Objections to Jewish museum expansion

THE IRISH Jewish Museum has moved to reassure local residents that its plans for expansion will be in keeping with the neighbourhood.

The redevelopment plan for the museum on Walworth Road, in Dublin’s Portobello, attracted more than 20 objections before the observation period closed on September 20th. The museum is awaiting a decision on its planning application, which was lodged with Dublin City Council in August.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Posted by BPS Town Planning Consultants

UK debate over pros and cons of fracking will echo in Ireland

Battles over wind farms may be just the prelude to more bitter conflict as fracking spreads, writes MARK HENNESSY 

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS delegates grabbed coats and scarves as they made their way, heads bowed, along Brighton’s promenade for their party’s conference this week in the face of howling winds and rain, as an unseasonal winter gale battered England’s south coast.

Despite being preoccupied with their own political survival, delegates had time to consider the UK’s future energy needs, as climate-change pressures clash with the world’s insatiable demand for energy, mostly fossil.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Posted by BPS Town Planning Consultants

€230m paid out for PPP projects

MORE THAN €230 million was paid out by the State on various transport, education and health projects that were to have been delivered by public-private partnerships but have now been cancelled or put on hold.

The comptroller’s report states that €216 million was spent on preparatory work on three large-scale transport projects: Metro North, Dart Underground and Metro West.

All three projects have been postponed by the Government.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Posted by BPS Town Planning Consultants

Children's hospital site now a 'political decision'

THE LOCATION of the new national children’s hospital is becoming a political decision rather than a medical one, the master of the Rotunda maternity hospital has warned.

With a long-awaited decision on the project imminent, Dr Sam Coulter-Smith has expressed his unease at the manner in which the Government appeared to be approaching the decision.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Posted by BPS Town Planning Consultants

Minister to get 1916 site assessment soon

MINISTER FOR Heritage Jimmy Deenihan has said he expects to shortly receive an environmental impact assessment on a Dublin site associated with the 1916 Rising.

He said that numbers 14 to 17 Moore Street were under the remit of Nama. Proposals had been submitted to his department envisaging the retention of the buildings and the provision of a commemorative centre.

Planning permission for the site had been granted by Dublin City Council and confirmed by An Bord Pleanála.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Posted by BPS Town Planning Consultants

EPA visited Carranstown incinerator 48 times

THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency visited the Carranstown incinerator in Co Meath 48 times over the past year a public hearing by An Bord Pleanála was told yesterday.

There were also audits by officials from Meath County Council and the HSE, the hearing into an application by Indaver Irl for an expansion of the plant was told by Jane Hennessy, the company’s communication manager.

None of the visits by the agency found any problem at the plant which also received three visits by the Health and Safety Authority. 

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Posted by BPS Town Planning Consultants

Activists complain about aquaculture appeals board

A COMPLAINT about alleged lack of information and transparency on decisions regarding fish-farming matters has been made to the Minister for the Marine.

In a letter to Simon Coveney, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) notes that the website of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board appears to have ceased operating in 2006, showing an out-of-date list of board members and no reports of more recent decisions.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Posted by BPS Town Planning Consultants