CORK’S city councillors were under fire last nightafter they voted
againstrezoning a site for a new gaelscoil.
The vote effectively means that the 300 students of Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn
in Montenotte — the city’s first multi-denominational gaelscoil — will continue
to be taught in what have been described as “ramshackle” conditions.
The Department of Education, which has been working on the project for
almost five years, which cleared funding and sought planning permission for
the new school this year, will now have to go back to the drawing board.
Last night’s vote to rezone a 2.3 portion of the 11-acre Tank Field was
watched by more than 100 people who packed into City Hall’s public gallery.
Councillors were asked to rezone the 2.3-acre portion from sports ground
zoning that would give the Department of Education planning permission for
the new school.ഊThe meeting heard that the controversial rezoning was one of the most
emotive to come before council in recent years and that it has split the
community.
The meeting was also told that the crucial vote was the last stage of a process
which councillors embarked upon over two years ago.
City manager Joe Gavin outlined how the council had in March 2005 agreed
to sell a specified area of land at the Tank Field to the gaelscoil for the
development of a new school.
In February 2006, councillors agreed to a process to realign Brian Dillons’
GAA pitches on the Tank Field to ensure that no sporting amenities were lost,
he said.
The department then lodged a planning application for the 2.3-acre site for an
ultra-modern two-storey 16-classroom school.
However, a material contravention of the city development plan would be
needed.
During the course of a lengthy debate, Cllr Damien Wallace (FF) said he felt
councillors had a “moral obligation” to proceed with the process.
“We are on the third rung of the process,” he said.
Cllr John Kelleher (Lab) said: “We can’t say no to 300 children waiting
expectantly for a new school.”
Responding to questions, however, Mr Gavin said he had indicated to the
department that other sites could be available if the rezoning of the Tank Field
site failed.
Despite advice from senior planners, and despite agreeing to the previous
steps, 13 councillors voted against the rezoning.
They are Fianna Fáil’s Terry Shannon, Tim Brosnan, Tom O’Driscoll, Mary
Shields and Tony Fitzgerald, Fine Gael’s Patricia Gosch, Brian Bermingham,
Denis Cregan and Jim Corr, Labour’s Mick O’Connell and Denis O’Flynn,
Independent Dave McCarthy and Green Chris O’Leary.
Mr O’Leary and Mr Corr said they could not support the rezoning of a sports
ground.
Reamonn Ó Riann, secretary of the school’s board of management, said
parents were devastated with the outcome.
“The vote means the children will have to continue being taught in prefabs,”
he said.ഊ“It’s so hard to get money out of the department. When we got on the building
list, we thought all the hard work was done. Parents are just so devastated,”
he added.
Eoin English
© Irish Examiner
Showing posts with label rezoning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rezoning. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Pupils await rezoning ruling
SCHOOLCHILDREN who are taught in “ramshackle” conditions pleaded with politicians last night to rezone land that will give them a new school next week.
A crucial vote to rezone a portion of Cork’s 10-acre Tank Field will come before the city’s councillors next Monday night. A two thirds majority will be required to secure the rezoning of a 2.3-acre section of the site to allow the Department of Education build a new school for Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn, which is located next door.
City bosses, school management and the department have spent the past five years working to secure the site.
The council agreed last year to sell the site to the department for €875,000.
The department then lodged a planning application for an ultra-modern two-storey 16-classroom school on the site. Everything is in place to proceed with building, but councillors must first vote to rezone.
However, an alternative site at Banduff was put forward in recent weeks after local objections to the Tank Field site intensified.
The department confirmed last night that following an examination of that site, it has been deemed unsuitable. The department has invested considerable public money getting the building project on the Tank Field site to this advanced stage.
“There is now no alternative site,” school principal Reamonn Ó Rian said last night.
“If we lose this vote on Monday, our children will be condemned to stay in prefabs for the foreseeable future.”
He said the school has been looking for a suitable permanent site for almost 14 years.
Its existing classrooms are leaking, freezing in winter and too hot in summer.
Plans to revamp the remainder of the Tank Field and realign sports pitches have also been agreed with Brian Dillons GAA club.
The gaelscoil was founded in 1998. Its 300 pupils — three quarters of whom live within one mile of the school — have since been taught in cabins.
Up to 30 children are taught in rooms measuring 50 square metres. Modern guidelines state the minimum classroom size should be 80 square metres.
Irish Examiner
A crucial vote to rezone a portion of Cork’s 10-acre Tank Field will come before the city’s councillors next Monday night. A two thirds majority will be required to secure the rezoning of a 2.3-acre section of the site to allow the Department of Education build a new school for Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn, which is located next door.
City bosses, school management and the department have spent the past five years working to secure the site.
The council agreed last year to sell the site to the department for €875,000.
The department then lodged a planning application for an ultra-modern two-storey 16-classroom school on the site. Everything is in place to proceed with building, but councillors must first vote to rezone.
However, an alternative site at Banduff was put forward in recent weeks after local objections to the Tank Field site intensified.
The department confirmed last night that following an examination of that site, it has been deemed unsuitable. The department has invested considerable public money getting the building project on the Tank Field site to this advanced stage.
“There is now no alternative site,” school principal Reamonn Ó Rian said last night.
“If we lose this vote on Monday, our children will be condemned to stay in prefabs for the foreseeable future.”
He said the school has been looking for a suitable permanent site for almost 14 years.
Its existing classrooms are leaking, freezing in winter and too hot in summer.
Plans to revamp the remainder of the Tank Field and realign sports pitches have also been agreed with Brian Dillons GAA club.
The gaelscoil was founded in 1998. Its 300 pupils — three quarters of whom live within one mile of the school — have since been taught in cabins.
Up to 30 children are taught in rooms measuring 50 square metres. Modern guidelines state the minimum classroom size should be 80 square metres.
Irish Examiner
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Shellfish industry warns of rezoning threat
Ireland could be in breach of EU regulations on protecting water quality if coastal land is rezoned for development in the south Galway village of Clarinbridge.
The warning is from the Irish Shellfish Association (ISA), which has appealed for "common sense" to prevail among Galway county councillors, who meet to vote on Clarinbridge's local area plan next week.
Otherwise, the ISA believes Galway could lose its international reputation for oysters, as a €50 million local shellfish industry is put in jeopardy.
"Galway is already in the middle of an environmental crisis over drinking water quality, and we really don't want to lose Clarinbridge bay," Michael Egan, of the Clarinbridge Oyster Co-Op, has said.
ISA chief executive Richie Flynn says it fully supports the co-op's stance in seeking no further development in the area until a proper sewage treatment system is commissioned and installed. It also believes a permanent buffer zone on the eastern, northern and southern shores of the bay must be secured.
Clarinbridge oysters still maintain class A quality status, but if waters are polluted and oysters are relegated to grade B status, it would have an "immediate catastrophic effect" on the historic fishery - and on the annual oyster festival - both the ISA and co-op point out. The oyster co-op supplies top quality shellfish to France, and some of its less active members are seeking to return to coastal cultivation due to a slowdown in the construction industry, Mr Egan points out.
Galway county councillors are due to vote early next week on 17 material alterations to the Clarinbridge local area plan, and the Clarinbridge Community Development Association believes the net effect would be to zone an additional 115 acres of land over and above an undeveloped 93 acres already zoned in the draft plan.
Lorna Siggins
© 2007 The Irish Times
The warning is from the Irish Shellfish Association (ISA), which has appealed for "common sense" to prevail among Galway county councillors, who meet to vote on Clarinbridge's local area plan next week.
Otherwise, the ISA believes Galway could lose its international reputation for oysters, as a €50 million local shellfish industry is put in jeopardy.
"Galway is already in the middle of an environmental crisis over drinking water quality, and we really don't want to lose Clarinbridge bay," Michael Egan, of the Clarinbridge Oyster Co-Op, has said.
ISA chief executive Richie Flynn says it fully supports the co-op's stance in seeking no further development in the area until a proper sewage treatment system is commissioned and installed. It also believes a permanent buffer zone on the eastern, northern and southern shores of the bay must be secured.
Clarinbridge oysters still maintain class A quality status, but if waters are polluted and oysters are relegated to grade B status, it would have an "immediate catastrophic effect" on the historic fishery - and on the annual oyster festival - both the ISA and co-op point out. The oyster co-op supplies top quality shellfish to France, and some of its less active members are seeking to return to coastal cultivation due to a slowdown in the construction industry, Mr Egan points out.
Galway county councillors are due to vote early next week on 17 material alterations to the Clarinbridge local area plan, and the Clarinbridge Community Development Association believes the net effect would be to zone an additional 115 acres of land over and above an undeveloped 93 acres already zoned in the draft plan.
Lorna Siggins
© 2007 The Irish Times
Monday, 14 May 2007
Carrigaline calls for a 10-year halt to the rezoning of land for houses
ONE of the country’s fastest growing towns has called for a 10-year ban on rezoning land for more houses.
The people of Carrigaline — reputedly the country’s number one commuter town — want Cork County Council to hold off on the rezoning of further land in the area until 2016 so that proper roads and amenities can be put in place.
When currently zoned lands are occupied — including a 1,000-house development at Shannonpark and a 1,500-house development on the eastern side of town — its population will swell from 16,000 to 25,000.
The results of a massive survey of over 1,200 households show that people want a halt to what the community association has labelled ‘rampant developer-led growth’.
The results show that:
96% of people want a ban on rezoning until 2016 so that the provision of proper amenities catches up.
More that half the people think the town’s Western Relief Road is in the wrong place.
Almost three-quarters of people think the town needs another Eastern Relief Road.
94% of people think Carrigaline needs a dedicated planner working exclusively on the town’s issues.
Only 38% of people use public transport but almost 90% of respondents said they would use a light rail system to the city if it was provided.
Almost 3,000 questionnaires were distributed by Carrigaline Community Association last month, with over 1,200 returned. People were asked about a range of issues including planning, traffic, education, sport, transport and youth facilities.
The results highlighted the stark lack of facilities in the town which has no cinema, indoor sports complex, public swimming pool or cultural centre.
While the county council is working on some issues, the community association said that housing development has far outpaced the provision of adequate infrastructure.
Association spokesman Maurice Coveney, who was born in the town in 1939, said the town’s future should be decided by the people living there and not by developers.
“We will be making the county council aware of the preliminary results of the survey within a few days,” he said. “But we have a lot of work to do yet — examining some of the comments which came back in the survey. The section on sports facilities alone attracted over 500 comments.”
Work is expected to be completed within a month at which time the full results of the survey will be published and placed in the town’s library.
In 2002, CSO census figures showed the town had the highest proportion of workers commuting to work by car every day.
At 74%, Carrigaline topped the nation’s list followed by Dunboyne (70%), Tramore (67%) and Naas (65%).
Meanwhile, a study aimed at tackling traffic chaos in and around the town is continuing.
The Carrigaline Transportation and Traffic Study will outline a plan to cope with traffic and transport up to 2020 and it is expected to be completed within weeks.
Irish Examiner
The people of Carrigaline — reputedly the country’s number one commuter town — want Cork County Council to hold off on the rezoning of further land in the area until 2016 so that proper roads and amenities can be put in place.
When currently zoned lands are occupied — including a 1,000-house development at Shannonpark and a 1,500-house development on the eastern side of town — its population will swell from 16,000 to 25,000.
The results of a massive survey of over 1,200 households show that people want a halt to what the community association has labelled ‘rampant developer-led growth’.
The results show that:
96% of people want a ban on rezoning until 2016 so that the provision of proper amenities catches up.
More that half the people think the town’s Western Relief Road is in the wrong place.
Almost three-quarters of people think the town needs another Eastern Relief Road.
94% of people think Carrigaline needs a dedicated planner working exclusively on the town’s issues.
Only 38% of people use public transport but almost 90% of respondents said they would use a light rail system to the city if it was provided.
Almost 3,000 questionnaires were distributed by Carrigaline Community Association last month, with over 1,200 returned. People were asked about a range of issues including planning, traffic, education, sport, transport and youth facilities.
The results highlighted the stark lack of facilities in the town which has no cinema, indoor sports complex, public swimming pool or cultural centre.
While the county council is working on some issues, the community association said that housing development has far outpaced the provision of adequate infrastructure.
Association spokesman Maurice Coveney, who was born in the town in 1939, said the town’s future should be decided by the people living there and not by developers.
“We will be making the county council aware of the preliminary results of the survey within a few days,” he said. “But we have a lot of work to do yet — examining some of the comments which came back in the survey. The section on sports facilities alone attracted over 500 comments.”
Work is expected to be completed within a month at which time the full results of the survey will be published and placed in the town’s library.
In 2002, CSO census figures showed the town had the highest proportion of workers commuting to work by car every day.
At 74%, Carrigaline topped the nation’s list followed by Dunboyne (70%), Tramore (67%) and Naas (65%).
Meanwhile, a study aimed at tackling traffic chaos in and around the town is continuing.
The Carrigaline Transportation and Traffic Study will outline a plan to cope with traffic and transport up to 2020 and it is expected to be completed within weeks.
Irish Examiner
Friday, 11 May 2007
EPA urged to prevent Galway land rezoning
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been urged to prevent a land rezoning in south Galway that threatens the future of the Clarenbridge oyster industry.
Labour Party president and Galway West TD Michael D Higgins says if the EPA is to "have any credibility", it must intervene before Galway county councillors amend their county development plan on May 28th.
Earlier this year, councillors decided to make 17 material alterations to the Clarenbridge local area plan.
The material alterations resulted in an extra 115 acres of land within the village boundary being zoned for development - totalling 180 acres - in what is described as a "small settlement" in the county plan.
Residents say this would expand the village of just over 400 people to a suburb of up to 10,000 at a time when other suburban areas in Galway are suffering serious water contamination due to overdevelopment.
The move was made against the advice of the Galway county manager and planning officials, and some 333 submissions opposing the move have been filed.
Residents of the village point out that the adequate sewerage and water treatment infrastructure is not provided for in the Clarenbridge area plan.
Moreover, members of the Clarenbridge oyster community have argued that provision of adequate sewerage facilities is required if the 700 acres harvested in Dunbulcan Bay are to maintain "class A" status.
Local residents in Clarenbridge are supporting their demand for a permanent buffer zone of up to 400m (0.25 miles) on the eastern, northern and southern shores of the bay to protect their industry and the shoreline environment.
Drinking water in the area has already exceeded E.coli parameters, and the limestone aquifer on which the village is located holds the highest rating for vulnerability to pollution, according to Geological Survey of Ireland assessments. The issue underscores the fact that successive governments have failed to implement policy on coastal-zone management.
Supporters of a group known as the Concerned Clarenbridge Residents have contacted individual Galway councillors to seek their support for the proposed buffer zone.
The group argues that the oyster fisheries are world famous, and provide full and part-time work for 204 members of the oyster co-operative and their families.
This has a significant spin-off for the local economy, it emphasises, and is worth some €5 million annually.
To date, only one of 10 Fianna Fáil councillors and four of 10 Fine Gael councillors have confirmed to the grouping that they "agree with" the buffer zoning, while three Progressive Democrats councillors, three of four Independents, and the Sinn Féin and Labour representatives on the local authority have also said they support it.
Ms Bridgette Brew, spokeswoman for the residents, said that this indicated those councillors who didn't support the oyster industry were in favour of the rezoning.
Mr Higgins says he has contacted the EPA's Office of Environmental Enforcement on the issue to prevent "further environmental disaster in Galway". The agency must make its views known to councillors before the May 28th meeting, he says.
"Irresponsible action" has already destroyed a natural oyster bed at Clarenbridge, he points out.
Earlier this year, EPA director, Dr Mary Kelly, noted that enhanced powers given to the agency under the Protection of the Environment Act for "tackling environmental crime" had been used to good effect.
Lorna Siggins
© 2007 The Irish Times
Labour Party president and Galway West TD Michael D Higgins says if the EPA is to "have any credibility", it must intervene before Galway county councillors amend their county development plan on May 28th.
Earlier this year, councillors decided to make 17 material alterations to the Clarenbridge local area plan.
The material alterations resulted in an extra 115 acres of land within the village boundary being zoned for development - totalling 180 acres - in what is described as a "small settlement" in the county plan.
Residents say this would expand the village of just over 400 people to a suburb of up to 10,000 at a time when other suburban areas in Galway are suffering serious water contamination due to overdevelopment.
The move was made against the advice of the Galway county manager and planning officials, and some 333 submissions opposing the move have been filed.
Residents of the village point out that the adequate sewerage and water treatment infrastructure is not provided for in the Clarenbridge area plan.
Moreover, members of the Clarenbridge oyster community have argued that provision of adequate sewerage facilities is required if the 700 acres harvested in Dunbulcan Bay are to maintain "class A" status.
Local residents in Clarenbridge are supporting their demand for a permanent buffer zone of up to 400m (0.25 miles) on the eastern, northern and southern shores of the bay to protect their industry and the shoreline environment.
Drinking water in the area has already exceeded E.coli parameters, and the limestone aquifer on which the village is located holds the highest rating for vulnerability to pollution, according to Geological Survey of Ireland assessments. The issue underscores the fact that successive governments have failed to implement policy on coastal-zone management.
Supporters of a group known as the Concerned Clarenbridge Residents have contacted individual Galway councillors to seek their support for the proposed buffer zone.
The group argues that the oyster fisheries are world famous, and provide full and part-time work for 204 members of the oyster co-operative and their families.
This has a significant spin-off for the local economy, it emphasises, and is worth some €5 million annually.
To date, only one of 10 Fianna Fáil councillors and four of 10 Fine Gael councillors have confirmed to the grouping that they "agree with" the buffer zoning, while three Progressive Democrats councillors, three of four Independents, and the Sinn Féin and Labour representatives on the local authority have also said they support it.
Ms Bridgette Brew, spokeswoman for the residents, said that this indicated those councillors who didn't support the oyster industry were in favour of the rezoning.
Mr Higgins says he has contacted the EPA's Office of Environmental Enforcement on the issue to prevent "further environmental disaster in Galway". The agency must make its views known to councillors before the May 28th meeting, he says.
"Irresponsible action" has already destroyed a natural oyster bed at Clarenbridge, he points out.
Earlier this year, EPA director, Dr Mary Kelly, noted that enhanced powers given to the agency under the Protection of the Environment Act for "tackling environmental crime" had been used to good effect.
Lorna Siggins
© 2007 The Irish Times
FF councillor breached ethics in family land rezoning bid
11 May 2007
FF councillor breached ethics in family land rezoning bid
By Donal Hickey
A LEADING hotelier and Fianna Fáil councillor tried to win the support of fellow councillors for the rezoning of his family property, according to the Standards in Public Office Commission, which described the incident as a “serious matter”.
The commission concluded that Patrick O’Donoghue, managing director of the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, and a member of Killarney Town Council, breached sections of the ethics legislation arising from a proposal to rezone the 20-acre Gleneagle property.
A report of an investigation by the commission into Mr O’Donoghue’s conduct, published yesterday, is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Click here to find out more!
Mr O’Donoghue, also a director of Fáilte Ireland, has strongly denied trying to influence other councillors to vote for the rezoning.
Also investigated in relation to the rezoning was Mayor Sheila Casey, a Fine Gael member of Killarney Town Council, and an employee of the Gleneagle group.
However, the commission is not taking any further action against her, saying it was “not satisfied on the evidence before it that she had actual knowledge that she had, as an employee of the O’Donoghue family, a beneficial interest in the motion to rezone the lands”. The probe arose from a motion which came before Killarney Town Council to rezone the O’Donoghue’s property, which includes the Gleneagle and Brehon Hotels, the National Events Centre (INEC) and a riverside pitch and putt course to town centre status.
The motion was passed at a council meeting, while Mr O’Donoghue and Ms Casey were both present, on March 6, 2006. Ms Casey voted for the motion, but Mr O’Donoghue abstained.
The commission found Mr O’Donoghue was in breach of the code of conduct for councilors, under the Local Government Act, by seeking the support of councilors for the motion and trying to influence their decision on it.
“The commission is satisfied these contraventions were committed intentionally and were, in all the circumstances, a serious matter,” the report stated.
It also found Mr O’Donoghue disregarded the code of conduct by not disclosing his interest in the Gleneagle property and by failing to withdraw from the meeting when the motion was being discussed.
The investigation arose from complaints by Killarney Town Council manager Tom Curran, who is acting county manager for Kerry.
Irish Examiner
FF councillor breached ethics in family land rezoning bid
By Donal Hickey
A LEADING hotelier and Fianna Fáil councillor tried to win the support of fellow councillors for the rezoning of his family property, according to the Standards in Public Office Commission, which described the incident as a “serious matter”.
The commission concluded that Patrick O’Donoghue, managing director of the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, and a member of Killarney Town Council, breached sections of the ethics legislation arising from a proposal to rezone the 20-acre Gleneagle property.
A report of an investigation by the commission into Mr O’Donoghue’s conduct, published yesterday, is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Click here to find out more!
Mr O’Donoghue, also a director of Fáilte Ireland, has strongly denied trying to influence other councillors to vote for the rezoning.
Also investigated in relation to the rezoning was Mayor Sheila Casey, a Fine Gael member of Killarney Town Council, and an employee of the Gleneagle group.
However, the commission is not taking any further action against her, saying it was “not satisfied on the evidence before it that she had actual knowledge that she had, as an employee of the O’Donoghue family, a beneficial interest in the motion to rezone the lands”. The probe arose from a motion which came before Killarney Town Council to rezone the O’Donoghue’s property, which includes the Gleneagle and Brehon Hotels, the National Events Centre (INEC) and a riverside pitch and putt course to town centre status.
The motion was passed at a council meeting, while Mr O’Donoghue and Ms Casey were both present, on March 6, 2006. Ms Casey voted for the motion, but Mr O’Donoghue abstained.
The commission found Mr O’Donoghue was in breach of the code of conduct for councilors, under the Local Government Act, by seeking the support of councilors for the motion and trying to influence their decision on it.
“The commission is satisfied these contraventions were committed intentionally and were, in all the circumstances, a serious matter,” the report stated.
It also found Mr O’Donoghue disregarded the code of conduct by not disclosing his interest in the Gleneagle property and by failing to withdraw from the meeting when the motion was being discussed.
The investigation arose from complaints by Killarney Town Council manager Tom Curran, who is acting county manager for Kerry.
Irish Examiner
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