RESIDENTS on a housing estate have objected to the proposed development of a Muslim community centre in their area.
The objections have been lodged against the Rahman Foundation, which has sought to develop a house on the estate to serve more than 1,000 members of the Muslim community living in Portlaoise.
Residents on the Grenville estate say their area would not have the capacity to deal with the centre due to an increase in traffic.
A decision on the application is due from Laois County Council next month.
Dara deFaoite
Irish Independent
Friday, 3 August 2007
New 14km stretch of motorway shortens trip up to Belfast
THE journey time between Dublin and Belfast will be cut to two hours with the opening today of the first piece of motorway to cross the border.
The ribbon will be cut on the 14km-long A1/N1 dual carriageway between Newry and Dundalk by Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern and the North's Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy.
The route is the result of a partnership between the National Roads Authority, Louth County Council and the Northern Ireland Roads Service. The €154m project will link the A1 at Cloghogue in Co Armagh to the N1 at Dundalk. A total of 4.6km of the scheme is north of the border and 9.4km is in the Republic.
The section of the scheme south of the border has a designated speed limit of 120km.
The Irish and British governments funded the project with assistance by the European Union.
"As an island, we need to develop good road and communication links. This underpins our economic prosperity," said Mr Ahern.
"This new addition to our motor links stands as a shining example of how an all-island approach can help everyone prosper."
Mr Murphy said the project will make a "substantial contribution to the social and economic well-being of communities" north and the south of the Border.
NRA chairman Peter Malone said the project demonstrated that successful cross-border partnerships are now a reality.
The Dundalk to Newry scheme completes the Republic's first inter-urban route from Dublin to the Border.
Mr Malone said other routes from the capital to Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford are on target to be completed by 2010.
"High quality roads such as we see opened here today improve people's quality of life by providing safer and quicker travel times while opening up the regions to potential industrial growth as well as traditional and business tourism," he said.
Louth County Council chairman Cllr. Jimmy Mulroy said the new road provides the essential modern infrastructure to help Dundalk and Newry become 'twin cities'.
County Manager of Louth County Council Joan Martin said the opening of the road is the culmination of some two decades of work on designing and constructing the entire length of the Dublin-Belfast Corridor through Co Louth."
Excavations uncovered archaeological finds dating from the 4th millennium BC until around AD 1,000 between Dundalk and Drumad.
The digs found ancient settlements.
Senan Hogan
Irish Independent
The ribbon will be cut on the 14km-long A1/N1 dual carriageway between Newry and Dundalk by Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern and the North's Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy.
The route is the result of a partnership between the National Roads Authority, Louth County Council and the Northern Ireland Roads Service. The €154m project will link the A1 at Cloghogue in Co Armagh to the N1 at Dundalk. A total of 4.6km of the scheme is north of the border and 9.4km is in the Republic.
The section of the scheme south of the border has a designated speed limit of 120km.
The Irish and British governments funded the project with assistance by the European Union.
"As an island, we need to develop good road and communication links. This underpins our economic prosperity," said Mr Ahern.
"This new addition to our motor links stands as a shining example of how an all-island approach can help everyone prosper."
Mr Murphy said the project will make a "substantial contribution to the social and economic well-being of communities" north and the south of the Border.
NRA chairman Peter Malone said the project demonstrated that successful cross-border partnerships are now a reality.
The Dundalk to Newry scheme completes the Republic's first inter-urban route from Dublin to the Border.
Mr Malone said other routes from the capital to Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford are on target to be completed by 2010.
"High quality roads such as we see opened here today improve people's quality of life by providing safer and quicker travel times while opening up the regions to potential industrial growth as well as traditional and business tourism," he said.
Louth County Council chairman Cllr. Jimmy Mulroy said the new road provides the essential modern infrastructure to help Dundalk and Newry become 'twin cities'.
County Manager of Louth County Council Joan Martin said the opening of the road is the culmination of some two decades of work on designing and constructing the entire length of the Dublin-Belfast Corridor through Co Louth."
Excavations uncovered archaeological finds dating from the 4th millennium BC until around AD 1,000 between Dundalk and Drumad.
The digs found ancient settlements.
Senan Hogan
Irish Independent
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Pat Kenny claims squatters' rights as legal row escalates
'LATE Late Show' host Pat Kenny is claiming "squatters' rights" over a piece of land in an exclusive suburb in a bitter legal dispute with his neighbour.
The rocky outcrop in Dalkey, Co Dublin, could be worth over €1m and now the RTE broadcaster wants an order from the High Court saying he has title to the property.
The legal row between Pat and Kathy Kenny and their next-door neighbour, retired solicitor Gerard Charlton, moved up a notch yesterday, as it emerged that the Kennys are claiming they have squatters' title to the land known as Gorse Hill Property.
The High Court also heard that the Kennys had tried to have criminal proceedings brought against Mr Charlton arising out of alleged trespass in January of this year when they were away. Mr Charlton denied the claims and the DPP has indicated charges will not be brought.
Mr Charlton also rejects the assertion by the Kennys that they have squatters' rights to the property - or adverse possession in legal terminology - which can apply where a property is abandoned for 12 years or more. Mr Kenny is claiming he locked the property from public access 16 years ago and that it has been inaccessible since then except by scaling a cliff.
Mr Charlton (72), of Maple Tree House, Harbour Road, Dalkey, claims he allowed Mr Kenny to replace a pedestrian gate at the entrance to the lands in question near Bulloch Harbour, referred to as the Gorse Hill property. He claims he had permitted the Kennys to use the land since they came to live beside him in 1988.
However, he says Mr Kenny subsequently refused to give him the code for a digital keypad installed at the new electronic gate and also sought on July 27, 2006 to prevent him from gaining access to Gorse Hill.
Mr Charlton says he and his wife Maeve acquired a leasehold interest in his Harbour Road property in 1971.
That property included his home, Maple Tree House, the lands previously known as the Quarry Field and a small plot of land adjoining the Quarry Field - the Gorse Hill property.
When the Kennys bought the adjoining lands, the Anchorage, in 1988, Mr Charlton said Mr Kenny and his wife were given a copy of the 1971 lease and were therefore aware at all times of Mr Charlton's ownership of the land.
Mr Charlton claims Mr Kenny had asked him a number of times to sell the property to him and also sought consent for the erection of a new pedestrian gate to replace the existing gate allowing access to the Gorse Hill property from the road.
While he agreed to a new gate, Mr Charlton claims his consent was not sought for an electronic digicode keypad for that gate which unlawfully restricted or prevented his access.
Solicitors for the Kennys had later written to him refuting his claim to ownership of the property and claiming that the Kennys had acquired title by adverse possession, he said.
The case, brought by Mr Charlton, was before Mr Justice Frank Clarke yesterday as Mr Charlton's side sought to inspect the land known as Gorse Hill and also to seek inspection of documents.
The court heard that in the Kennys' counter-claim they say they have acquired a beneficial interest in the property and have carried out works including fencing and gardening works over the years. They claim the property is part of their garden. They are also seeking damages for alleged trespass by Mr Charlton in January.
Mr Justice Frank Clark reserved judgment, on whether there should be an inspection of Gorse Hill, until September 7.
Ann O'Loughlin
Irish Independent
The rocky outcrop in Dalkey, Co Dublin, could be worth over €1m and now the RTE broadcaster wants an order from the High Court saying he has title to the property.
The legal row between Pat and Kathy Kenny and their next-door neighbour, retired solicitor Gerard Charlton, moved up a notch yesterday, as it emerged that the Kennys are claiming they have squatters' title to the land known as Gorse Hill Property.
The High Court also heard that the Kennys had tried to have criminal proceedings brought against Mr Charlton arising out of alleged trespass in January of this year when they were away. Mr Charlton denied the claims and the DPP has indicated charges will not be brought.
Mr Charlton also rejects the assertion by the Kennys that they have squatters' rights to the property - or adverse possession in legal terminology - which can apply where a property is abandoned for 12 years or more. Mr Kenny is claiming he locked the property from public access 16 years ago and that it has been inaccessible since then except by scaling a cliff.
Mr Charlton (72), of Maple Tree House, Harbour Road, Dalkey, claims he allowed Mr Kenny to replace a pedestrian gate at the entrance to the lands in question near Bulloch Harbour, referred to as the Gorse Hill property. He claims he had permitted the Kennys to use the land since they came to live beside him in 1988.
However, he says Mr Kenny subsequently refused to give him the code for a digital keypad installed at the new electronic gate and also sought on July 27, 2006 to prevent him from gaining access to Gorse Hill.
Mr Charlton says he and his wife Maeve acquired a leasehold interest in his Harbour Road property in 1971.
That property included his home, Maple Tree House, the lands previously known as the Quarry Field and a small plot of land adjoining the Quarry Field - the Gorse Hill property.
When the Kennys bought the adjoining lands, the Anchorage, in 1988, Mr Charlton said Mr Kenny and his wife were given a copy of the 1971 lease and were therefore aware at all times of Mr Charlton's ownership of the land.
Mr Charlton claims Mr Kenny had asked him a number of times to sell the property to him and also sought consent for the erection of a new pedestrian gate to replace the existing gate allowing access to the Gorse Hill property from the road.
While he agreed to a new gate, Mr Charlton claims his consent was not sought for an electronic digicode keypad for that gate which unlawfully restricted or prevented his access.
Solicitors for the Kennys had later written to him refuting his claim to ownership of the property and claiming that the Kennys had acquired title by adverse possession, he said.
The case, brought by Mr Charlton, was before Mr Justice Frank Clarke yesterday as Mr Charlton's side sought to inspect the land known as Gorse Hill and also to seek inspection of documents.
The court heard that in the Kennys' counter-claim they say they have acquired a beneficial interest in the property and have carried out works including fencing and gardening works over the years. They claim the property is part of their garden. They are also seeking damages for alleged trespass by Mr Charlton in January.
Mr Justice Frank Clark reserved judgment, on whether there should be an inspection of Gorse Hill, until September 7.
Ann O'Loughlin
Irish Independent
'Not-so-clever' smart cards cost taxpayers almost €50m
THE 'not-so-smart-card' allowing commuters hop between buses, Luas and trains is set to cost taxpayers almost €50m.
Some €14m has already been spent on the shambolic travel-card project, much of it on outside, overseas consultants.
The waste of taxpayers' money on failed projects such as e-voting and the health service computer systems, PPARS and FISP, have been consistently used by Fine Gael and Labour to hammer the Government.
New figures published yesterday put the final expected cost of the project at €49.6m. The original estimate was for €29.6m.
A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General last year said a failed public procurement process undertaken by the Railway Procurement Agency had cost almost €1m and delayed the project by about one year. The project has since been handed over to an inter-departmental committee headed by the former secretary of the Department of Defence, David O'Callaghan.
Plans to introduce integrated ticketing on Dublin Bus and Dart services were originally put forward by CIE in the mid-1990s, but the project never got the green light. It was promised by a succession of transport ministers, Mary O'Rourke, Seamus Brennan and Martin Cullen.
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said yesterday that the delivery of an integrated ticketing system was a priority.
In late June, the tender notice for the ticketing system was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and this project was now under way.
"The minister is anxious to deliver a user friendly, integrated ticketing system for the public as soon as possible," the spokesperson added.
Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
Some €14m has already been spent on the shambolic travel-card project, much of it on outside, overseas consultants.
The waste of taxpayers' money on failed projects such as e-voting and the health service computer systems, PPARS and FISP, have been consistently used by Fine Gael and Labour to hammer the Government.
New figures published yesterday put the final expected cost of the project at €49.6m. The original estimate was for €29.6m.
A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General last year said a failed public procurement process undertaken by the Railway Procurement Agency had cost almost €1m and delayed the project by about one year. The project has since been handed over to an inter-departmental committee headed by the former secretary of the Department of Defence, David O'Callaghan.
Plans to introduce integrated ticketing on Dublin Bus and Dart services were originally put forward by CIE in the mid-1990s, but the project never got the green light. It was promised by a succession of transport ministers, Mary O'Rourke, Seamus Brennan and Martin Cullen.
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said yesterday that the delivery of an integrated ticketing system was a priority.
In late June, the tender notice for the ticketing system was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and this project was now under way.
"The minister is anxious to deliver a user friendly, integrated ticketing system for the public as soon as possible," the spokesperson added.
Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
New planning delay blow to airport plans
AN Bord Pleanala is set to delay a long-awaited decision on a second passenger terminal for Dublin Airport.
Airport authorities now face a race against time to have the much-needed facility open for business in time for the 2010 summer season.
The planning board was due to decide on the €395m development "no later than August 4". However, it is understood it has now revised this to mid-September.
This means the terminal's November 2009 deadline will be missed by up to six months, with a September decision implying a May 2010 opening date.
And the delays could cost the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) several million euro, the Irish Independent has learned.
And even if permission is granted, Ryanair has already indicated it will seek a judicial review of the decision which could further delay the project.
However, it is understood that a legal challenge will not stop construction works.
An airport spokesman said he had no knowledge of any delay, adding: "The company has not had any recent communication from the board and for the sake of all customers the DAA hopes to receive a positive planning outcome within the next few days."
A six-week delay would cost several million euro.
But if the project is further delayed, either through a planning decision being postponed or, in a worst case scenario, refused, it could have significantly wider implications.
Impact
A lengthy delay could also have a significant impact on the timing of the eventual opening.
The DAA originally planned to open the terminal in November so that it would become operational during a quiet period of the aviation year.
Assuming planning permission is granted in mid-September (not early August), that opening date becomes close to May 2010, which is the beginning of the busy season. However, if planning permission was to be delayed by a further few months, the DAA could find itself opening its terminal in the peak season of June or July 2010, which would present many logistical challenges.
DAA chairman Gary McCann has previously said the authority needed "planning clarity" by the end of last June so the second terminal would meet its November 2009 deadline.
He said delays would cost the airport authority up to €3m a month.
However, the deadline was since changed to March 2010, but now it has emerged that delays could delay the project by at least another three months.
The 75,000 square metre complex will take 30 months to build and now airport bosses face the nightmarish scenario of having to open the terminal just as the 2010 summer season kicks off.
Designed to cater for 15m passengers a year, it will provide relief for hard-pressed travellers who are currently forced to use an airport operating above capacity.
Paul Melia and Laura Noonan
Irish Independent
Airport authorities now face a race against time to have the much-needed facility open for business in time for the 2010 summer season.
The planning board was due to decide on the €395m development "no later than August 4". However, it is understood it has now revised this to mid-September.
This means the terminal's November 2009 deadline will be missed by up to six months, with a September decision implying a May 2010 opening date.
And the delays could cost the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) several million euro, the Irish Independent has learned.
And even if permission is granted, Ryanair has already indicated it will seek a judicial review of the decision which could further delay the project.
However, it is understood that a legal challenge will not stop construction works.
An airport spokesman said he had no knowledge of any delay, adding: "The company has not had any recent communication from the board and for the sake of all customers the DAA hopes to receive a positive planning outcome within the next few days."
A six-week delay would cost several million euro.
But if the project is further delayed, either through a planning decision being postponed or, in a worst case scenario, refused, it could have significantly wider implications.
Impact
A lengthy delay could also have a significant impact on the timing of the eventual opening.
The DAA originally planned to open the terminal in November so that it would become operational during a quiet period of the aviation year.
Assuming planning permission is granted in mid-September (not early August), that opening date becomes close to May 2010, which is the beginning of the busy season. However, if planning permission was to be delayed by a further few months, the DAA could find itself opening its terminal in the peak season of June or July 2010, which would present many logistical challenges.
DAA chairman Gary McCann has previously said the authority needed "planning clarity" by the end of last June so the second terminal would meet its November 2009 deadline.
He said delays would cost the airport authority up to €3m a month.
However, the deadline was since changed to March 2010, but now it has emerged that delays could delay the project by at least another three months.
The 75,000 square metre complex will take 30 months to build and now airport bosses face the nightmarish scenario of having to open the terminal just as the 2010 summer season kicks off.
Designed to cater for 15m passengers a year, it will provide relief for hard-pressed travellers who are currently forced to use an airport operating above capacity.
Paul Melia and Laura Noonan
Irish Independent
EU committee calls for immediate halt to Tara site works
THE chairman of a powerful EU committee has called on the Government to immediately stop building works on the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara.
In a letter to Environment Minister John Gormley, the Petitions Committee of the EU Parliament says "urgent action" is needed to stop the works after the discovery of a national monument on the route.
Last May, it emerged that a prehistoric ritual site had been found at Lismullin in Co Meath, and a decision was later taken to destroy the national monument as it could not be preserved due to its poor condition. But opponents of the road scheme believe an environment impact assessment should have been carried out after the monument find to ensure no other sites of importance were present along the route.
Committee chairman Marcin Libicki, who visited Dublin last month to investigate the site, says members of his group have expressed extreme concern about the "serious damage" being caused to historic sites. "Urgent action is needed to halt existing works in this area and to review the routing of this section of the M3 motorway," the letter says.
Irish Independent
In a letter to Environment Minister John Gormley, the Petitions Committee of the EU Parliament says "urgent action" is needed to stop the works after the discovery of a national monument on the route.
Last May, it emerged that a prehistoric ritual site had been found at Lismullin in Co Meath, and a decision was later taken to destroy the national monument as it could not be preserved due to its poor condition. But opponents of the road scheme believe an environment impact assessment should have been carried out after the monument find to ensure no other sites of importance were present along the route.
Committee chairman Marcin Libicki, who visited Dublin last month to investigate the site, says members of his group have expressed extreme concern about the "serious damage" being caused to historic sites. "Urgent action is needed to halt existing works in this area and to review the routing of this section of the M3 motorway," the letter says.
Irish Independent
New conference centre may give region major boost
THE country's latest conference centre is set to be located in the mid-west region.
The Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism has confirmed it is considering the development of a conference centre in the Limerick/Clare area.
Such a facility could be worth hundreds of millions annually to the local economy.
A location between Limerick city and nearby Shannon Airport is being mooted for the 2,000-plus capacity venue but the department will first undertake a feasibility study over the coming weeks.
"At this time, the plan is for the feasibility study to commence in the near future," said a spokesman for the department.
Tourism and business interests in the mid-west will be consulted about the construction of a centre as a public-private partnership.
The chief executive of Meet Limerick-Shannon, John Fahey, acknowledged that a purpose-built facility of the scale suggested would "represent a huge economic boost" for the region.
Mr Fahey hopes businesses would switch to the mid-west rather than holding conferences and events in Dublin.
"The minimum stay for business conferences would be three days and the average spend is about €1,500 per person so it would represent a huge economic boost for the region," he added.
"I couldn't say at this stage whether it would be full every day but it would still be huge for the region."
Barry Duggan
Irish Independent
The Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism has confirmed it is considering the development of a conference centre in the Limerick/Clare area.
Such a facility could be worth hundreds of millions annually to the local economy.
A location between Limerick city and nearby Shannon Airport is being mooted for the 2,000-plus capacity venue but the department will first undertake a feasibility study over the coming weeks.
"At this time, the plan is for the feasibility study to commence in the near future," said a spokesman for the department.
Tourism and business interests in the mid-west will be consulted about the construction of a centre as a public-private partnership.
The chief executive of Meet Limerick-Shannon, John Fahey, acknowledged that a purpose-built facility of the scale suggested would "represent a huge economic boost" for the region.
Mr Fahey hopes businesses would switch to the mid-west rather than holding conferences and events in Dublin.
"The minimum stay for business conferences would be three days and the average spend is about €1,500 per person so it would represent a huge economic boost for the region," he added.
"I couldn't say at this stage whether it would be full every day but it would still be huge for the region."
Barry Duggan
Irish Independent
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