s largest regeneration projects will meet for the first time next week.
The Cork Docklands Development Forum will meet on Monday as developers finalise plans for some of the single biggest planning applications in the history of the State for sites in the city’s sprawling docklands.
The forum, chaired by former UCC president, Prof Gerry Wrixon, will be responsible for prioritising the issues that need to be addressed by key government departments and agencies in order to deliver the city council’s vision for the docklands regeneration.
It wants to create a new urban quarter in the sprawling docklands to rival some of Europe’s leading waterfronts.
The 166 hectare region with four kilometres of waterfront has the capacity to accommodate a population of at least 15,000, and a working population of almost 20,000.
Up to 6,000 homes will be built, alongside more than 500,000 square metres of offices, educational institutions, retail outlets as well as culture and leisure facilities, including marinas.
The forum will promote the effective co-ordination and delivery of State investment to build roads, provide water services, and other infrastructure to facilitate this kind of regeneration.
It will also play a key tole in attracting private investment into the area.
The forum was announced two weeks ago by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who said he expected it to report back to government by next June.
It is expected to set out its terms of reference on Monday and start work on the report.
However, considerable work has already been done by the city council and it is understood this will feed into the forum’s work, allowing it to report back to Government faster than expected.
Mr Ahern described the forum as a landmark step in the development of the city’s docklands as “a residential, economic and cultural centre to rival anywhere in Europe”.
Howard Holdings is expected to be first out of the blocks next month with a €1 billion planning application for a 30-acre docklands site close to Pairc Uí Chaoimh.
The mixed use residential and commercial project will include a €30 million conference centre which is due to open in 2010.
Meanwhile, a decision is expected next month on a city council request for €60m of Government Gateway funding toward the construction of an €80m bridge over the River Lee at Tivoli.
The iconic bridge is seen as crucial to open up the lower half of the south docks region for more development.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The Cork Docklands Development Forum will meet on Monday as developers finalise plans for some of the single biggest planning applications in the history of the State for sites in the city’s sprawling docklands.
The forum, chaired by former UCC president, Prof Gerry Wrixon, will be responsible for prioritising the issues that need to be addressed by key government departments and agencies in order to deliver the city council’s vision for the docklands regeneration.
It wants to create a new urban quarter in the sprawling docklands to rival some of Europe’s leading waterfronts.
The 166 hectare region with four kilometres of waterfront has the capacity to accommodate a population of at least 15,000, and a working population of almost 20,000.
Up to 6,000 homes will be built, alongside more than 500,000 square metres of offices, educational institutions, retail outlets as well as culture and leisure facilities, including marinas.
The forum will promote the effective co-ordination and delivery of State investment to build roads, provide water services, and other infrastructure to facilitate this kind of regeneration.
It will also play a key tole in attracting private investment into the area.
The forum was announced two weeks ago by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who said he expected it to report back to government by next June.
It is expected to set out its terms of reference on Monday and start work on the report.
However, considerable work has already been done by the city council and it is understood this will feed into the forum’s work, allowing it to report back to Government faster than expected.
Mr Ahern described the forum as a landmark step in the development of the city’s docklands as “a residential, economic and cultural centre to rival anywhere in Europe”.
Howard Holdings is expected to be first out of the blocks next month with a €1 billion planning application for a 30-acre docklands site close to Pairc Uí Chaoimh.
The mixed use residential and commercial project will include a €30 million conference centre which is due to open in 2010.
Meanwhile, a decision is expected next month on a city council request for €60m of Government Gateway funding toward the construction of an €80m bridge over the River Lee at Tivoli.
The iconic bridge is seen as crucial to open up the lower half of the south docks region for more development.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
€180m package at risk as golf club deal hits council bunker
MEMBERS of a leading Dublin golf club who were set for a €100,000 windfall after voting to sell the club to a developer could be waiting years for their money.
It emerged that Clontarf Golf Club is only allowed to use over 62 acres of publicly-owned land for golf purposes, and nothing can be built on it. Unless councillors agree to rezone the land, the deal will not proceed and members will face losing out on €100,000 each.
Dublin City Council told councillors four years ago that it leased 62.3 acres of land abutting the Malahide Road to the golf club, but that a covenant in the lease meant it must be maintained as a golf course.
It also emerged that the land is zoned for "open space", and there is no proposal to change the zoning.
Despite members voting in favour of the deal, the club has not yet made official contact with the city council -- but it is understood there have been unofficial contacts.
Fine Gael council leader Gerry Breen said last night that a number of councillors were made aware of plans to sell the club over a month ago.
He said that concerns remained over the sale of public land to facilitate development, adding that the council would have to receive a very good deal for any plans to proceed.
Bonanza
Last Thursday members approved a €180m package, allowing the club to be sold to Capel Developments in a deal which would see the developer provide a new home at Portmarnock Links, a new clubhouse, €75m to the club and a €100,000 bonanza for members.
At a meeting attended by 538 of the 670 full members at the Marino Institute, 91pc voted in favour of the course swap- plus-cash deal.
Currently the club pays the council just over €19,000 a year to use the land, with rent reviews every five years.
It is also understood that under the terms of the lease, the trustees of Clontarf Golf Club are not allowed to assign their leasehold interest -- or sell it on -- without the consent of Dublin City Council. No such application has been received.
Now Capel Developments face a lengthy battle to convince councillors of the merits of the deal. Councillors will ultimately decide if the deal goes ahead and will also have to approve the rezoning of the lands for redevelopment.
But last night Labour Councillor Aodhan O'Riordain slammed club members, accusing them of "arrogance" for not consulting with the council.
"I'm just concerned about sports facilities. First we had Tolka Park, Dalymount and Parnell Park being sold, and now Clontarf Golf Club," he said.
"It's arrogant, to say the least, that anyone involved in the golf club would think they could do this without consulting the council. I don't see myself in a position to agree to sell these lands. When they come to us, they shouldn't underestimate our powers to knock this on the head. They must know we have powers and won't hesitate to use them."
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
It emerged that Clontarf Golf Club is only allowed to use over 62 acres of publicly-owned land for golf purposes, and nothing can be built on it. Unless councillors agree to rezone the land, the deal will not proceed and members will face losing out on €100,000 each.
Dublin City Council told councillors four years ago that it leased 62.3 acres of land abutting the Malahide Road to the golf club, but that a covenant in the lease meant it must be maintained as a golf course.
It also emerged that the land is zoned for "open space", and there is no proposal to change the zoning.
Despite members voting in favour of the deal, the club has not yet made official contact with the city council -- but it is understood there have been unofficial contacts.
Fine Gael council leader Gerry Breen said last night that a number of councillors were made aware of plans to sell the club over a month ago.
He said that concerns remained over the sale of public land to facilitate development, adding that the council would have to receive a very good deal for any plans to proceed.
Bonanza
Last Thursday members approved a €180m package, allowing the club to be sold to Capel Developments in a deal which would see the developer provide a new home at Portmarnock Links, a new clubhouse, €75m to the club and a €100,000 bonanza for members.
At a meeting attended by 538 of the 670 full members at the Marino Institute, 91pc voted in favour of the course swap- plus-cash deal.
Currently the club pays the council just over €19,000 a year to use the land, with rent reviews every five years.
It is also understood that under the terms of the lease, the trustees of Clontarf Golf Club are not allowed to assign their leasehold interest -- or sell it on -- without the consent of Dublin City Council. No such application has been received.
Now Capel Developments face a lengthy battle to convince councillors of the merits of the deal. Councillors will ultimately decide if the deal goes ahead and will also have to approve the rezoning of the lands for redevelopment.
But last night Labour Councillor Aodhan O'Riordain slammed club members, accusing them of "arrogance" for not consulting with the council.
"I'm just concerned about sports facilities. First we had Tolka Park, Dalymount and Parnell Park being sold, and now Clontarf Golf Club," he said.
"It's arrogant, to say the least, that anyone involved in the golf club would think they could do this without consulting the council. I don't see myself in a position to agree to sell these lands. When they come to us, they shouldn't underestimate our powers to knock this on the head. They must know we have powers and won't hesitate to use them."
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Record €262m extra ploughed into our public transport system
The bicycle-and-train-travelling Greens finally managed to squeeze more money for traditionally underfunded public transport.
Crucially, it was not at the expense of the ongoing motorway programme, which is also bankrolled next year.
A record €1bn will be spent on public transport in 2008.
But it is unlikely that the bus and rail projects being funded next year will be completed for many years to come, leaving hard-pressed commuters and travellers still stuck in gridlock in 2008 and beyond.
And while work will continue on the motorways and dual-carriageways, there is mounting concern that local authorities will be cutting back on improving the dangerous backroads because their central funding is being reduced.
Expenditure for the Department of Transport in 2008 is €3.837bn, an increase of €410m.
At a time of unprecedented disquiet over our dismal public transport system, there is an extra €262m being ploughed into this area.
The aim is to deliver additional capacity on commuter rail and bus, including further progress on rail transport extensions in Dublin, the Kildare rail line upgrade, the Cork to Midleton commuter line and the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis in Co Clare and Athenry, Co Galway.
Kickstart
The cash will also be used to kickstart re-opening the rail line between Clonsilla and Dunboyne, eventually linking up with Navan.
An additional €74m is being earmarked for the national roads programme, which promises full motorway or dual-carriageway between Dublin and Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and the Border by 2010.
With public clamour for new ways of reducing Ireland's unacceptably high level of road deaths, an extra €45m goes towards improving the non-national roads network.
These are the backroads, mainly in rural areas, where most of the fatal crashes are taking place.
Many of these roads contain treacherous stretches where repeated fatalities are occurring, yet cash-strapped local authorities have not fixed them.
Over €20m is going on road safety programmes and campaigns next year.
This includes a once-off payment of €11m to help cut the long waiting time for driver tests and meet a target set by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey and the Road Safety Authority of just 10 weeks by June 30 next.
Mr Cowen said the Government would be spending €2.7bn on rail and bus services, national and secondary roads, regional airports and ports.
Of this, nearly €1.7bn will be invested in our national roads network, he promised.
"We are building high class roads, which are absolutely integral to economic activity and long-term economic and social prosperity," he added.
M50
The minister promised the M50 would be completed next year with four lanes between the N4 and Ballymount and a transformed and a fully functional Red Cow junction.
The West-Link Bridge should also have four lanes by the end of next year, with barrier-free tolling too.
Elsewhere around the country, 29km of dual carriageway will open between Kilbeggan and Athlone, 37km of dual carriageway will open between Cashel and Mitchelstown, and 19km of dual carriageway will open to bypass Carlow Town.
Irish Rail would also continue to introduce its fleet of 183 railcars into service across the intercity network.
By next summer, the passenger capacity on the Tallaght Luas line should have gone up 40pc.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Crucially, it was not at the expense of the ongoing motorway programme, which is also bankrolled next year.
A record €1bn will be spent on public transport in 2008.
But it is unlikely that the bus and rail projects being funded next year will be completed for many years to come, leaving hard-pressed commuters and travellers still stuck in gridlock in 2008 and beyond.
And while work will continue on the motorways and dual-carriageways, there is mounting concern that local authorities will be cutting back on improving the dangerous backroads because their central funding is being reduced.
Expenditure for the Department of Transport in 2008 is €3.837bn, an increase of €410m.
At a time of unprecedented disquiet over our dismal public transport system, there is an extra €262m being ploughed into this area.
The aim is to deliver additional capacity on commuter rail and bus, including further progress on rail transport extensions in Dublin, the Kildare rail line upgrade, the Cork to Midleton commuter line and the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis in Co Clare and Athenry, Co Galway.
Kickstart
The cash will also be used to kickstart re-opening the rail line between Clonsilla and Dunboyne, eventually linking up with Navan.
An additional €74m is being earmarked for the national roads programme, which promises full motorway or dual-carriageway between Dublin and Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and the Border by 2010.
With public clamour for new ways of reducing Ireland's unacceptably high level of road deaths, an extra €45m goes towards improving the non-national roads network.
These are the backroads, mainly in rural areas, where most of the fatal crashes are taking place.
Many of these roads contain treacherous stretches where repeated fatalities are occurring, yet cash-strapped local authorities have not fixed them.
Over €20m is going on road safety programmes and campaigns next year.
This includes a once-off payment of €11m to help cut the long waiting time for driver tests and meet a target set by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey and the Road Safety Authority of just 10 weeks by June 30 next.
Mr Cowen said the Government would be spending €2.7bn on rail and bus services, national and secondary roads, regional airports and ports.
Of this, nearly €1.7bn will be invested in our national roads network, he promised.
"We are building high class roads, which are absolutely integral to economic activity and long-term economic and social prosperity," he added.
M50
The minister promised the M50 would be completed next year with four lanes between the N4 and Ballymount and a transformed and a fully functional Red Cow junction.
The West-Link Bridge should also have four lanes by the end of next year, with barrier-free tolling too.
Elsewhere around the country, 29km of dual carriageway will open between Kilbeggan and Athlone, 37km of dual carriageway will open between Cashel and Mitchelstown, and 19km of dual carriageway will open to bypass Carlow Town.
Irish Rail would also continue to introduce its fleet of 183 railcars into service across the intercity network.
By next summer, the passenger capacity on the Tallaght Luas line should have gone up 40pc.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Irish Rail defends €5-a-week car park charges
IARNROD Eireann has defended imposing charges to use its car parks, saying its €5-a-week fee is considerably cheaper than parking in Dublin city centre.
Yesterday, it emerged that thousands of motorists who leave their cars at train stations will face extra charges next year, as the transport company expands the number of pay-parking facilities in the Dublin commuter belt.
Motorists could see the cost of their daily commute soar by more than €250 a year, as the railway company expects to expand the number of fee-based car parks.
"We're dealing with increased services planned under Transport 21, and the vast majority of our car parks are full by 7.30am," Iarnrod Eireann spokesman Barry Kenny said.
"There is ongoing costs in relation to maintenance of CCTV and so on, and €5 a week is not a massive sum.
"This is simply about covering the cost. If there is any surplus, it will be reinvested in the service, but we wouldn't anticipate any. The only other way (to pay for these improvements) is to factor in the cost into the rail ticket.
"People who live within walking distance of stations got into the habit of driving. The car parks now come from a wider catchment area.
Moderate
"The €5 is moderate in terms of time saved by not having to drive to work and paying car parking charges in the city centre."
A car park at Sallins, Co Kildare, which is due to open next month, will have a daily charge of €2 -- or a weekly charge of €5 -- and another car park at nearby Newbridge will also impose a charge.
Other stations where it is planned to impose a fee include Rush, Portmarnock and Lusk in north Dublin, Drogheda, Co Louth, and Coolmine in Dublin 15.
Iarnrod Eireann has said that it is also considering building multi-storey car parks in Drogheda, Coolmine and Portmarnock.
When Gormanston station in Co Meath was opened last September, after it was expanded from 90 to 250 parking spaces, a fee was introduced.
Pay-parking has also been introduced in Leixlip/Louisa Bridge in Co Kildare, while Tullamore, Co Offaly, and Arklow, Co Wicklow, also impose a daily charge.
Recent census figures show that 57pc of commuters drove a car to work in 2006, compared with 55pc in 2002.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Yesterday, it emerged that thousands of motorists who leave their cars at train stations will face extra charges next year, as the transport company expands the number of pay-parking facilities in the Dublin commuter belt.
Motorists could see the cost of their daily commute soar by more than €250 a year, as the railway company expects to expand the number of fee-based car parks.
"We're dealing with increased services planned under Transport 21, and the vast majority of our car parks are full by 7.30am," Iarnrod Eireann spokesman Barry Kenny said.
"There is ongoing costs in relation to maintenance of CCTV and so on, and €5 a week is not a massive sum.
"This is simply about covering the cost. If there is any surplus, it will be reinvested in the service, but we wouldn't anticipate any. The only other way (to pay for these improvements) is to factor in the cost into the rail ticket.
"People who live within walking distance of stations got into the habit of driving. The car parks now come from a wider catchment area.
Moderate
"The €5 is moderate in terms of time saved by not having to drive to work and paying car parking charges in the city centre."
A car park at Sallins, Co Kildare, which is due to open next month, will have a daily charge of €2 -- or a weekly charge of €5 -- and another car park at nearby Newbridge will also impose a charge.
Other stations where it is planned to impose a fee include Rush, Portmarnock and Lusk in north Dublin, Drogheda, Co Louth, and Coolmine in Dublin 15.
Iarnrod Eireann has said that it is also considering building multi-storey car parks in Drogheda, Coolmine and Portmarnock.
When Gormanston station in Co Meath was opened last September, after it was expanded from 90 to 250 parking spaces, a fee was introduced.
Pay-parking has also been introduced in Leixlip/Louisa Bridge in Co Kildare, while Tullamore, Co Offaly, and Arklow, Co Wicklow, also impose a daily charge.
Recent census figures show that 57pc of commuters drove a car to work in 2006, compared with 55pc in 2002.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Regional cities may be on track for Luas
THE Government is to go ahead with studies to test whether Luas trams could be rolled out in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
The Transport Department is prepared to build Luas light rail systems in these regional cities if studies it has ordered conclude that this is feasible.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey revealed yesterday that the feasibility studies would determine if either Luas or rapid bus services could be introduced to cater for expanding commuter belts around cities.
Mr Dempsey disclosed the Luas plan yesterday when he expanded on plans to spend a record €3.8bn on transport next year.
He defended the Government's continued bias in favour of roads rather than public transport.
Funding of more than €2bn was announced for roads in yesterday's budget, compared to €1.3bn for public transport. Dealing with ongoing criticism of the failure to tackle roads such as the N11 near Arklow where there has been a succession of fatal crashes, Mr Dempsey said the immediate priority was to finish off the network of inter-urban roads between Dublin and the other cities.
Priorities
However, he stressed that the N11 would be tackled and that the National Roads Authority was already advancing this and other projects as part of the next list of priorities.
Mr Dempsey disclosed that the long-promised Dublin Transport Authority had been delayed because he was not happy with some elements of the draft legislation.
He wanted greater linkages between the provision of transport and planning and development.
This link would be drawn up by the new authority and each local authority in the Dublin area would have to take account of this in their development plans and in planning decisions, added Mr Dempsey.
Asked about the controversial decision by the NRA to scrap its plans to build a network of rest areas along dual-carriageways and motorways, the minister said that unsupervised areas could be a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
Metro
The NRA was instead proceeding with its plans for full service areas every 60km along the roads network.
Mr Dempsey said the public transport allocation would be used to fund extensions to Dublin's Luas light railway; for planning and design work on Dublin's proposed Metro systems and Navan rail line; and for work on the Kildare route project, the Western Rail Corridor and the Cork-Midleton rail line.
Outlining his spending plans Mr Dempsey said €2.3bn would be used to to improve the major inter-urban routes.
He dismissed suggestions that local authorities would have less to spend on the non-national roads in their areas because of reduced revenue. He said car tax income had increased and there would be no reduction.
Six more national roads schemes will begin in 2008.
Mr Dempsey reiterated his pledge to cut driving-test waiting lists to 10 weeks by next June, paving the way for the introduction of key provisional licence reforms.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The Transport Department is prepared to build Luas light rail systems in these regional cities if studies it has ordered conclude that this is feasible.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey revealed yesterday that the feasibility studies would determine if either Luas or rapid bus services could be introduced to cater for expanding commuter belts around cities.
Mr Dempsey disclosed the Luas plan yesterday when he expanded on plans to spend a record €3.8bn on transport next year.
He defended the Government's continued bias in favour of roads rather than public transport.
Funding of more than €2bn was announced for roads in yesterday's budget, compared to €1.3bn for public transport. Dealing with ongoing criticism of the failure to tackle roads such as the N11 near Arklow where there has been a succession of fatal crashes, Mr Dempsey said the immediate priority was to finish off the network of inter-urban roads between Dublin and the other cities.
Priorities
However, he stressed that the N11 would be tackled and that the National Roads Authority was already advancing this and other projects as part of the next list of priorities.
Mr Dempsey disclosed that the long-promised Dublin Transport Authority had been delayed because he was not happy with some elements of the draft legislation.
He wanted greater linkages between the provision of transport and planning and development.
This link would be drawn up by the new authority and each local authority in the Dublin area would have to take account of this in their development plans and in planning decisions, added Mr Dempsey.
Asked about the controversial decision by the NRA to scrap its plans to build a network of rest areas along dual-carriageways and motorways, the minister said that unsupervised areas could be a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
Metro
The NRA was instead proceeding with its plans for full service areas every 60km along the roads network.
Mr Dempsey said the public transport allocation would be used to fund extensions to Dublin's Luas light railway; for planning and design work on Dublin's proposed Metro systems and Navan rail line; and for work on the Kildare route project, the Western Rail Corridor and the Cork-Midleton rail line.
Outlining his spending plans Mr Dempsey said €2.3bn would be used to to improve the major inter-urban routes.
He dismissed suggestions that local authorities would have less to spend on the non-national roads in their areas because of reduced revenue. He said car tax income had increased and there would be no reduction.
Six more national roads schemes will begin in 2008.
Mr Dempsey reiterated his pledge to cut driving-test waiting lists to 10 weeks by next June, paving the way for the introduction of key provisional licence reforms.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Mow the lawn or pay a fine
NEIGHBOURHOODS dominated by rental properties will be spruced up from next year, as landlords will be legally obliged to cut the grass and keep exteriors spick and span.
New regulations mean that investors will no longer be allowed let their rental properties fall into disrepair - a team of inspectors will roam the country looking for houses and apartments that lower the tone of neighbourhoods, and landlords who don't comply could face hefty fines.
Yesterday, Housing Minister Batt O'Keeffe said the new laws would be introduced as a "priority" early next year, and would be vigorously enforced.
The laws will oblige landlords to paint homes and keep the grass cut, and inspectors will also ensure that proper heating systems are installed in rented accommodation.
"I'm hoping to introduce the regulations in the first quarter of 2008 to compel landlords to maintain the exterior of the house," Mr O'Keeffe said yesterday. "We'll also be looking at heating standards in the houses. It's unfair for people who have spent their life savings on a house only for private rented accommodation to not be up to scratch. The property must be maintained."
Inspections will be carried out by local authorities, which carried out 10,000 checks last year. €7m has been allocated to carry out inspections in 2008.
Mr O'Keeffe warned that landlords who were not registered, and who failed to ensure their houses were up to scratch, could face hefty fines for non-compliance.
"If a dispute arises, the tenant can go to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which will know if the landlord is not registered, and they will face fines," he warned.
The Irish Property Owners Association, which represents up to 5,000 landlords, said yesterday that when houses were rented out, the tenant took possession of the gardens.
If the regulations were introduced, it would mean that landlords would have to enter people's homes to ensure they were up to scratch.
"When you let a house the confines of the property, including gardens, will be part of the tenancy, an amenity to be enjoyed by the tenant and therefore the responsibility of the tenant," Chairman Stephen Faughnan said.
Minimum standards for private rented accommodation have been in place since 1993, and are in the process of being updated.
They include a requirement that houses are structurally sound, not subject to dampness or collapse because of rot or other defects, and electrical and gas supply must be safe.
There are also requirements in relation to sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation and natural light. Fines for non-compliance range from from €1,270 to €3,000, and from €127 to €250 for each day of a continuing offence.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
New regulations mean that investors will no longer be allowed let their rental properties fall into disrepair - a team of inspectors will roam the country looking for houses and apartments that lower the tone of neighbourhoods, and landlords who don't comply could face hefty fines.
Yesterday, Housing Minister Batt O'Keeffe said the new laws would be introduced as a "priority" early next year, and would be vigorously enforced.
The laws will oblige landlords to paint homes and keep the grass cut, and inspectors will also ensure that proper heating systems are installed in rented accommodation.
"I'm hoping to introduce the regulations in the first quarter of 2008 to compel landlords to maintain the exterior of the house," Mr O'Keeffe said yesterday. "We'll also be looking at heating standards in the houses. It's unfair for people who have spent their life savings on a house only for private rented accommodation to not be up to scratch. The property must be maintained."
Inspections will be carried out by local authorities, which carried out 10,000 checks last year. €7m has been allocated to carry out inspections in 2008.
Mr O'Keeffe warned that landlords who were not registered, and who failed to ensure their houses were up to scratch, could face hefty fines for non-compliance.
"If a dispute arises, the tenant can go to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which will know if the landlord is not registered, and they will face fines," he warned.
The Irish Property Owners Association, which represents up to 5,000 landlords, said yesterday that when houses were rented out, the tenant took possession of the gardens.
If the regulations were introduced, it would mean that landlords would have to enter people's homes to ensure they were up to scratch.
"When you let a house the confines of the property, including gardens, will be part of the tenancy, an amenity to be enjoyed by the tenant and therefore the responsibility of the tenant," Chairman Stephen Faughnan said.
Minimum standards for private rented accommodation have been in place since 1993, and are in the process of being updated.
They include a requirement that houses are structurally sound, not subject to dampness or collapse because of rot or other defects, and electrical and gas supply must be safe.
There are also requirements in relation to sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation and natural light. Fines for non-compliance range from from €1,270 to €3,000, and from €127 to €250 for each day of a continuing offence.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
Tesco development refused in Co Kerry town
A NEW 10m Tesco store planned for Castleisland has been given the thumbs down by An Bord Pleanala. The UK supermarket chain had appealed an earlier decision not to grant permission for the retail outlet which would have created 100 jobs in the Co Kerry town. Although a report prepared by council officials had recommended allowing the proposed 2,480sq m store, councillors voted against the necessary contravention of the local area plan that would have cleared the way for the development.
In its appeal to the planning board, Tesco pointed out that despite the county council's refusal, local politicians supported the plan. The UK multiple also claimed surveys indicate that 54% of local residents have to travel to Tralee and Killarney to do their grocery shopping, a situation costing Castleisland over 15m in lost revenue annually.
The inspector's report prepared for the board stated that "given the isolated nature of this site together with the level of comparison goods offered, the development would not result in the continued vitality and viability of the town. The site is too peripheral in its location from the town centre to allow for one trip to serve a number of purposes and the development is not sustainable in this regard. The Retail Impact Assessment is not convincing in terms of the need for a store of this size.
"In my view the proposal to develop a major retail outlet at this location is an unsatisfactory approach to land use planning in the area. The proposed retail outlet would be an incongruous element in the middle of the emerging residential area at this side of the road and would act as a barrier to the development of community spirit and to the creation of an attractive residential area."
The board decided to refuse permission for the supermarket in accordance with these recommendations.
Tesco recently held an open day in Castleisland where it collected 300 signatures in support of its plans.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
In its appeal to the planning board, Tesco pointed out that despite the county council's refusal, local politicians supported the plan. The UK multiple also claimed surveys indicate that 54% of local residents have to travel to Tralee and Killarney to do their grocery shopping, a situation costing Castleisland over 15m in lost revenue annually.
The inspector's report prepared for the board stated that "given the isolated nature of this site together with the level of comparison goods offered, the development would not result in the continued vitality and viability of the town. The site is too peripheral in its location from the town centre to allow for one trip to serve a number of purposes and the development is not sustainable in this regard. The Retail Impact Assessment is not convincing in terms of the need for a store of this size.
"In my view the proposal to develop a major retail outlet at this location is an unsatisfactory approach to land use planning in the area. The proposed retail outlet would be an incongruous element in the middle of the emerging residential area at this side of the road and would act as a barrier to the development of community spirit and to the creation of an attractive residential area."
The board decided to refuse permission for the supermarket in accordance with these recommendations.
Tesco recently held an open day in Castleisland where it collected 300 signatures in support of its plans.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Council goes against Galway's wish
COUNCILLORS in Galway city have voted to expand the 33m Briarhill shopping centre in the suburb of Doughiska despite strong opposition from local residents and planning officials. A 1.4-hectare residential site part owned by a Fine Gael councillor is to be rezoned commercial to facilitate the expansion of the centre despite claims by city manager Joe Mc Grath that there is already "sufficient zoned land in the area". Councillor Brian Walsh, who has a 5% stake in the land, with local developer Liam Mulryan owning the remainder, left a recent council meeting during heated discussions on the issue. Residents claim their concerns over poor local infrastructure, particularly the inadequate roads network, have been ignored by politicians who have reneged on earlier promises to improve public facilities in the area.
"The feeling is that if you are a rich property developer then you jump to the top of the queue and get what you want, whereas if you are looking for traffic lights or footpaths then you go to the back, " says Doughiska residents association, spokesperson, Fearghal Wall. "We are looking for basic infrastructure, not an extended shopping centre.
The entry to the centre from the Dublin road is an absolute disgrace, if a bus and a car are passing in opposite directions then it's gridlocked.
"All the councillors are going on about how they are going to get this and that for the area but then they go and pass a motion which will bring in more industry and traffic."
The existing shopping centre, which opened in October has been broadly welcomed by local residents who had complained of the absence of retail facilities in the suburb, located five miles from Galway city. The 14,887sq m (160,242sq ft) centre is anchored by Dunnes Stores and includes 16 units of various sizes, office space, 22 two-bed apartments and 554 parking spaces on ground and basement levels. The planned expansion will almost double the size of the centre and will involve extending the Dunnes outlet and building a drive through restaurant and a petrol filling station. The centre is expected to create 300 jobs when fully operational.
Architect Paul Dillon says he is anxious to address the concerns of local residents when designing the extension to the development. "Our design team is now starting work on this phase and as part of the design process we intend to address all of the concerns which have been raised locally and any input from residents will be well received."
"Briarhill is already a huge shopping centre, " says Labour councillor, Tom Costello. "But it's this second phase of the scheme which is to include further commercial development that's worrying local people. They're concerned about heavy trucks offloading goods in a confined space. The planned restaurant will also mean there will be a lot of activity at various times in the area. It could be said that the real decision on this has now been taken although when the planning submission is made there will at least be an opportunity to look again at the proposals."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
"The feeling is that if you are a rich property developer then you jump to the top of the queue and get what you want, whereas if you are looking for traffic lights or footpaths then you go to the back, " says Doughiska residents association, spokesperson, Fearghal Wall. "We are looking for basic infrastructure, not an extended shopping centre.
The entry to the centre from the Dublin road is an absolute disgrace, if a bus and a car are passing in opposite directions then it's gridlocked.
"All the councillors are going on about how they are going to get this and that for the area but then they go and pass a motion which will bring in more industry and traffic."
The existing shopping centre, which opened in October has been broadly welcomed by local residents who had complained of the absence of retail facilities in the suburb, located five miles from Galway city. The 14,887sq m (160,242sq ft) centre is anchored by Dunnes Stores and includes 16 units of various sizes, office space, 22 two-bed apartments and 554 parking spaces on ground and basement levels. The planned expansion will almost double the size of the centre and will involve extending the Dunnes outlet and building a drive through restaurant and a petrol filling station. The centre is expected to create 300 jobs when fully operational.
Architect Paul Dillon says he is anxious to address the concerns of local residents when designing the extension to the development. "Our design team is now starting work on this phase and as part of the design process we intend to address all of the concerns which have been raised locally and any input from residents will be well received."
"Briarhill is already a huge shopping centre, " says Labour councillor, Tom Costello. "But it's this second phase of the scheme which is to include further commercial development that's worrying local people. They're concerned about heavy trucks offloading goods in a confined space. The planned restaurant will also mean there will be a lot of activity at various times in the area. It could be said that the real decision on this has now been taken although when the planning submission is made there will at least be an opportunity to look again at the proposals."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Lee Valley bridge part of €500m road
A LANDMARK high-level bridge over the environmentally sensitive Lee Valley is included in the preferred route for the first phase of Cork’s €500 million northern ring road.
Engineers from the National Roads Authority (NRA) will announce the preferred route corridor for the western section of the crucial highway project later today.
But the Irish Examiner has learned the shortest route which requires the least number of new structures has been selected.
The 300-metre wide corridor which runs from Ballincollig, west of the city, to Rathpeacon in the north, is a combination of two of the nine routes which were considered — the so-called “grey” and “purple” routes.
The grey section runs from the Poulavone Roundabout, north through rolling countryside between Kerrypike and Clogheen to join the main Cork to Mallow road. The purple section will then link the western section to the main Cork to Dublin Road.
The section affects the least number of houses and has the least noise and vibration impact on a lower number of existing dwellings, engineers said.
However, the grey section includes a vast landmark high-level bridge, between 35m and 40m high, running for several hundred metres across the Lee’s floodplain below Carrigrohane Castle.
It is likely to spark a controversy from local groups who have vowed to fight any such project. Residents living within the preferred corridor will be briefed by NRA officials this morning before the route goes on public display. In documents to be distributed today, engineers said the preferred route was selected for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is the shortest. They also said it:
Uses the existing Poulavone link, constructed as part of the Ballincollig bypass project.
Requires the minimum number of new structures.
Performed well under environmental studies.
Is the best option under cost benefit analysis.
Is one of the preferred options with regard to planning.
They said the use of high-level bridge structures has already been successfully used in Ireland, to cross the environmentally sensitive Boyne Valley.
“Preliminary designs indicate the required bridge would be 35 to 40 metres in height,” the documentation says.
“It is envisaged this new bridge crossing could form a landmark feature for Cork, similar to the Boyne Valley Crossing.”
Drawing and maps of the preferred route will be on display in the Kingsley Hotel from 2pm to 8pm today.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Engineers from the National Roads Authority (NRA) will announce the preferred route corridor for the western section of the crucial highway project later today.
But the Irish Examiner has learned the shortest route which requires the least number of new structures has been selected.
The 300-metre wide corridor which runs from Ballincollig, west of the city, to Rathpeacon in the north, is a combination of two of the nine routes which were considered — the so-called “grey” and “purple” routes.
The grey section runs from the Poulavone Roundabout, north through rolling countryside between Kerrypike and Clogheen to join the main Cork to Mallow road. The purple section will then link the western section to the main Cork to Dublin Road.
The section affects the least number of houses and has the least noise and vibration impact on a lower number of existing dwellings, engineers said.
However, the grey section includes a vast landmark high-level bridge, between 35m and 40m high, running for several hundred metres across the Lee’s floodplain below Carrigrohane Castle.
It is likely to spark a controversy from local groups who have vowed to fight any such project. Residents living within the preferred corridor will be briefed by NRA officials this morning before the route goes on public display. In documents to be distributed today, engineers said the preferred route was selected for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is the shortest. They also said it:
Uses the existing Poulavone link, constructed as part of the Ballincollig bypass project.
Requires the minimum number of new structures.
Performed well under environmental studies.
Is the best option under cost benefit analysis.
Is one of the preferred options with regard to planning.
They said the use of high-level bridge structures has already been successfully used in Ireland, to cross the environmentally sensitive Boyne Valley.
“Preliminary designs indicate the required bridge would be 35 to 40 metres in height,” the documentation says.
“It is envisaged this new bridge crossing could form a landmark feature for Cork, similar to the Boyne Valley Crossing.”
Drawing and maps of the preferred route will be on display in the Kingsley Hotel from 2pm to 8pm today.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
In defence of planning
In ‘Down Under’ by Bill Bryson, Bill notes how Australia is unknown to most Americans because it is never mentioned in the media. Planning has the opposite problem: it is never out of the media. ‘An Irish Town Planner’s Blog’ contains 1283 articles of direct relevance to planning so far for 2007. Whether it is incinerators, prisons, motorways, or developer’s dreams, planning has it all. It is hot stuff. Even for gossip in a Dara O'Briain style Dublin Pub Ad you can hear the punters saying: “Did you hear about U2’s plans for the Clarence – sure they pay no tax?” or “Gormley’s certainly looking green after swallowing the Fianna Fail flavoured M3 proposals.” Switch on your TV or open a newspaper; planning issues are in the headlines. At the same time, oddly, few planners are ever caught talking or writing about planning, so complaint about planning, planners and “The System” often goes unchallenged and unexplained, which, like waiting for a pre-planning meeting, is frustrating.
This article, the first of a series, takes on the planner’s perspective. Just because you have seldom heard this perspective other than at a pre-planning meeting where things are all a bit one-sided, does not mean it isn’t there, it just takes too much effort to find.
A planner’s perspective on your planning application often involves approaching a planning counter (when it’s open), requesting a dust-filled file, and picking through a planner’s report. This report will have been written by one planner, read by another, signed by another and checked by another, and so on: hardly representing an independent planner’s opinion. When read, a planning report is dissected by construction industry professionals in a manner which often misunderstands its content as being open for discussion. Decisions are not democratic; rather, they are judgements. The forum for expressing genuine professional planner opinion does not exist, so most are cautious. You can debate the judgement, but you cannot alter the decision, but by appeal.
Planning has a bad reputation in the construction industry. This is hardly surprising. No industry likes its regulator. In private conversations, few disagree on the need for planning, but everyone has had a bad experience. Most women feel this way about men, but most want a relationship with one. Likewise planning, love it or hate it, we must work within its rules, so when it says the bedrooms need to be bigger to meet the new Guidelines, do it or suffer.
At its most basic, most of the frustrations with planning are understandable. The industry wants everything to be granted planning permission as fast as possible with as few conditions and as little payable by way of development contribution or contributed by way of Part V as is possible. Throw in objections, technical issues with roads, drainage, etc. one can begin to understand the magnitude of the job confronting planners. While behind each individual planning application is normally a client and a group of industry professionals each focused on its outcome, for a planner it’s another day at the office and another planning file. If it’s bad, it’s bad; if it’s good, it’s granted. This means no one gets special treatment, but it can mean the project on which months may have been spent working is, coldly discarded. Getting the right decision every time means proposing the right project, at the right time, at the right scale, at the right location. This according to the planning statistics is not a big ask.
What I mean is, if it is planning permissions on which the construction industry judges planning and planners, then what’s the problem? Granting planning permission is mostly what happens. Planning authorities made 80,029 planning decisions in 2006. Of these 81.3% were grants of permission and just 18.7% were refusals.
Assume the most frustrated people with planning are those who are refused planning permission. This is around a fifth of applicants. If you were really frustrated with your local planning authority, you would appeal to An Bord Pleanála. 20% of 80,029 planning applications would be 16,005, but only 3903 appeals were made in 2006 – and, only 42% were against refusals. Thus not everyone in the industry disagrees with their refusal. Of course some will go back with revised planning applications – but they must alter the scheme – normally in the direction required by the planning assessment and technical referrals.
For the frustrated individuals who appeal against a local planning authority decision, statistically only 24% will succeed in over-turning a decision. And planner’s recommendations on files are right - according to the Board – in 88% of cases. The remaining 76% reluctantly still stewing over the first refusal and determined to go on now have just one choice. It’s defibrillator time. By applying a barrister to the metaphorical chest of a planning application, it is theoretically possible to over-turn a Board decision. Taking 2005 figures, during 2005, only 17 cases made it through to High Court judicial review proceedings. Add to this that judicial review only provides an opportunity to examine the administration of the case, not its planning merits. It hardly represents a route for proving a planner wrong.
Therefore, of the thousands and thousands of planning applications assessed each year. Most people are granted planning permission and a quarter of those who are not will get it on appeal. Few planning applications in which there is merit have problems obtaining planning.
Contrary to the notion that planners are anti-development, planners are pro-development. The stats speak for themselves. What planners are not is eejits. This is not the impression provided by reading a newspaper or watching the news. Without any knowledge of planning, one would be left with the impression of all planners as apparatchiks who consistently deny individuals and developers their due. This is not the case; most planners have attended the same courses as professionals in the Construction industry. And, all planners have attended professional planning courses. Planners are well able to assess planning applications.
In the last fifteen years, planners in Ireland have reacted to the changing face of this country by permitting previously unheard of scale developments. To cope with growth the Irish planning systems has become more complex, but more capable. Irish planners have withstood demands and pressures – often being thrown straight from college into planning authorities around the country due to demand for planners – and have not complained openly about it. Planners have gotten on with the job.
During the administration of this system, we all have stories of difficulties with obtaining pre-planning, spurious invalidations, odd decisions, and so on. This is to be expected with a planning system the size of Ireland’s. Beyond all these minor stories, the reason for the much-hyped but non-existent stand-off between the construction industry and planners is nothing to do with planners being disagreeable. It is to do with planners doing their job. That is, of regulating the industry.
In my next article I will review the growing role of shock planning in Ireland. Shock planning is where a very large proposal is introduced and the pressure is placed on planners and planning to react. Recent cases include Greystones Marina and Sean Dunne’s Ballsbridge.
Brendan Buck
Irish Construction Industry Magazine
This article, the first of a series, takes on the planner’s perspective. Just because you have seldom heard this perspective other than at a pre-planning meeting where things are all a bit one-sided, does not mean it isn’t there, it just takes too much effort to find.
A planner’s perspective on your planning application often involves approaching a planning counter (when it’s open), requesting a dust-filled file, and picking through a planner’s report. This report will have been written by one planner, read by another, signed by another and checked by another, and so on: hardly representing an independent planner’s opinion. When read, a planning report is dissected by construction industry professionals in a manner which often misunderstands its content as being open for discussion. Decisions are not democratic; rather, they are judgements. The forum for expressing genuine professional planner opinion does not exist, so most are cautious. You can debate the judgement, but you cannot alter the decision, but by appeal.
Planning has a bad reputation in the construction industry. This is hardly surprising. No industry likes its regulator. In private conversations, few disagree on the need for planning, but everyone has had a bad experience. Most women feel this way about men, but most want a relationship with one. Likewise planning, love it or hate it, we must work within its rules, so when it says the bedrooms need to be bigger to meet the new Guidelines, do it or suffer.
At its most basic, most of the frustrations with planning are understandable. The industry wants everything to be granted planning permission as fast as possible with as few conditions and as little payable by way of development contribution or contributed by way of Part V as is possible. Throw in objections, technical issues with roads, drainage, etc. one can begin to understand the magnitude of the job confronting planners. While behind each individual planning application is normally a client and a group of industry professionals each focused on its outcome, for a planner it’s another day at the office and another planning file. If it’s bad, it’s bad; if it’s good, it’s granted. This means no one gets special treatment, but it can mean the project on which months may have been spent working is, coldly discarded. Getting the right decision every time means proposing the right project, at the right time, at the right scale, at the right location. This according to the planning statistics is not a big ask.
What I mean is, if it is planning permissions on which the construction industry judges planning and planners, then what’s the problem? Granting planning permission is mostly what happens. Planning authorities made 80,029 planning decisions in 2006. Of these 81.3% were grants of permission and just 18.7% were refusals.
Assume the most frustrated people with planning are those who are refused planning permission. This is around a fifth of applicants. If you were really frustrated with your local planning authority, you would appeal to An Bord Pleanála. 20% of 80,029 planning applications would be 16,005, but only 3903 appeals were made in 2006 – and, only 42% were against refusals. Thus not everyone in the industry disagrees with their refusal. Of course some will go back with revised planning applications – but they must alter the scheme – normally in the direction required by the planning assessment and technical referrals.
For the frustrated individuals who appeal against a local planning authority decision, statistically only 24% will succeed in over-turning a decision. And planner’s recommendations on files are right - according to the Board – in 88% of cases. The remaining 76% reluctantly still stewing over the first refusal and determined to go on now have just one choice. It’s defibrillator time. By applying a barrister to the metaphorical chest of a planning application, it is theoretically possible to over-turn a Board decision. Taking 2005 figures, during 2005, only 17 cases made it through to High Court judicial review proceedings. Add to this that judicial review only provides an opportunity to examine the administration of the case, not its planning merits. It hardly represents a route for proving a planner wrong.
Therefore, of the thousands and thousands of planning applications assessed each year. Most people are granted planning permission and a quarter of those who are not will get it on appeal. Few planning applications in which there is merit have problems obtaining planning.
Contrary to the notion that planners are anti-development, planners are pro-development. The stats speak for themselves. What planners are not is eejits. This is not the impression provided by reading a newspaper or watching the news. Without any knowledge of planning, one would be left with the impression of all planners as apparatchiks who consistently deny individuals and developers their due. This is not the case; most planners have attended the same courses as professionals in the Construction industry. And, all planners have attended professional planning courses. Planners are well able to assess planning applications.
In the last fifteen years, planners in Ireland have reacted to the changing face of this country by permitting previously unheard of scale developments. To cope with growth the Irish planning systems has become more complex, but more capable. Irish planners have withstood demands and pressures – often being thrown straight from college into planning authorities around the country due to demand for planners – and have not complained openly about it. Planners have gotten on with the job.
During the administration of this system, we all have stories of difficulties with obtaining pre-planning, spurious invalidations, odd decisions, and so on. This is to be expected with a planning system the size of Ireland’s. Beyond all these minor stories, the reason for the much-hyped but non-existent stand-off between the construction industry and planners is nothing to do with planners being disagreeable. It is to do with planners doing their job. That is, of regulating the industry.
In my next article I will review the growing role of shock planning in Ireland. Shock planning is where a very large proposal is introduced and the pressure is placed on planners and planning to react. Recent cases include Greystones Marina and Sean Dunne’s Ballsbridge.
Brendan Buck
Irish Construction Industry Magazine
UCD professor awarded RIA gold medal
Professor George Eogan, emeritus Professor of Celtic Archaeology at University College Dublin - widely regarded as one of Ireland's foremost archaeologists - has been awarded the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal in the Humanities.
His momentous programme of archaeological work in the Boyne Valley over the course of the last 40 years has transformed our understanding of the passage tombs and the settlement history of the area. As a result, the Boyne Valley was established as a national park and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
His crucial role in the development of Irish archaeology from the 1960s onwards has received recognition in his appointment to Seanad Éireann, in numerous awards and in membership of bodies such as Academia Europea, the German Archaeological Institute and the Society of Antiquaries, London.
Each year, Royal Irish Academy Gold Medals are presented to two outstanding academics. They are recognised as a truly national expression of celebration for scholarly achievement. The medals are sponsored by the Higher Education Authority and the Irish Independent.
www.buckplanning.ie
His momentous programme of archaeological work in the Boyne Valley over the course of the last 40 years has transformed our understanding of the passage tombs and the settlement history of the area. As a result, the Boyne Valley was established as a national park and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
His crucial role in the development of Irish archaeology from the 1960s onwards has received recognition in his appointment to Seanad Éireann, in numerous awards and in membership of bodies such as Academia Europea, the German Archaeological Institute and the Society of Antiquaries, London.
Each year, Royal Irish Academy Gold Medals are presented to two outstanding academics. They are recognised as a truly national expression of celebration for scholarly achievement. The medals are sponsored by the Higher Education Authority and the Irish Independent.
www.buckplanning.ie
Greenpeace calls for new light-bulbs law
RTE News has reported on Greenpeace activists who have flown a massive banner from the Spire on O'Connell Street, Dublin - calling for a new light-bulb law.
The campaigners want Environment Minister, John Gormley to set official standards for light-bulbs or 'ban the bulb'. They say inefficient light-bulbs should be outlawed by January 2010.
Greenpeace Campaigner, Eoin Dubsky said - "Irish Government negotiators attending the UN Climate Conference in Bali, which starts today, have the opportunity to announce savings of as much as 15% of Ireland's residential electricity demand."
Dubsky added - "We want Ireland to lead the way for the EU on this. France, last month, announced a ban on incandescent light-bulbs by 2010, but details are still hazy. Other governments recently backpedalled - saying that EU law won't let them set energy standards for light-bulbs. If Europe's largest light-bulb manufacturers - Philips, Osram & GE - have their way, it could be 2019 before we are finally rid of their most wasteful, outdated products."
Greenpeace says that Ireland could save more energy per household than any other EU country, simply by switching to efficient light-bulbs. That is because Ireland currently has the highest energy consumption per household for lighting at 920 kWh (the worst in the EU-27) - compared with, for instance, Germany at 337 kWh.
Activists also delivered a petition - containing over 10,000 signatures - to Minister Gormley.
www.buckplanning.ie
The campaigners want Environment Minister, John Gormley to set official standards for light-bulbs or 'ban the bulb'. They say inefficient light-bulbs should be outlawed by January 2010.
Greenpeace Campaigner, Eoin Dubsky said - "Irish Government negotiators attending the UN Climate Conference in Bali, which starts today, have the opportunity to announce savings of as much as 15% of Ireland's residential electricity demand."
Dubsky added - "We want Ireland to lead the way for the EU on this. France, last month, announced a ban on incandescent light-bulbs by 2010, but details are still hazy. Other governments recently backpedalled - saying that EU law won't let them set energy standards for light-bulbs. If Europe's largest light-bulb manufacturers - Philips, Osram & GE - have their way, it could be 2019 before we are finally rid of their most wasteful, outdated products."
Greenpeace says that Ireland could save more energy per household than any other EU country, simply by switching to efficient light-bulbs. That is because Ireland currently has the highest energy consumption per household for lighting at 920 kWh (the worst in the EU-27) - compared with, for instance, Germany at 337 kWh.
Activists also delivered a petition - containing over 10,000 signatures - to Minister Gormley.
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley to appoint waste management regulator
The Sunday Business Post has reported that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, John Gormley TD is expected to recommend the establishment of a national waste management regulator, as part of waste policy proposals to be brought before the government shortly.
The Green Party leader has signalled that a radical change is needed to the current system, whereby local authorities regulate private waste companies, but are also involved in the €1.5 billion sector themselves. "I feel a regulator has to be put in place" - Gormley said at the National Waste Summit in Dublin recently. "New regulations are being prepared by my department and will be before me shortly."
There have been threats of legal action from private operators against Dublin City Council, which is considering taking over household waste collection in Dublin or putting the service out to tender.
"I know differences that have arisen between local authorities and private operators may be the subject of a court case" - the Minister said. "There is a lot of spin going on about private operators adding to greenhouse gases and so on. I believe they are doing good jobs and collecting recyclable materials - but, the current issues are ones to be mindful of when introducing regulation."
The Sunday Business Post previously revealed that the government is to strip local authorities of all regulatory powers over waste management as part of a national review of the sector, due to start early next year. A new regulatory body is now likely to take over these powers.
Minister Gormley said he would invite interested parties in the waste sector - including representatives of the Irish Waste Management Association, Ibec, Ictu and the Competition Authority - to talks at the Custom House in the New Year.
At the waste summit, the Competition Authority's head of advocacy, Declan Purcell, also questioned the role of local authorities in waste management. He said that dividing up the market and tendering segments of it would work best for consumers and the state in the long-term.
"A regulator could have a role - but not in setting prices, which would have to be linked to economies of scale. The same price could not be charged in west Mayo or Donegal as in Dublin" - Purcell said.
The waste summit focused on recent developments in the sector and the future of waste management.
The National Waste Summit was hosted by The Sunday Business Post and iQuest. Ulster Bank was gold sponsor of the event and RPS and Greenstar were silver sponsors.
www.buckplanning.ie
The Green Party leader has signalled that a radical change is needed to the current system, whereby local authorities regulate private waste companies, but are also involved in the €1.5 billion sector themselves. "I feel a regulator has to be put in place" - Gormley said at the National Waste Summit in Dublin recently. "New regulations are being prepared by my department and will be before me shortly."
There have been threats of legal action from private operators against Dublin City Council, which is considering taking over household waste collection in Dublin or putting the service out to tender.
"I know differences that have arisen between local authorities and private operators may be the subject of a court case" - the Minister said. "There is a lot of spin going on about private operators adding to greenhouse gases and so on. I believe they are doing good jobs and collecting recyclable materials - but, the current issues are ones to be mindful of when introducing regulation."
The Sunday Business Post previously revealed that the government is to strip local authorities of all regulatory powers over waste management as part of a national review of the sector, due to start early next year. A new regulatory body is now likely to take over these powers.
Minister Gormley said he would invite interested parties in the waste sector - including representatives of the Irish Waste Management Association, Ibec, Ictu and the Competition Authority - to talks at the Custom House in the New Year.
At the waste summit, the Competition Authority's head of advocacy, Declan Purcell, also questioned the role of local authorities in waste management. He said that dividing up the market and tendering segments of it would work best for consumers and the state in the long-term.
"A regulator could have a role - but not in setting prices, which would have to be linked to economies of scale. The same price could not be charged in west Mayo or Donegal as in Dublin" - Purcell said.
The waste summit focused on recent developments in the sector and the future of waste management.
The National Waste Summit was hosted by The Sunday Business Post and iQuest. Ulster Bank was gold sponsor of the event and RPS and Greenstar were silver sponsors.
www.buckplanning.ie
Controversy over plan for gold mine
A company's plan for a "small scale" gold mine in Co Mayo is running into determined opposition from groups who fear the project would damage the landscape and environment.
The controversy is shaping up into a repeat of the row which embroiled mining companies Glencar and Andaman Resources when they tried to exploit gold resources at Creggaunbaun, near Louisburgh, and Croagh Patrick in the early 1990s.
"Mayo's Gold Limited", a subsidiary of Aurum Explorations, is seeking the go-ahead for what the company describes as a "tourist gold mine" at Creggaunbaun which would primarily be involved in the manufacture of jewellery.
Mining would be carried out in an environmentally sensitive process similar to "keyhole surgery" the company promises, and Croagh Patrick would be out of bounds for the venture.
However, concern was expressed at the weekend that Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan had declared his intention to grant prospecting licences to the company in respect of 135 designated townlands.
The department's deadline for receipt of objections to the issuing of the licences is today.
Mayo County Councillor Margaret Adams says there are a lot of unanswered questions about the company's plans. Representatives should be invited to a meeting to explain their exact proposals, she said.
Westport Tourism has also discussed the company's proposals and says all its members are strongly opposed to them.
Paddy Hopkins, chairman of the Mayo Environmental Group, says the proposal will meet the same level of determined opposition as the plans by Glencar and Andaman to mine gold at Cregganbaun and Croagh Patrick did on the last occasion. "We are trying to get as many groups and individuals as possible to write to Minister Ryan opposing the granting of the prospecting licences."
In a document sent to local landowners in the Creggaunbaun area, Mayo's Gold Limited says it is offering "a completely new approach" to any potential extraction of local gold resources.
Company spokesman Tom O'Gorman said it is thought sufficient gold resources can be established to provide a sustainable development which would provide long-term employment and a unique tourism attraction in the area for 20 or more years.
Tom Shiel
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The controversy is shaping up into a repeat of the row which embroiled mining companies Glencar and Andaman Resources when they tried to exploit gold resources at Creggaunbaun, near Louisburgh, and Croagh Patrick in the early 1990s.
"Mayo's Gold Limited", a subsidiary of Aurum Explorations, is seeking the go-ahead for what the company describes as a "tourist gold mine" at Creggaunbaun which would primarily be involved in the manufacture of jewellery.
Mining would be carried out in an environmentally sensitive process similar to "keyhole surgery" the company promises, and Croagh Patrick would be out of bounds for the venture.
However, concern was expressed at the weekend that Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan had declared his intention to grant prospecting licences to the company in respect of 135 designated townlands.
The department's deadline for receipt of objections to the issuing of the licences is today.
Mayo County Councillor Margaret Adams says there are a lot of unanswered questions about the company's plans. Representatives should be invited to a meeting to explain their exact proposals, she said.
Westport Tourism has also discussed the company's proposals and says all its members are strongly opposed to them.
Paddy Hopkins, chairman of the Mayo Environmental Group, says the proposal will meet the same level of determined opposition as the plans by Glencar and Andaman to mine gold at Cregganbaun and Croagh Patrick did on the last occasion. "We are trying to get as many groups and individuals as possible to write to Minister Ryan opposing the granting of the prospecting licences."
In a document sent to local landowners in the Creggaunbaun area, Mayo's Gold Limited says it is offering "a completely new approach" to any potential extraction of local gold resources.
Company spokesman Tom O'Gorman said it is thought sufficient gold resources can be established to provide a sustainable development which would provide long-term employment and a unique tourism attraction in the area for 20 or more years.
Tom Shiel
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Ryan rejects licences for uranium exploration
Prospecting licences to two companies seeking to explore for uranium in Donegal have been refused by the Minister for Natural Resources Eamon Ryan.Mr Ryan said that by declining the applications for licences - the first step in the mining process - he was signalling a wider policy decision to prohibit such activity in Ireland."It would be hypocritical to permit the extraction of uranium for use in nuclear reactors in other countries, while the nuclear generation of electricity is not allowed in Ireland and particularly while the Irish Government continues to object to the operation of nuclear power generation at Sellafield and other locations," he said in a statement.
Uranium prospecting licences were granted previously in the 1970s and 1980s, when the rare ore was discovered in Donegal, according to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The most recent applications were made just a few weeks ago."Granting a licence carries an implicit policy agreement permitting its extraction should a viable prospect be discovered," Mr Ryan said. "This is where my concern lies."The most likely end use of any uranium extracted in Ireland would be for nuclear electricity generation. There are also significant environmental and public health concerns surrounding uranium mining, including contamination of ground and surface water supplies and radiation levels."In this decision we are following the example set by other countries who remain opposed to the nuclear generation of electricity, such as New Zealand."
The Minister's decision was welcomed by Friends of the Irish Environment. It hoped it marked the advent of an "non-hypocritical energy regime."Meanwhile, local authority officials from Ireland and Britain will meet in Dublin this week to plan the next stage in their campaign to oppose the development of new nuclear power stations.Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council will jointly host the annual British and Irish Local Authorities Conference on Nuclear Hazards, which will be attended by more than 50 delegates.
Themes include the resurgence of the nuclear lobby in Europe, British proposals for nuclear stations and alternative strategies for meeting energy needs and tackling climate change. The conference will be opened by Mr Ryan on Friday.
Ruadhán Mac Cormaic
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Uranium prospecting licences were granted previously in the 1970s and 1980s, when the rare ore was discovered in Donegal, according to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The most recent applications were made just a few weeks ago."Granting a licence carries an implicit policy agreement permitting its extraction should a viable prospect be discovered," Mr Ryan said. "This is where my concern lies."The most likely end use of any uranium extracted in Ireland would be for nuclear electricity generation. There are also significant environmental and public health concerns surrounding uranium mining, including contamination of ground and surface water supplies and radiation levels."In this decision we are following the example set by other countries who remain opposed to the nuclear generation of electricity, such as New Zealand."
The Minister's decision was welcomed by Friends of the Irish Environment. It hoped it marked the advent of an "non-hypocritical energy regime."Meanwhile, local authority officials from Ireland and Britain will meet in Dublin this week to plan the next stage in their campaign to oppose the development of new nuclear power stations.Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council will jointly host the annual British and Irish Local Authorities Conference on Nuclear Hazards, which will be attended by more than 50 delegates.
Themes include the resurgence of the nuclear lobby in Europe, British proposals for nuclear stations and alternative strategies for meeting energy needs and tackling climate change. The conference will be opened by Mr Ryan on Friday.
Ruadhán Mac Cormaic
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tomb could haunt Gormley
Environment Minister John Gormley faces another archaeological headache over the development of a new port in north Dublin. A passage tomb, which could be up to 6,000 years old, lies in the land earmarked for a deepwater port at Bremore, near Balbriggan, which is being developed by the Drogheda Port Company and Treasury Holdings at a cost of €300m.
And a 17th-century harbour, historic wrecks and a cairn on the beach - which could contain the remains of victims of a wreck in 1875 - could also be affected.The passage tomb, which is protected, could be one of the earliest examples in the country and the port's developers will have to produce a plan as to how the port can go ahead without it being affected. This is the third infrastructure project that could be delayed by concerns about archaeology.The discovery of a national monument on the route of the controversial M3 could still be the focus of a legal challenge which could delay the project, while concerns have also been raised about archaeology on the site of a proposed superdump at Tooman Nevitt, also near Balbriggan.The passage tomb contains the remains of cremated bodies and could date from 4000 BC, Professor Gabriel Cooney of the UCD School of Archaeology said yesterday."I think there would be agreement across the archaeological community that if they were bulldozed it would be a national loss, given the number of sites we know, the potential significance of them and the fact there's a complex of them," he said.The oldest known passage tomb complex is at Newgrange in Co Meath, which dates from 3000 BC. This could be 1,000 years older, and could contain other hidden gems.
A spokesman for the Drogheda Port Company said that a full assessment of the area would be carried out before any application for planning permission was lodged. A planning application is not expected before mid-2008, and it is hoped the port will open by the end of 2012.The cemetery of passage tombs consists of a main mound and four smaller mounds around it. A preservation order was placed on the structure in 1976. Last night, a spokesman for Mr Gormley said the minister was aware of the issue and would ensure the historical site was protected."While he must reserve his position until he is given further details of the port development proposals, it is his intention to continue to ensure that appropriate protection is offered to the Bremore passage tombs and other elements of the archaeological heritage," he said.The National Monuments Service had also been instructed to liaise with the Drogheda Port Company to ensure Mr Gormley's views are taken into account.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
And a 17th-century harbour, historic wrecks and a cairn on the beach - which could contain the remains of victims of a wreck in 1875 - could also be affected.The passage tomb, which is protected, could be one of the earliest examples in the country and the port's developers will have to produce a plan as to how the port can go ahead without it being affected. This is the third infrastructure project that could be delayed by concerns about archaeology.The discovery of a national monument on the route of the controversial M3 could still be the focus of a legal challenge which could delay the project, while concerns have also been raised about archaeology on the site of a proposed superdump at Tooman Nevitt, also near Balbriggan.The passage tomb contains the remains of cremated bodies and could date from 4000 BC, Professor Gabriel Cooney of the UCD School of Archaeology said yesterday."I think there would be agreement across the archaeological community that if they were bulldozed it would be a national loss, given the number of sites we know, the potential significance of them and the fact there's a complex of them," he said.The oldest known passage tomb complex is at Newgrange in Co Meath, which dates from 3000 BC. This could be 1,000 years older, and could contain other hidden gems.
A spokesman for the Drogheda Port Company said that a full assessment of the area would be carried out before any application for planning permission was lodged. A planning application is not expected before mid-2008, and it is hoped the port will open by the end of 2012.The cemetery of passage tombs consists of a main mound and four smaller mounds around it. A preservation order was placed on the structure in 1976. Last night, a spokesman for Mr Gormley said the minister was aware of the issue and would ensure the historical site was protected."While he must reserve his position until he is given further details of the port development proposals, it is his intention to continue to ensure that appropriate protection is offered to the Bremore passage tombs and other elements of the archaeological heritage," he said.The National Monuments Service had also been instructed to liaise with the Drogheda Port Company to ensure Mr Gormley's views are taken into account.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Irish Heritage Trust to care for Fota House
FOTA HOUSE in Cork is set to become the first historic Irish building to come under the stewardship of the Irish Heritage Trust — an organisation established in 2006 to preserve properties of historic and cultural significance.
The complex is currently operated by the Fota Trust Company with the gardens managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
It is intended that the Irish Heritage Trust will take ownership of the house in the next few weeks when the legal arrangements are finalised.
The OPW will continue to manage the gardens for a further five years when the heritage trust will then assume responsibility for them.
The trust was established in 2006 with a mandate to acquire and present to the public major important heritage properties where the State does not wish to acquire them directly and where there is imminent risk to their heritage value.
Fota House, the centre piece of the great estate of the Earls of Barrymore, survives today with its architectural heritage and detail fully intact. It was created by Sir Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvious, two of the most influential and celebrated architects of their era. The house is set in its original island park with its famous arboretum and renowned gardens that were developed in the second half of the 19th century.
For the past 14 years, the house was managed by the Fota Trust, which was established by University College Cork, represented by Professor Tom Raftery, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.
Minister of State Batt O’Keeffe said yesterday he was delighted the trust had acquired its first property, which was of national importance in heritage terms.
The Green Party’s Dan Boyle said the purchase was a recognition of an important amenity for the people of Cork, in particular.
“I applaud the State’s willingness to intervene in this way to protect the future of Fota House and Gardens. It will generate considerable visitor interest and add significantly to the tourism potential of the area.”
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The complex is currently operated by the Fota Trust Company with the gardens managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
It is intended that the Irish Heritage Trust will take ownership of the house in the next few weeks when the legal arrangements are finalised.
The OPW will continue to manage the gardens for a further five years when the heritage trust will then assume responsibility for them.
The trust was established in 2006 with a mandate to acquire and present to the public major important heritage properties where the State does not wish to acquire them directly and where there is imminent risk to their heritage value.
Fota House, the centre piece of the great estate of the Earls of Barrymore, survives today with its architectural heritage and detail fully intact. It was created by Sir Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvious, two of the most influential and celebrated architects of their era. The house is set in its original island park with its famous arboretum and renowned gardens that were developed in the second half of the 19th century.
For the past 14 years, the house was managed by the Fota Trust, which was established by University College Cork, represented by Professor Tom Raftery, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.
Minister of State Batt O’Keeffe said yesterday he was delighted the trust had acquired its first property, which was of national importance in heritage terms.
The Green Party’s Dan Boyle said the purchase was a recognition of an important amenity for the people of Cork, in particular.
“I applaud the State’s willingness to intervene in this way to protect the future of Fota House and Gardens. It will generate considerable visitor interest and add significantly to the tourism potential of the area.”
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley must get to grips with local councils on planning scandals
FUTURE Prime Time Investigates programmes on RTE should begin with a health warning to the effect that what is about to be screened will impact adversely on the blood pressure of those who care about this country and the mess it is in. The exploration of the local authority planning scandals aired on Monday night was frightening and infuriating in equal measure.
Some contributing councillors smirked, whinged and winked their way through the programme, unapologetic and unrepentant about the enormous damage that is caused to some areas by the links between developers and local politicians and by the failure to ensure local plans comply with spatial strategies and national guidelines.
Wisely, the programme-makers offered continual reminders throughout that the purpose of councillors is supposed to be about serving "the common good". A minority of them have been doing the opposite for many years now, ignoring the advice of professional planners and refusing to leave meetings when an issue is being discussed that represents a conflict of interest for them.
If they have "a pecuniary or other beneficial interest" in the matter being discussed they are required by law not to involve themselves. It is also clear that some have ignored the laws requiring them to submit a form declaring in full their interests despite the fact that it is a criminal offence not to do so.
This is parish pump politics at its ugliest and it raised the question of whether the "tough new ethics laws" that were introduced in recent years actually mean anything in practice when the worlds of local politics and local business and developers collide, with no consideration given to sustainability or quality of life.
The result? The rezoning of flood plains, no public transport or school places to back up housing developments, a determination to create an army of commuters in order to line the pockets of those who own the rezoned land. Most gallingly of all, instances have been highlighted of a complete failure to keep local communities informed of what is going on, where private bargaining and clandestine meetings with landowners are substituted for public consultation and transparency.
As one of the residents in the small village of Puckane in north Tipperary put it, "why would you put hundreds of houses in a small scenic area? Somebody must be gaining". This was a reference to the rezoning of 105 acres in that area, described by the county manager as "unwarranted, unsustainable and inappropriate". Following his rejection, the councillors withdrew the proposal, then merely shifted the goalposts and voted for the rezoning anyway. Puckane was chosen because it is 25 miles from Limerick, with the likely outcome another army of commuters with homes they barely get to spend time in and a dearth of community facilities.
It is all very well to use the argument that local communities have the power to vote the councillors damaging their communities out of office at local elections; the problem is that it is often too late at that stage because the damage has already been done. Councillors, of course, are not the sole offenders here; many are being put under inordinate pressure by vested interests to support rezoning that any rational assessor would deem inappropriate. Clearly, there are not enough checking mechanisms in the planning legislation.
Environment Minister John Gormley has made much of the fact that he is not entitled to interfere with local area plans, but the proposed idea of making it compulsory for councillors to produce reasons for their decisions is far too timid and is not something that will prevent bad decisions. Gormley has also made much of the fact that the only power he has at the moment is to overturn a development plan after it has already been agreed, which thankfully he did in July in relation to the plan in Monaghan that would have involved rezoning enough land to triple the population in six years.
The councillors are furious with him and utterly uninterested in the logical arguments against their almost criminal insanity. One councillor summed up his attitude and the problem with local government generally in Ireland, by smugly asserting: "I only care about Clones."
Gormley has promised a green paper on local government to be published next year, but what about the guidelines that are already in place? What about the Standards Commission that already exists? Does it have any teeth?
Last year, 28% of councillors did not make a declaration of their interests in the required period. It is also clear that there is a lack of even cursory supervision in relation to all this, as 37% of declarations were not even date stamped.
Understandably, given the way local government developed in the course of the last century, councillors were left feeling sore about the amount of powers that were taken away from them in an increasingly centralised State. But it is clear that the powers they retained are being grossly abused in some regions. It raises the question of how councillors see their own role; why is it that the Irish have more of a feeling that they belong first and foremost to their own locality rather than the country as a whole, and make decisions on that basis alone?
Earlier this month, John O'Connor, chairman of An Bord Pleanala, accused rural local authorities of bad planning and improper zoning leading to flooding, ad hoc development of towns and villages and water pollution.
He made the point that was emphatically underlined by the Prime Time programme - in some areas planning is more influenced by pressure from developers than by sustainable development.
THE number of appeals to An Bord Pleanala is at record levels and is expected to reach 7,000 by the end of the year, an increase of 1,000 on last year; so much so that the planning board cannot fulfil its statutory objective to process cases within 18 weeks.
Mr O'Connor also reported that developers were being granted permission for large housing schemes which required private sewerage systems where no thought is given to who will maintain the system in the future.
The Prime Time programme also demonstrated that the councillors who vote for reckless rezoning decisions, and who complain about the lack of other powers for themselves, are, through their actions, ultimately offering the strongest argument yet for the abolition of local government structures in Ireland.
There is truth in the assertion that local authorities are badly resourced and often ignored, and that they have a credible record, historically, in the areas of housing, libraries, parks and community facilities.
It is also true that some councillors find their workload intolerable, continue to be put under unacceptable pressure and that county managers also have questions to answer about decisions they make in the privacy of their own offices without consulting elected councillors.
Mr Gormley needs to continue to be forceful in preventing reckless rezoning when he can. It is also imperative that he finds a solution that will ensure councillors
managers can be made accountable for
their decisions in a transparent way in order to rebuild the trust that has been damaged in far too many communities.
Diarmaid Ferriter
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Some contributing councillors smirked, whinged and winked their way through the programme, unapologetic and unrepentant about the enormous damage that is caused to some areas by the links between developers and local politicians and by the failure to ensure local plans comply with spatial strategies and national guidelines.
Wisely, the programme-makers offered continual reminders throughout that the purpose of councillors is supposed to be about serving "the common good". A minority of them have been doing the opposite for many years now, ignoring the advice of professional planners and refusing to leave meetings when an issue is being discussed that represents a conflict of interest for them.
If they have "a pecuniary or other beneficial interest" in the matter being discussed they are required by law not to involve themselves. It is also clear that some have ignored the laws requiring them to submit a form declaring in full their interests despite the fact that it is a criminal offence not to do so.
This is parish pump politics at its ugliest and it raised the question of whether the "tough new ethics laws" that were introduced in recent years actually mean anything in practice when the worlds of local politics and local business and developers collide, with no consideration given to sustainability or quality of life.
The result? The rezoning of flood plains, no public transport or school places to back up housing developments, a determination to create an army of commuters in order to line the pockets of those who own the rezoned land. Most gallingly of all, instances have been highlighted of a complete failure to keep local communities informed of what is going on, where private bargaining and clandestine meetings with landowners are substituted for public consultation and transparency.
As one of the residents in the small village of Puckane in north Tipperary put it, "why would you put hundreds of houses in a small scenic area? Somebody must be gaining". This was a reference to the rezoning of 105 acres in that area, described by the county manager as "unwarranted, unsustainable and inappropriate". Following his rejection, the councillors withdrew the proposal, then merely shifted the goalposts and voted for the rezoning anyway. Puckane was chosen because it is 25 miles from Limerick, with the likely outcome another army of commuters with homes they barely get to spend time in and a dearth of community facilities.
It is all very well to use the argument that local communities have the power to vote the councillors damaging their communities out of office at local elections; the problem is that it is often too late at that stage because the damage has already been done. Councillors, of course, are not the sole offenders here; many are being put under inordinate pressure by vested interests to support rezoning that any rational assessor would deem inappropriate. Clearly, there are not enough checking mechanisms in the planning legislation.
Environment Minister John Gormley has made much of the fact that he is not entitled to interfere with local area plans, but the proposed idea of making it compulsory for councillors to produce reasons for their decisions is far too timid and is not something that will prevent bad decisions. Gormley has also made much of the fact that the only power he has at the moment is to overturn a development plan after it has already been agreed, which thankfully he did in July in relation to the plan in Monaghan that would have involved rezoning enough land to triple the population in six years.
The councillors are furious with him and utterly uninterested in the logical arguments against their almost criminal insanity. One councillor summed up his attitude and the problem with local government generally in Ireland, by smugly asserting: "I only care about Clones."
Gormley has promised a green paper on local government to be published next year, but what about the guidelines that are already in place? What about the Standards Commission that already exists? Does it have any teeth?
Last year, 28% of councillors did not make a declaration of their interests in the required period. It is also clear that there is a lack of even cursory supervision in relation to all this, as 37% of declarations were not even date stamped.
Understandably, given the way local government developed in the course of the last century, councillors were left feeling sore about the amount of powers that were taken away from them in an increasingly centralised State. But it is clear that the powers they retained are being grossly abused in some regions. It raises the question of how councillors see their own role; why is it that the Irish have more of a feeling that they belong first and foremost to their own locality rather than the country as a whole, and make decisions on that basis alone?
Earlier this month, John O'Connor, chairman of An Bord Pleanala, accused rural local authorities of bad planning and improper zoning leading to flooding, ad hoc development of towns and villages and water pollution.
He made the point that was emphatically underlined by the Prime Time programme - in some areas planning is more influenced by pressure from developers than by sustainable development.
THE number of appeals to An Bord Pleanala is at record levels and is expected to reach 7,000 by the end of the year, an increase of 1,000 on last year; so much so that the planning board cannot fulfil its statutory objective to process cases within 18 weeks.
Mr O'Connor also reported that developers were being granted permission for large housing schemes which required private sewerage systems where no thought is given to who will maintain the system in the future.
The Prime Time programme also demonstrated that the councillors who vote for reckless rezoning decisions, and who complain about the lack of other powers for themselves, are, through their actions, ultimately offering the strongest argument yet for the abolition of local government structures in Ireland.
There is truth in the assertion that local authorities are badly resourced and often ignored, and that they have a credible record, historically, in the areas of housing, libraries, parks and community facilities.
It is also true that some councillors find their workload intolerable, continue to be put under unacceptable pressure and that county managers also have questions to answer about decisions they make in the privacy of their own offices without consulting elected councillors.
Mr Gormley needs to continue to be forceful in preventing reckless rezoning when he can. It is also imperative that he finds a solution that will ensure councillors
managers can be made accountable for
their decisions in a transparent way in order to rebuild the trust that has been damaged in far too many communities.
Diarmaid Ferriter
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
IRDA hit out at planning appointment procedures
A WEST Clare-based planning lobby group has vowed to continue asking questions about An Bord Pleanala's appointment procedures for board members following a recent inconclusive 150 minute meeting with the authority.
The Kilbaha-based Irish Rural Dwellers' Association (IRDA) became the first rural group to attend a meeting with representatives of the appeals' board last Saturday
Group acting secretary and well known Kilbahabased sculptor, Jim Connolly admitted there was still a number of unanswered queries, which were raised about two months ago in a Sunday newspaper advertisement, in spite of a wide ranging cordial discussion on rural housing issues.
Environment Minister John Gormley has been requested by the group to establish a Dail committee to conduct an immediate review of all aspects of the operations of the board following concern over recent planning decisions in a number of rural counties including Clare.
It wants to establish if the "extraordinary power vested in Irish society by the board is being exercised exclusively in the interests of Irish democracy".
It has asked questions about the appointment of board members of Minister Gormley, board chairman, John O'Connor and Irish Congress of Trade Unions, chief executive officer, David Begg.
Established in 1977 as an independent appeals body, the group argued the board was clearly intended to be representative of all sectors of Irish society.
Mr Connolly told The Clare Champion there was very little meeting of minds on many fundamental issues and recalled their question about the legal status of the appointment of two senior planning inspectors to the Board in 2001 was directed to Minister John Gormley.
He noted their claim about the "undemocratic" and underepresentation of rural people on the board, although one third of the Irish population lived in rural Ireland, wasn't addressed.
The IRDA delegation which include chairman, James Doyle, a farmer from Killamey; vice-chairman, Dan Morley from Westmeath,! and archaeologist, Dr Sean Caulfield presented the Environment Protection Agency's report on the Quality of Drinking Water, which attached no blame on septic tanks serving one-off houses for the presence of ecoli as the cause of this type of pollution was unknown. ' Dr Caulfield provided a map produced by the Royal Irish Academy in 1971 showing the huge proliferation of one-off housing where every dot represented six houses to illustrate the unique dispersal of the Irish population compared to other countries.
"The settlement system in Ireland is going back thousands of years and this is the way we want to remain.
"The 2006 Census shows huge areas of West Clare which has less than 10 people were square kilometre and other places with less than 25, which is repeated throughout rural Ireland,
"Efforts to impose restrictions on rural housing to reduce this to just a handful is a scandal. We made every point you could make to outline our case.
"We are pleased that a group from West Clare became the first rural group to meet An Bord Pleanala, but we are not finished yet and will continue to ask questions," he said.
"When the board was established by the Oireachtas over 30 years ago, Ireland was a very different place than it is today. The Irish people need to know if the immense power it has vested in this board of 10 people to make final decisions on all planning matters is being exercised exclusively in the interests of Irish democracy," he added.
The IRDA will continue its campaign for openness, transparency and democracy in appointments to the board by holding a national lobbying day for politicians in Buswells Hotel on Wednesday, November 28.
All Oireachtas members will be invited to discuss the potential need for a total review of all aspects of An Bord Pleanala by way of an all party Oireachtas Dail committee.
Clare Champion
www.buckplanning.ie
The Kilbaha-based Irish Rural Dwellers' Association (IRDA) became the first rural group to attend a meeting with representatives of the appeals' board last Saturday
Group acting secretary and well known Kilbahabased sculptor, Jim Connolly admitted there was still a number of unanswered queries, which were raised about two months ago in a Sunday newspaper advertisement, in spite of a wide ranging cordial discussion on rural housing issues.
Environment Minister John Gormley has been requested by the group to establish a Dail committee to conduct an immediate review of all aspects of the operations of the board following concern over recent planning decisions in a number of rural counties including Clare.
It wants to establish if the "extraordinary power vested in Irish society by the board is being exercised exclusively in the interests of Irish democracy".
It has asked questions about the appointment of board members of Minister Gormley, board chairman, John O'Connor and Irish Congress of Trade Unions, chief executive officer, David Begg.
Established in 1977 as an independent appeals body, the group argued the board was clearly intended to be representative of all sectors of Irish society.
Mr Connolly told The Clare Champion there was very little meeting of minds on many fundamental issues and recalled their question about the legal status of the appointment of two senior planning inspectors to the Board in 2001 was directed to Minister John Gormley.
He noted their claim about the "undemocratic" and underepresentation of rural people on the board, although one third of the Irish population lived in rural Ireland, wasn't addressed.
The IRDA delegation which include chairman, James Doyle, a farmer from Killamey; vice-chairman, Dan Morley from Westmeath,! and archaeologist, Dr Sean Caulfield presented the Environment Protection Agency's report on the Quality of Drinking Water, which attached no blame on septic tanks serving one-off houses for the presence of ecoli as the cause of this type of pollution was unknown. ' Dr Caulfield provided a map produced by the Royal Irish Academy in 1971 showing the huge proliferation of one-off housing where every dot represented six houses to illustrate the unique dispersal of the Irish population compared to other countries.
"The settlement system in Ireland is going back thousands of years and this is the way we want to remain.
"The 2006 Census shows huge areas of West Clare which has less than 10 people were square kilometre and other places with less than 25, which is repeated throughout rural Ireland,
"Efforts to impose restrictions on rural housing to reduce this to just a handful is a scandal. We made every point you could make to outline our case.
"We are pleased that a group from West Clare became the first rural group to meet An Bord Pleanala, but we are not finished yet and will continue to ask questions," he said.
"When the board was established by the Oireachtas over 30 years ago, Ireland was a very different place than it is today. The Irish people need to know if the immense power it has vested in this board of 10 people to make final decisions on all planning matters is being exercised exclusively in the interests of Irish democracy," he added.
The IRDA will continue its campaign for openness, transparency and democracy in appointments to the board by holding a national lobbying day for politicians in Buswells Hotel on Wednesday, November 28.
All Oireachtas members will be invited to discuss the potential need for a total review of all aspects of An Bord Pleanala by way of an all party Oireachtas Dail committee.
Clare Champion
www.buckplanning.ie
Kerry being overdeveloped - report
Ten times the number of homes needed to accommodate actual population increase, some 3,000 houses, were granted permission in Co Kerry in 2006, according to a planning report on foot of a council motion.
The report warns that "a significant number of areas" are now overdeveloped in Kerry, leading to consequences for tourism.
Outside the three town council areas of Killarney, Tralee and Listowel - which have their own planning authorities - enough houses were granted permission in Kerry to accommodate a population growth of 10,000 people, planners said.
The figure includes schemes in villages and in smaller towns such as Kenmare and Dingle. More than one-third of houses given permission last year were one-off houses in the countryside. The actual annual increase in Kerry is 1,000 people and the "total new house requirement" is 300 houses, excluding the three town council areas, the planners said in response to a motion from Cllr Danny Healy-Rae.
Cllr Healy-Rae asked the council to explain why farmers wishing to sell a site to a local person "or to a local small builder" who would build a house to be sold to a local resident were not being given permission.
He said he had several instances where people wishing to buy sites were finding it difficult to get permission, despite the fact these people were willing to comply with occupancy clauses.
However, the planners said: "the rural areas of Co Kerry can only sustain a certain level of development. In fact, at this point in time a significant number of areas are overdeveloped, leading to major implications for infrastructure, the environment and tourism."
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The report warns that "a significant number of areas" are now overdeveloped in Kerry, leading to consequences for tourism.
Outside the three town council areas of Killarney, Tralee and Listowel - which have their own planning authorities - enough houses were granted permission in Kerry to accommodate a population growth of 10,000 people, planners said.
The figure includes schemes in villages and in smaller towns such as Kenmare and Dingle. More than one-third of houses given permission last year were one-off houses in the countryside. The actual annual increase in Kerry is 1,000 people and the "total new house requirement" is 300 houses, excluding the three town council areas, the planners said in response to a motion from Cllr Danny Healy-Rae.
Cllr Healy-Rae asked the council to explain why farmers wishing to sell a site to a local person "or to a local small builder" who would build a house to be sold to a local resident were not being given permission.
He said he had several instances where people wishing to buy sites were finding it difficult to get permission, despite the fact these people were willing to comply with occupancy clauses.
However, the planners said: "the rural areas of Co Kerry can only sustain a certain level of development. In fact, at this point in time a significant number of areas are overdeveloped, leading to major implications for infrastructure, the environment and tourism."
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin Port's expansion plan to be fast-tracked
An Bord Pleanála has ruled that Dublin Port Company's plan to infill 21 hectares of the bay represents strategic infrastructural development and should be heard under its fast-track process for projects of national importance.
The ruling, which was opposed by the campaign group Dublin Bay Watch, is a major boost for the port company which claims it is rapidly reaching capacity.
Involved in the development is the construction of new quays along the southern and eastern edge of the 21-hectare site in the north bay near Clontarf promenade.
Three new berths for roll-on, roll-off ferries would be provided on the southern quay, while a fourth berth for load-on, load-off ferries would be provided on the eastern quay.
The development also envisages ancillary surface storage and dockland circulation areas.
However, the company told An Bord Pleanála this configuration may change to avoid a potential designation of the northern part of the plan as a special protected area (SPA) for birds, by the Department of the Environment.
Submissions and observations critical of the plan were received from Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus; Dublin Bay Watch; Clontarf residents' Association and Independent TD Finian McGrath.
An Bord Pleanála documentation also notes that the Department of the Environment reported that Ireland had been brought to the European Court of Justice for allegedly not implementing the requirements of the EU birds directive. The papers note that part of the EU case was that the SPA designations had not been put in place in certain locations.
The department indicated it was likely based on the opinion of the advocate general that Ireland would have to extend the earlier SPA designations in Dublin "to include the proposed development area".
In response the company told the board it believed the SPA affected only 4.5 hectares of the proposed 21-hectare infill and that the development could be reconfigured at planning permission stage.
Clontarf councillor Gerry Breen (FG), who is also chairman of Dublin Bay Watch, said a "huge question" remained about whether the infill was needed at all. "There is about 10 million tonnes of cargo destined for the new port at Bremore near Drogheda in its first year of operation, and it is probably about five years before the Dublin Bay extension would be up and running. By that time it would not be needed."
Tim O'Brien
The Irish Times
The ruling, which was opposed by the campaign group Dublin Bay Watch, is a major boost for the port company which claims it is rapidly reaching capacity.
Involved in the development is the construction of new quays along the southern and eastern edge of the 21-hectare site in the north bay near Clontarf promenade.
Three new berths for roll-on, roll-off ferries would be provided on the southern quay, while a fourth berth for load-on, load-off ferries would be provided on the eastern quay.
The development also envisages ancillary surface storage and dockland circulation areas.
However, the company told An Bord Pleanála this configuration may change to avoid a potential designation of the northern part of the plan as a special protected area (SPA) for birds, by the Department of the Environment.
Submissions and observations critical of the plan were received from Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus; Dublin Bay Watch; Clontarf residents' Association and Independent TD Finian McGrath.
An Bord Pleanála documentation also notes that the Department of the Environment reported that Ireland had been brought to the European Court of Justice for allegedly not implementing the requirements of the EU birds directive. The papers note that part of the EU case was that the SPA designations had not been put in place in certain locations.
The department indicated it was likely based on the opinion of the advocate general that Ireland would have to extend the earlier SPA designations in Dublin "to include the proposed development area".
In response the company told the board it believed the SPA affected only 4.5 hectares of the proposed 21-hectare infill and that the development could be reconfigured at planning permission stage.
Clontarf councillor Gerry Breen (FG), who is also chairman of Dublin Bay Watch, said a "huge question" remained about whether the infill was needed at all. "There is about 10 million tonnes of cargo destined for the new port at Bremore near Drogheda in its first year of operation, and it is probably about five years before the Dublin Bay extension would be up and running. By that time it would not be needed."
Tim O'Brien
The Irish Times
Planners in Donegal are overruled by councillors
Donegal county councillors have run into conflict with the county's director of planning by scrapping planners' decisions in order to secure permission for one-off housing for their constituents.
Councillors generally have no involvement in granting planning permission. However, Donegal councillors have used an obscure section of the Local Government Act to overturn decisions to refuse planning permission.
The council planners had refused permission for one-off houses in Donegal town and in Killybegs. The house in Donegal town would have constituted a traffic hazard, the planners said, while the proposed site of the Killybegs house would have been unsuitable for sewage treatment.
Earlier this week councillors voted overwhelmingly to overturn the refusal invoking section 140 of the Local Government Act. Rarely used outside Donegal, Kerry and Galway, this section allows councillors to direct the county manager to perform a particular action, or make a particular decision, as long as it is lawful. However, if there is any subsequent legal action arising out of their use of this power, the councillors are personally liable for legal costs.
Use of this section of the Act is almost unheard of in Dublin. When planning permission was granted for the Dublin Corporation (now Dublin City Council) buildings at Wood Quay in the 1980s, Dublin councillors, concerned about the destruction of the city's Viking heritage, attempted to use section 140 to overturn the permission. However, on learning that they could be liable for all the cost of the project to date, they decided not to use the power.
Donegal's director of planning Francie Coyle is considering whether or not the councillors' motions to overturn the permissions can be allowed to stand. At last Monday's council meeting, Mr Coyle had "strongly urged" councillors not to invoke the act.
He warned councillors that they must give "reasons of an expert or reasoned judgment as to why the advice of the council's expert has been overruled" and that if they failed to provide justification for their actions, he could decide to refuse permission.
If the councillors' decision is adopted and permission is granted, that permission can be appealed to An Bord Pleanála. The planning board said that in such cases, the file prepared by the planning department of the local authority is considered as part of the review.
Olivia Kelly and Cronan Scanlon
The Irish Times
Councillors generally have no involvement in granting planning permission. However, Donegal councillors have used an obscure section of the Local Government Act to overturn decisions to refuse planning permission.
The council planners had refused permission for one-off houses in Donegal town and in Killybegs. The house in Donegal town would have constituted a traffic hazard, the planners said, while the proposed site of the Killybegs house would have been unsuitable for sewage treatment.
Earlier this week councillors voted overwhelmingly to overturn the refusal invoking section 140 of the Local Government Act. Rarely used outside Donegal, Kerry and Galway, this section allows councillors to direct the county manager to perform a particular action, or make a particular decision, as long as it is lawful. However, if there is any subsequent legal action arising out of their use of this power, the councillors are personally liable for legal costs.
Use of this section of the Act is almost unheard of in Dublin. When planning permission was granted for the Dublin Corporation (now Dublin City Council) buildings at Wood Quay in the 1980s, Dublin councillors, concerned about the destruction of the city's Viking heritage, attempted to use section 140 to overturn the permission. However, on learning that they could be liable for all the cost of the project to date, they decided not to use the power.
Donegal's director of planning Francie Coyle is considering whether or not the councillors' motions to overturn the permissions can be allowed to stand. At last Monday's council meeting, Mr Coyle had "strongly urged" councillors not to invoke the act.
He warned councillors that they must give "reasons of an expert or reasoned judgment as to why the advice of the council's expert has been overruled" and that if they failed to provide justification for their actions, he could decide to refuse permission.
If the councillors' decision is adopted and permission is granted, that permission can be appealed to An Bord Pleanála. The planning board said that in such cases, the file prepared by the planning department of the local authority is considered as part of the review.
Olivia Kelly and Cronan Scanlon
The Irish Times
Typing error led to development getting planning
A HOUSING development planned for the Spa outside Tralee was mistakenly granted planning permission by Kerry County Council because of a misprint in internal council documents.
Earlier this year developer John Cahillane, from Keel, was granted permission by the Councils planning office to demolish a house at Knockanish West, Ballygarron, The Spa, to make way for 16 traditional-style houses. However, this decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by a number of local residents who claimed the density of housing planned was too high and project would pose a traffic hazard.
In his report Planning Board inspector Terrance Kemmann Lane concluded that the original planning permission had been granted mistakenly as the planning office at the Council had received erroneous data on the density of housing allowed on the site. According to the official Spa Local Area Plan the site has an approved housing density of 3-4 dwellings per acre with higher densities only allowed in exceptional circumstances close to the village centre.
However, documentation supplied to the Council?s planning office stated the site had an approved density of 4 to 6 houses per acre. Subsequently planning permission was granted for the estate which had a housing density of 6 houses per acre.
In their submission to An Bord Pleanála regarding the case, the Council admitted a typing mistake resulted in the planning office receiving incorrect information on the approved site density.
?It is admitted that there was a typing error, and that the density for The Spa area as adopted by the elected members of Kerry County Council is 3-4 dwellings per acre,? the Kerry County Council submission states.
The Planning Board ruled that that the density of the proposed development was too large for the site.The plan clearly allows for a density of 3-4 dwellings per acre, and there is nothing in this proposal which amounts to exceptional circumstances which would justify a higher figure,? the report states.In this regard the planner?s report appears to have taken a mistaken approach to density. Bearing in mind that the nature of development in the immediate vicinity and that there is little in the way of facilities and amenities in The Spa, I consider that this density is unacceptably high,? the report states.
The planning board upheld the appeal and permission for the development has been overturned.
The Kerryman
Earlier this year developer John Cahillane, from Keel, was granted permission by the Councils planning office to demolish a house at Knockanish West, Ballygarron, The Spa, to make way for 16 traditional-style houses. However, this decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by a number of local residents who claimed the density of housing planned was too high and project would pose a traffic hazard.
In his report Planning Board inspector Terrance Kemmann Lane concluded that the original planning permission had been granted mistakenly as the planning office at the Council had received erroneous data on the density of housing allowed on the site. According to the official Spa Local Area Plan the site has an approved housing density of 3-4 dwellings per acre with higher densities only allowed in exceptional circumstances close to the village centre.
However, documentation supplied to the Council?s planning office stated the site had an approved density of 4 to 6 houses per acre. Subsequently planning permission was granted for the estate which had a housing density of 6 houses per acre.
In their submission to An Bord Pleanála regarding the case, the Council admitted a typing mistake resulted in the planning office receiving incorrect information on the approved site density.
?It is admitted that there was a typing error, and that the density for The Spa area as adopted by the elected members of Kerry County Council is 3-4 dwellings per acre,? the Kerry County Council submission states.
The Planning Board ruled that that the density of the proposed development was too large for the site.The plan clearly allows for a density of 3-4 dwellings per acre, and there is nothing in this proposal which amounts to exceptional circumstances which would justify a higher figure,? the report states.In this regard the planner?s report appears to have taken a mistaken approach to density. Bearing in mind that the nature of development in the immediate vicinity and that there is little in the way of facilities and amenities in The Spa, I consider that this density is unacceptably high,? the report states.
The planning board upheld the appeal and permission for the development has been overturned.
The Kerryman
Forum calls for Cllr. Allen to resign
ALLEGATIONS CONTAINED in last Monday night's Prime Time Investigates have put Cllr. Lorcan Allen's business activities firmly in the spotlight.
His involvement in rezoning his own family land in Gorey and his failure to make a full declaration of interests was dealt with fully in the RTE programme and has prompted the newly-established Local Government Enquiry Forum to call for his resignation.
In an amazing display of bravado, Cllr. Allen repeatedly said that he did nothing wrong. The evidence presented suggested otherwise.
He seemed to be completely indifferent to the rules and regulations that other people have to subscribe to. The programme said he might be wringing his hands but he's not apologising.
Some councillors are playing wild and loose with the planning and zoning laws and this has to stop. The legacy left by opportunistic decisions will blight future generations.
The statement made by Cllr. Allen that everyone is out to make a quick buck best summarises the mentality of those who have taken over the planning process as if it were their own personal fiefdom.
The Local Government Enquiry Forum couldn't be better placed to address the anomalies in Wexford which have now been highlighted by the national broadcaster.
The group will investigate issues like how did Cllr. Allen managed to get 50 acres of his family land a kilometre and a half from Gorey included in the development plan after the plan was removed from public display.
Cllr. Allen didn't act alone. Why was this behaviour allowed? Who facilitated it and what paper work was involved. Wexford County Council is the Local Government Authority and the buck stops with it. What were the County Council executives doing when all of this was happening? Did they turn a blind eye or were they completely hoodwinked?
Part of the Wexford Racecourse was also rezoned residential in 2002. Was this rezoned like Cllr. Allen's land in Gorey after the development plan was removed from public display?
It must have been, otherwise somebody would have noted that there was a plan to build houses where the horses were racing. The controversy over the extension to the racecourse has its origins in this rezoning anomaly.
There were other peculiar land deals happening at Bettyville at the same time. It does beg the question who knew what and when and how high up it goes said a spokesperson for the new group. "A lot of people seemed to be standing idly by".
Cllr. Allen, according to Prime Time, was chairman of the four member Gorey Area Committee of councillors. The very body that proposed his family land for rezoning and the four-strong committee zoned land linked to the family of another of its members, Deirdre Bolger, Fine Gael. Neither Cllr. Bolger nor Cllr. Allen, Prime Time, said took part in that decision.
Lorcan Allen commented: "in politics, that's what happens". In a loaded statement he revealed much about the inner workings of the system. The system that works for those with the most influence and for those that flout their position.
After the Allen lands were rezoned the family sold 16 acres to the council for the new Gorey bypass, for an undisclosed price.
Last year the remaining 36 acres went on sale for an estimated value of €2 million an acre. So said the auctioneer conducting the sale, Lorcan Allen. Mr. Allen said on Prime Time that his credentials are unblemished.
However, Cllr. Allen did admit that there is a unanimous feeling amongst the councillors now that they did make a mistake in 2002 in rezoning too much land. A spokesperson for the enquiry forum said that this wasn't acceptable. No one is handing back the hefty profits that they made.
In relation to Declaration of Interests Lorcan Allen is noncompliant as well. In line with modern ethics requirements each councillor is required on an annual basis to make a declaration of interests, the interests to be declared are their own financial interests.
Wexford County Council told Prime Time that they paid Cllr. Allen's auctioneering firm almost €50,000 last year and €2,000 the year before for professional fees. Cllr. Allen declared none of these figures on his Declaration of Interests.
Fees earned by a councillor directly or indirectly for services provided to a local authority if over €6,348 a year must be declared in Section 8 of the form. Section 8 of Cllr. Allen's return has been left blank.
Councillors also have to declare every interest they have in land and buildings. Cllr. Allen has owned property in Gorey Bridge since 2002 which he has never declared. In 2005 he declared ownership of his family home and 30 acres of land but he never declared it before or since.
Section 3 of Cllr. Allen's declaration where he must declare all land and property is blank.
The reason why councillors have to declare all their property annually and that includes and any interest in family home is quite simple: the zoning decisions councillors take could boost the value of their property many times over and to avoid conflict of interest everything has to be out in the open. It isn't and that's why vested interests have succeeded in taking over.
Gorey Echo
His involvement in rezoning his own family land in Gorey and his failure to make a full declaration of interests was dealt with fully in the RTE programme and has prompted the newly-established Local Government Enquiry Forum to call for his resignation.
In an amazing display of bravado, Cllr. Allen repeatedly said that he did nothing wrong. The evidence presented suggested otherwise.
He seemed to be completely indifferent to the rules and regulations that other people have to subscribe to. The programme said he might be wringing his hands but he's not apologising.
Some councillors are playing wild and loose with the planning and zoning laws and this has to stop. The legacy left by opportunistic decisions will blight future generations.
The statement made by Cllr. Allen that everyone is out to make a quick buck best summarises the mentality of those who have taken over the planning process as if it were their own personal fiefdom.
The Local Government Enquiry Forum couldn't be better placed to address the anomalies in Wexford which have now been highlighted by the national broadcaster.
The group will investigate issues like how did Cllr. Allen managed to get 50 acres of his family land a kilometre and a half from Gorey included in the development plan after the plan was removed from public display.
Cllr. Allen didn't act alone. Why was this behaviour allowed? Who facilitated it and what paper work was involved. Wexford County Council is the Local Government Authority and the buck stops with it. What were the County Council executives doing when all of this was happening? Did they turn a blind eye or were they completely hoodwinked?
Part of the Wexford Racecourse was also rezoned residential in 2002. Was this rezoned like Cllr. Allen's land in Gorey after the development plan was removed from public display?
It must have been, otherwise somebody would have noted that there was a plan to build houses where the horses were racing. The controversy over the extension to the racecourse has its origins in this rezoning anomaly.
There were other peculiar land deals happening at Bettyville at the same time. It does beg the question who knew what and when and how high up it goes said a spokesperson for the new group. "A lot of people seemed to be standing idly by".
Cllr. Allen, according to Prime Time, was chairman of the four member Gorey Area Committee of councillors. The very body that proposed his family land for rezoning and the four-strong committee zoned land linked to the family of another of its members, Deirdre Bolger, Fine Gael. Neither Cllr. Bolger nor Cllr. Allen, Prime Time, said took part in that decision.
Lorcan Allen commented: "in politics, that's what happens". In a loaded statement he revealed much about the inner workings of the system. The system that works for those with the most influence and for those that flout their position.
After the Allen lands were rezoned the family sold 16 acres to the council for the new Gorey bypass, for an undisclosed price.
Last year the remaining 36 acres went on sale for an estimated value of €2 million an acre. So said the auctioneer conducting the sale, Lorcan Allen. Mr. Allen said on Prime Time that his credentials are unblemished.
However, Cllr. Allen did admit that there is a unanimous feeling amongst the councillors now that they did make a mistake in 2002 in rezoning too much land. A spokesperson for the enquiry forum said that this wasn't acceptable. No one is handing back the hefty profits that they made.
In relation to Declaration of Interests Lorcan Allen is noncompliant as well. In line with modern ethics requirements each councillor is required on an annual basis to make a declaration of interests, the interests to be declared are their own financial interests.
Wexford County Council told Prime Time that they paid Cllr. Allen's auctioneering firm almost €50,000 last year and €2,000 the year before for professional fees. Cllr. Allen declared none of these figures on his Declaration of Interests.
Fees earned by a councillor directly or indirectly for services provided to a local authority if over €6,348 a year must be declared in Section 8 of the form. Section 8 of Cllr. Allen's return has been left blank.
Councillors also have to declare every interest they have in land and buildings. Cllr. Allen has owned property in Gorey Bridge since 2002 which he has never declared. In 2005 he declared ownership of his family home and 30 acres of land but he never declared it before or since.
Section 3 of Cllr. Allen's declaration where he must declare all land and property is blank.
The reason why councillors have to declare all their property annually and that includes and any interest in family home is quite simple: the zoning decisions councillors take could boost the value of their property many times over and to avoid conflict of interest everything has to be out in the open. It isn't and that's why vested interests have succeeded in taking over.
Gorey Echo
Lorcan remains defiant
A MAJOR investigative documentary as part of the Prime Time Investigates series has lifted the lid on the complex nature surrounding planning and rezoning practices in North Wexford, leaving local politician Lorcan Allen, open to much criticism.
The RTÉ programme focused on Gorey and Courtown as part of a nationwide in-depth analysis of the impact of major planning and rezoning decisions made by local Councillors.
Cllr. Allen participated in the programme while former Cllr. D’Arcy did not, although his son Michael D’Arcy TD was interviewed.
Cllr. Malcolm Byrne also participated stating that he does not believe past planning decisions were made for the benefit of the wider public.
Decisions made at a time when Fianna Fáil’s Lorcan Allen and Fine Gael’s Michael D’Arcy Snr. were sitting members, were called into question during the course of the programme including the rezoning at Ardamine and Gorey.
According to Cllr. Byrne, many proposals were put forward and seconded by Allen and D’Arcy regarding extensive rezoning and planning and this is the reason behind many of the problems North Wexford faces today including lack of facilities for young people, water shortages, poor roads as well as severe traffic congestion.
The fact that Cllr. Allen also works as an auctioneer was greatly highlighted as well as the fact that there are alleged gaps in his Declaration of Interest form which is routinely filled out by every councillor in the country to avoid a conflict of interests where planning is concerned.
According to the documentary Cllr. Allen failed to declare his work premises as well as a property at Gorey Bridge as well as up to €70,000 in fees payable for auctioneering services carried out for Wexford County Council in 2005 and 2006.
Cllr. Allen refutes these claims stating that he named the auctioneering property under its business name Allen and Kenny and that he sought advice from the County Secretary before filling out the declaration.
“I asked for advice about what I should show. The fees are visible in my own accounts for all to see. They were for work carried out through Allen and Kenny, the business, not by Lorcan Allen.”
Cllr. Allen told the Gorey Echo that the forms filmed by RTE for use within the programme were indeed official records.
He stated in the documentary that he had accounted for all his properties but certain sections were, in fact, left blank. Cllr. Allen added that he felt the documentary had misrepresented him with regard to a major part of the debate.
“I did an interview for three quarters of an hour and what I said was construed wrongly. When I was talking about rezoning, I referred to Courtown when I said it was overzoned. I did not say that about Gorey. I do not think mistakes were made in Gorey and I stand over that. I could not participate in that debate either. I had to leave the meeting. As I said I can stand up on any crossroads with a clear conscience. I was not a beneficiary of the Gorey rezoning decision. I was agent for the sale and received my fee for services rendered.”
In recent months at local Town Council level it was admitted for the first timeby Cllr. D’Arcy that he believed mistakes were made in past rezoning decisions.
It remains to be seen if further investigations will be made to clarify the allegations made by Prime Time but according to Cllr. Allen he has nothing to worry about.
“I have a clear conscience. No-one can point the finger at me anyway.”
Deborah Coleman
Gorey Echo
The RTÉ programme focused on Gorey and Courtown as part of a nationwide in-depth analysis of the impact of major planning and rezoning decisions made by local Councillors.
Cllr. Allen participated in the programme while former Cllr. D’Arcy did not, although his son Michael D’Arcy TD was interviewed.
Cllr. Malcolm Byrne also participated stating that he does not believe past planning decisions were made for the benefit of the wider public.
Decisions made at a time when Fianna Fáil’s Lorcan Allen and Fine Gael’s Michael D’Arcy Snr. were sitting members, were called into question during the course of the programme including the rezoning at Ardamine and Gorey.
According to Cllr. Byrne, many proposals were put forward and seconded by Allen and D’Arcy regarding extensive rezoning and planning and this is the reason behind many of the problems North Wexford faces today including lack of facilities for young people, water shortages, poor roads as well as severe traffic congestion.
The fact that Cllr. Allen also works as an auctioneer was greatly highlighted as well as the fact that there are alleged gaps in his Declaration of Interest form which is routinely filled out by every councillor in the country to avoid a conflict of interests where planning is concerned.
According to the documentary Cllr. Allen failed to declare his work premises as well as a property at Gorey Bridge as well as up to €70,000 in fees payable for auctioneering services carried out for Wexford County Council in 2005 and 2006.
Cllr. Allen refutes these claims stating that he named the auctioneering property under its business name Allen and Kenny and that he sought advice from the County Secretary before filling out the declaration.
“I asked for advice about what I should show. The fees are visible in my own accounts for all to see. They were for work carried out through Allen and Kenny, the business, not by Lorcan Allen.”
Cllr. Allen told the Gorey Echo that the forms filmed by RTE for use within the programme were indeed official records.
He stated in the documentary that he had accounted for all his properties but certain sections were, in fact, left blank. Cllr. Allen added that he felt the documentary had misrepresented him with regard to a major part of the debate.
“I did an interview for three quarters of an hour and what I said was construed wrongly. When I was talking about rezoning, I referred to Courtown when I said it was overzoned. I did not say that about Gorey. I do not think mistakes were made in Gorey and I stand over that. I could not participate in that debate either. I had to leave the meeting. As I said I can stand up on any crossroads with a clear conscience. I was not a beneficiary of the Gorey rezoning decision. I was agent for the sale and received my fee for services rendered.”
In recent months at local Town Council level it was admitted for the first timeby Cllr. D’Arcy that he believed mistakes were made in past rezoning decisions.
It remains to be seen if further investigations will be made to clarify the allegations made by Prime Time but according to Cllr. Allen he has nothing to worry about.
“I have a clear conscience. No-one can point the finger at me anyway.”
Deborah Coleman
Gorey Echo
Housing figures are plain daft' says Cllr Mellett
THE method of identifying areas of the county which are under development pressure has been strongly criticised by Swinford Councillor Joe Mellett.
According to the Draft County Development Plan, there were almost 3,000 houses for sale in areas around Ballina, Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Swinford.
When Cllr Joe Mellet, an auctioneer by profession, asked Senior Planner, Ian Douglas, how the figure of 3,000 homes for sale had been arrived at, he was told it was taken from the property webside Daft.ie.
According to Cllr Mellett, the logic of this is "plain daft". The auctioneer told the meeting it was his professional experience that the same property could be listed up to three times under different auctioneers.
"I use Daft.ie myself, and it's a great website," Cllr Mellett told the Western People. "However, it is not intended to be an indicator of planning pressure and I would expect more scientific methods to be used to determine this.
"According to the website, there are 160 houses for sale in Swinford. Planners are taking this as an indication of strong urban pressure. But these figures don't stand up for the purposes of drafting a County Development Plan.
"The Swinford area should not be regarded as being under urban pressure. That would lead to a restriction of planning, which would be most unwelcome for the development of the area."
Cllr Mellett has undertaken to produce accurate figures for the number of houses available for sale in the Swinford area when the local authority meets on December 4th to continue its discussions on the plan.
Fiona McGarry
Western People
According to the Draft County Development Plan, there were almost 3,000 houses for sale in areas around Ballina, Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Swinford.
When Cllr Joe Mellet, an auctioneer by profession, asked Senior Planner, Ian Douglas, how the figure of 3,000 homes for sale had been arrived at, he was told it was taken from the property webside Daft.ie.
According to Cllr Mellett, the logic of this is "plain daft". The auctioneer told the meeting it was his professional experience that the same property could be listed up to three times under different auctioneers.
"I use Daft.ie myself, and it's a great website," Cllr Mellett told the Western People. "However, it is not intended to be an indicator of planning pressure and I would expect more scientific methods to be used to determine this.
"According to the website, there are 160 houses for sale in Swinford. Planners are taking this as an indication of strong urban pressure. But these figures don't stand up for the purposes of drafting a County Development Plan.
"The Swinford area should not be regarded as being under urban pressure. That would lead to a restriction of planning, which would be most unwelcome for the development of the area."
Cllr Mellett has undertaken to produce accurate figures for the number of houses available for sale in the Swinford area when the local authority meets on December 4th to continue its discussions on the plan.
Fiona McGarry
Western People
Trump tees up North for €1.5bn dream golf links
DONALD Trump may take his €1.5bn dream to build "the world's finest golf course" to Northern Ireland, it emerged yesterday.
The American billionaire, whose plans for a golf resort on sand dunes in Aberdeenshire were rejected by councillors last week, has signed an option to purchase a piece of land in Co Antrim and has 30 days to decide whether to exercise it, his advisers said.
The news came as Mr Trump stepped up the pressure on Aberdeenshire Council, which has called an emergency meeting of all its councillors to consider how to resurrect his scheme to build two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel and hundreds of houses on a 570-hectare site at Balmedie, 21km north of Aberdeen.
Neil Hobday, Mr Trump's project director in Aberdeenshire, refused to give an exact location for the site in Northern Ireland but insisted that it was a serious option unless the Scottish impasse was resolved.
He said: "There are properties all over Europe that could be of interest to Mr Trump, but there is one in particular in Northern Ireland where we have signed a 30-day option to buy the land. The clock is ticking."
Mr Trump says he has received telephone calls from governments across Europe asking him to invest in their countries.
David Lister
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The American billionaire, whose plans for a golf resort on sand dunes in Aberdeenshire were rejected by councillors last week, has signed an option to purchase a piece of land in Co Antrim and has 30 days to decide whether to exercise it, his advisers said.
The news came as Mr Trump stepped up the pressure on Aberdeenshire Council, which has called an emergency meeting of all its councillors to consider how to resurrect his scheme to build two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel and hundreds of houses on a 570-hectare site at Balmedie, 21km north of Aberdeen.
Neil Hobday, Mr Trump's project director in Aberdeenshire, refused to give an exact location for the site in Northern Ireland but insisted that it was a serious option unless the Scottish impasse was resolved.
He said: "There are properties all over Europe that could be of interest to Mr Trump, but there is one in particular in Northern Ireland where we have signed a 30-day option to buy the land. The clock is ticking."
Mr Trump says he has received telephone calls from governments across Europe asking him to invest in their countries.
David Lister
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Supreme Court hears appeal aimed at halting Kinsale plan
A retired merchant seaman began a Supreme Court appeal yesterday against the High Court's refusal to permit him to bring a challenge aimed at overturning planning permission for a €400 million tourism resort centre near Kinsale, Co Cork.
Thomas Harding of Ardback Heights, Kinsale is appealing the High Court's decision that he had not established a sufficient "substantial interest" to give him the necessary legal standing to bring a judicial review challenge.
Mr Harding wants to overturn the granting in October 2005 of planning permission by Cork County Council to Kinsale Development Ltd, Ballyvolane Business Park, Cork, formerly XCes Projects Ltd, for the building of the centre at Preghane, Ballymacus, Kinsale, in October 2005.
The proposed resort includes a hotel, conference building, a resource centre, spa, offices, restaurant, bar, car parking facilities, an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian centre and 191 lodges/apartments.
Mr Harding claims the development should not be permitted because of its proposed location in a scenic landscape and a proposed natural heritage area overlooking Kinsale harbour and Castlepark peninsula.
Cork County Council claims Mr Harding did not have the required legal standing to bring the judicial review challenge as he was not the owner of any property in the area, and had lived for only certain periods at Ardback Heights, which was about 2km-3km from the site of the proposed development.
Mr Harding has rejected that argument and said he had lived all his life in the area of Kinsale harbour and grew up as a child in the Ballymacus area where it was proposed to build the development.
The appeal hearing before the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns and Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, continues today.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thomas Harding of Ardback Heights, Kinsale is appealing the High Court's decision that he had not established a sufficient "substantial interest" to give him the necessary legal standing to bring a judicial review challenge.
Mr Harding wants to overturn the granting in October 2005 of planning permission by Cork County Council to Kinsale Development Ltd, Ballyvolane Business Park, Cork, formerly XCes Projects Ltd, for the building of the centre at Preghane, Ballymacus, Kinsale, in October 2005.
The proposed resort includes a hotel, conference building, a resource centre, spa, offices, restaurant, bar, car parking facilities, an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian centre and 191 lodges/apartments.
Mr Harding claims the development should not be permitted because of its proposed location in a scenic landscape and a proposed natural heritage area overlooking Kinsale harbour and Castlepark peninsula.
Cork County Council claims Mr Harding did not have the required legal standing to bring the judicial review challenge as he was not the owner of any property in the area, and had lived for only certain periods at Ardback Heights, which was about 2km-3km from the site of the proposed development.
Mr Harding has rejected that argument and said he had lived all his life in the area of Kinsale harbour and grew up as a child in the Ballymacus area where it was proposed to build the development.
The appeal hearing before the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns and Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, continues today.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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