THE Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) has accused the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of failing in its duty to compel the Government to get a licence for the storage of hazardous waste at the former Irish Steel site at Haulbowline in Cork harbour.
FIE spokesman Tony Lowes said yesterday that the EPA had the power to force the Government’s hand on the future of the site but had failed to do so.
The FIE is now to take legal action itself over the continued holding of waste without a licence at the site. The FIE is seeking an urgent high court injunction to compel Environment Minister John Gormley to either apply for a licence for the site or remove the waste.
"The EPA has been running for cover on this," said Mr Lowes. "They are supposed to be the ones who licence waste facilities. The minister has consistently refused to apply for a licence and no doubt the EPA is aware of this yet they have done nothing about it. We are taking this high court action as a last resort to show that the Government, any more than an individual, cannot be exempt from our environment laws.
"The owner of the site is the Government and that means they have legal responsibility. You would have thought the EPA would have stepped in and done something, but they haven’t. The EPA has remained silent on this issue. Its office of environmental enforcement has not fulfilled its rule and there has been no explanation for this."
The EPA did not respond to a request to address the FIE’s complaint.
Mr Lowes added that his organisation believes the reason for the minister’s failure to apply for a licence is because this would trigger an environment impact assessment which would reveal the full extent of the hazardous waste at Haulbowline.
Already 112,000 tons of hazardous waste has been removed and transported to Germany for treatment but 280,000 tons of material remains. Tests conducted in Germany show levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury among the surface waste taken from the site.
Last week Minister Gormley announced that the Government is to establish a new working group to develop detailed proposals on the future of the site. Mr Gormley said that the group, which is to be chaired by the Office of Public Works, will be asked to determine the optimum use for the site.
However, Mr Lowes described this as a "fudge".
"This is the second working group in the past three years. What we need is a hazardous waste disposal facility established here."
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Plans drawn up to fill in part of toxicwaste dump
PLANS are being drawn up to fill in part of a toxic waste dump in Cork harbour which contained traces of the highly carcenogenic Chromium 6.
County councillors have been informed that backfilling is planned for an exposed lagoon on the eastern side of the dump at Haulbowline. Sharon Corcoran, the council’s director of services, furnished county councillors with a report yesterday on what is likely to happen to the site.
She said backfilling the exposed lagoon on the eastern tip of the site was a short-term objective, as was securing the perimeter boundary. The report was issued just days after Minister for the Environment John Gormley said he was establishing a working group, chaired by the OPW, to look at the long-term future of the site.
Cobh-based Cllr John Mulvihill (Lab) said he wasn’t impressed with Mr Gormley’s pronouncement.
"He can set up all the groups he wants, but the fact is there is still a toxic waste dump there. It’s possible the EU will move on us and make us pay fines for every day it exists. It’s still not cleaned up. If Gormley was in Opposition he’d be sitting in the middle of it on a bike," an angry Mr Mulvihill said. He pointed out cancer rates in Cobh were 44% higher than in other parts of the country.
"There are major concerns down there. We’re trying to develop the harbour as a tourist amenity. Who is going to develop anything with this in the harbour," he added.
Cllr Sean O’Connor (Ind) described Mr Gormley’s response as "not before time". He insisted safeguards would have to be put in place before any work undertaken to ensure hazardous dust didn’t escape from the site.
Cllr Noel Collins (Ind) said Mr Gormley believed there were no health risk associated with the site.
"The jury remains out on that one. Public are confused and frightened. It’s expected the cost of cleaning it up will be €300 million. Regardless of cost this has to go ahead," Mr Mulvihill said.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
County councillors have been informed that backfilling is planned for an exposed lagoon on the eastern side of the dump at Haulbowline. Sharon Corcoran, the council’s director of services, furnished county councillors with a report yesterday on what is likely to happen to the site.
She said backfilling the exposed lagoon on the eastern tip of the site was a short-term objective, as was securing the perimeter boundary. The report was issued just days after Minister for the Environment John Gormley said he was establishing a working group, chaired by the OPW, to look at the long-term future of the site.
Cobh-based Cllr John Mulvihill (Lab) said he wasn’t impressed with Mr Gormley’s pronouncement.
"He can set up all the groups he wants, but the fact is there is still a toxic waste dump there. It’s possible the EU will move on us and make us pay fines for every day it exists. It’s still not cleaned up. If Gormley was in Opposition he’d be sitting in the middle of it on a bike," an angry Mr Mulvihill said. He pointed out cancer rates in Cobh were 44% higher than in other parts of the country.
"There are major concerns down there. We’re trying to develop the harbour as a tourist amenity. Who is going to develop anything with this in the harbour," he added.
Cllr Sean O’Connor (Ind) described Mr Gormley’s response as "not before time". He insisted safeguards would have to be put in place before any work undertaken to ensure hazardous dust didn’t escape from the site.
Cllr Noel Collins (Ind) said Mr Gormley believed there were no health risk associated with the site.
"The jury remains out on that one. Public are confused and frightened. It’s expected the cost of cleaning it up will be €300 million. Regardless of cost this has to go ahead," Mr Mulvihill said.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Shell says it will honour its word on Corrib emissions
SHELL E&P Ireland has written to individual Erris fishermen stating that it will honour its “undertaking” in relation to minimising harmful emissions from the Corrib gas refinery into the marine environment.
However, the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association says it intends to seek a meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency, following advice given in talks with three Government Ministers and two junior ministers in Dublin on Friday.
The association’s unhappiness with the company’s delay in seeking to change the emission licensing terms was one of a series of issues raised with the Government delegation at Friday’s meeting.
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Brendan Smith, along with Minister for State for Natural Resources Conor Lenihan, attended the talks, which were facilitated by Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Mayo TD, Dara Calleary.
The Erris association initially sought the meeting after the arrest of two fishermen and impounding of their two vessels by gardaí hours before the arrival of the Corrib gas offshore pipelaying vessel, Solitaire, last month.
Association chairman Eddie Diver had expressed anger that the Government was not clarifying the legal situation concerning the rights of the two fishermen, Pat and Jonathon O’Donnell, to continue fishing versus the terms of the foreshore licence awarded to Shell EP Ireland.
The two fishermen did not sign up to an agreement involving €30,000 a head in compensation for association members while the pipelaying was taking place. Under existing legislation, valid fishing licence-holders cannot be compelled to leave the marine area.
Gardaí said they were enforcing a 500-metre exclusion zone after the fishermen were arrested, but the Department of Transport confirmed that it had issued no such exclusion zone. Shell had “advised” mariners to forego any activity within a 500-metre radius of the Solitaire “to avoid damage” to fishing equipment.
Mr Diver said the association was happy with the discussions with the Ministers, although they had “given no firm commitment”.
He added: “On the issue of the confiscation of fishing boats . . . we believe that Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern have to explain why such directions were given under the Maritime Safety Act.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
However, the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association says it intends to seek a meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency, following advice given in talks with three Government Ministers and two junior ministers in Dublin on Friday.
The association’s unhappiness with the company’s delay in seeking to change the emission licensing terms was one of a series of issues raised with the Government delegation at Friday’s meeting.
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Brendan Smith, along with Minister for State for Natural Resources Conor Lenihan, attended the talks, which were facilitated by Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Mayo TD, Dara Calleary.
The Erris association initially sought the meeting after the arrest of two fishermen and impounding of their two vessels by gardaí hours before the arrival of the Corrib gas offshore pipelaying vessel, Solitaire, last month.
Association chairman Eddie Diver had expressed anger that the Government was not clarifying the legal situation concerning the rights of the two fishermen, Pat and Jonathon O’Donnell, to continue fishing versus the terms of the foreshore licence awarded to Shell EP Ireland.
The two fishermen did not sign up to an agreement involving €30,000 a head in compensation for association members while the pipelaying was taking place. Under existing legislation, valid fishing licence-holders cannot be compelled to leave the marine area.
Gardaí said they were enforcing a 500-metre exclusion zone after the fishermen were arrested, but the Department of Transport confirmed that it had issued no such exclusion zone. Shell had “advised” mariners to forego any activity within a 500-metre radius of the Solitaire “to avoid damage” to fishing equipment.
Mr Diver said the association was happy with the discussions with the Ministers, although they had “given no firm commitment”.
He added: “On the issue of the confiscation of fishing boats . . . we believe that Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern have to explain why such directions were given under the Maritime Safety Act.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Planning should serve society, says new IPI chief
PLANNING EXISTS to serve the common good and not landowners or property developers, according to Gerry Sheeran, the new president of the Irish Planning Institute (IPI), which represents 700 professional planners.
A senior planner with Limerick County Council, Mr Sheeran pointed to the “history of excessive zoning of land for development” which benefited private individuals but not the community.
He welcomed the new Planning Amendment Bill announced recently by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, saying it would address many of these issues raised by the institute. The IPI is to make submissions on the proposed legislation.
Mr Sheeran said the recession offered “an opportunity to focus not solely on economic growth but on . . . challenges which loom ahead”. In this, planners could lead by putting a more sustainable framework in place.
Future plans needed to be “closely integrated”, with a strong link between national strategies, and local area plans, and decisions on planning applications made in terms of these agreed plans.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A senior planner with Limerick County Council, Mr Sheeran pointed to the “history of excessive zoning of land for development” which benefited private individuals but not the community.
He welcomed the new Planning Amendment Bill announced recently by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, saying it would address many of these issues raised by the institute. The IPI is to make submissions on the proposed legislation.
Mr Sheeran said the recession offered “an opportunity to focus not solely on economic growth but on . . . challenges which loom ahead”. In this, planners could lead by putting a more sustainable framework in place.
Future plans needed to be “closely integrated”, with a strong link between national strategies, and local area plans, and decisions on planning applications made in terms of these agreed plans.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
New consultations on planned Sligo runway
SLIGO COUNTY Council has opened a fresh round of public consultations on plans by Sligo North West Airport Company to extend its runway at Strandhill into an adjoining Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive.
The airport company sought planning permission for the controversial project last August, after being officially told by the Irish Aviation Authority that it needed to provide runway safety areas at either end of the existing runway.
It said these were needed “to bring the airport into compliance with the safety standards of the Irish Aviation Authority to maintain a public use aerodrome licence and the security requirements of the Department of Transport”.
Every passenger travelling to Sligo and other regional airports has their air trip subsidised by an average of €140, dispensed by the department under its Public Service Obligation regime. By contrast, the mainline rail subsidy is €10.70 a ticket.
The proposed development would involve infilling 12 acres of Sligo Bay and reconfiguring the runway to provide the required safety areas. It would extend the existing runway, which is 1,170 metres long, by a further 285 metres.
It also includes the installation of an instrument landing system and new runway lighting, as well as replacing the existing runway approach lighting with a new lighting system that would extend more than 400 metres from the end of the runway.
However, the airport is practically surrounded by the Special Protection Area (SPA) and by a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU habitats directive. It is understood that an earlier plan to extend the runway into the sea was ruled out on cost grounds.
Following a request from the county council and an unusually large number of submissions – some 200 in all, most of them against the plan – the airport company has now submitted further information on the proposed extension into Sligo Bay.
Contentious issues include the ecology and hydrology of the Sligo Bay SPA and SAC, visual aspects of the proposed runway extension and the potential impact of it on a clam nursery which operates in the channel that would be crossed by it.
There is also local concern about the potential impact on the road to Coney Island, which is only available for use at low tide, despite an assurance in the environmental impact statement (EIS) by RPS Kirk McClure Norton that it would not be at risk.
According to Sligo-based environmental consultant Suzanne Tynan, the EIS “failed to examine alternative designs for the runway extension or to make any real effort to look at alternative locations before dismissing them, largely on cost grounds”.
She said this was not consistent with EU guidance on the treatment of Natura 2000 sites – the network of SPA- and SAC-protected areas throughout Europe.
There is no provision in the guidance for alternatives to be ruled out because of their cost alone.
One of the options not considered would involve installing “cinder beds” at each end of the runway, instead of a solid construction, to cater for Aer Arann’s ATR 32 jet-prop planes, which operate to and from Dublin twice a day in each direction.
Ms Tynan complained that hydraulic modelling in the airport company’s EIS “appears to have complete certainty about there being no impact and makes no reference to the existing draft designation of Sligo Bay under the EU Shellfish Directive”.
Other objectors include Birdwatch Ireland, the Dorrins and Cummeen Strand Conservation Group, Dorrins Shellfish Ltd, Lissadell Shellfish Ltd, IFA Aquaculture and the Northwest Clam Marketing Group. The deadline for further submissions is July 31st.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The airport company sought planning permission for the controversial project last August, after being officially told by the Irish Aviation Authority that it needed to provide runway safety areas at either end of the existing runway.
It said these were needed “to bring the airport into compliance with the safety standards of the Irish Aviation Authority to maintain a public use aerodrome licence and the security requirements of the Department of Transport”.
Every passenger travelling to Sligo and other regional airports has their air trip subsidised by an average of €140, dispensed by the department under its Public Service Obligation regime. By contrast, the mainline rail subsidy is €10.70 a ticket.
The proposed development would involve infilling 12 acres of Sligo Bay and reconfiguring the runway to provide the required safety areas. It would extend the existing runway, which is 1,170 metres long, by a further 285 metres.
It also includes the installation of an instrument landing system and new runway lighting, as well as replacing the existing runway approach lighting with a new lighting system that would extend more than 400 metres from the end of the runway.
However, the airport is practically surrounded by the Special Protection Area (SPA) and by a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU habitats directive. It is understood that an earlier plan to extend the runway into the sea was ruled out on cost grounds.
Following a request from the county council and an unusually large number of submissions – some 200 in all, most of them against the plan – the airport company has now submitted further information on the proposed extension into Sligo Bay.
Contentious issues include the ecology and hydrology of the Sligo Bay SPA and SAC, visual aspects of the proposed runway extension and the potential impact of it on a clam nursery which operates in the channel that would be crossed by it.
There is also local concern about the potential impact on the road to Coney Island, which is only available for use at low tide, despite an assurance in the environmental impact statement (EIS) by RPS Kirk McClure Norton that it would not be at risk.
According to Sligo-based environmental consultant Suzanne Tynan, the EIS “failed to examine alternative designs for the runway extension or to make any real effort to look at alternative locations before dismissing them, largely on cost grounds”.
She said this was not consistent with EU guidance on the treatment of Natura 2000 sites – the network of SPA- and SAC-protected areas throughout Europe.
There is no provision in the guidance for alternatives to be ruled out because of their cost alone.
One of the options not considered would involve installing “cinder beds” at each end of the runway, instead of a solid construction, to cater for Aer Arann’s ATR 32 jet-prop planes, which operate to and from Dublin twice a day in each direction.
Ms Tynan complained that hydraulic modelling in the airport company’s EIS “appears to have complete certainty about there being no impact and makes no reference to the existing draft designation of Sligo Bay under the EU Shellfish Directive”.
Other objectors include Birdwatch Ireland, the Dorrins and Cummeen Strand Conservation Group, Dorrins Shellfish Ltd, Lissadell Shellfish Ltd, IFA Aquaculture and the Northwest Clam Marketing Group. The deadline for further submissions is July 31st.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley faces suit over waste storage
THE FRIENDS of the Irish Environment (FIE) has announced that it is to take legal action against the Minister for the Environment over the continued holding of waste without a licence at the former Irish Steel site at Haulbowline in Cork harbour.
FIE spokesman Tony Lowes has told The Irish Times that solicitors for the group have informed John Gormley of its intention to seek an order in the High Court compelling him to either remove the waste at Haulbowline or obtain a licence for its continued storage.
Mr Lowes said FIE was concerned about serious levels of pollution from heavy metals, including lead, from the continued holding of waste on the site and that this had been acknowledged by the Department of the Environment as far back as 2004.
He cited an affidavit sworn by the current department secretary, Geraldine Tallon, in a legal action to recover costs from the Ispat liquidator in 2004, that “there is serious environmental pollution at the site as a result of holding, recovering or disposing of waste”.
Mr Lowes said that under the Waste Management Act 1996, any person or body holding waste for more than six months must have a licence. Despite repeated requests to the Minister for the Environment, he had failed to apply for a licence to hold the waste.
“We have repeatedly written to the Ministers involved requesting them to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency for a waste licence, but the only response has been to establish yet another ‘working group’,” he said.
In the letter, lawyers for Friends of the Irish Environment say: “Our client formally calls upon you to apply to the EPA for a licence for the ongoing holding of waste or, in the alternative, for the decontamination of the island by means of removal and proper licensed disposal of the waste currently held on the island.”
A department spokesman said he could not comment on the legal letter sent by FIE as it had not yet been received, but that it would forwarded to the department’s legal advisers for consideration upon receipt.
The spokesman said there had been “ongoing engagement” between the Department of the Environment and the EPA in relation to the site and that Mr Gormley was committed to cleaning up the site and achieving a long-term sustainable solution.
“One of the key issues for Minister Gormley is that deciding the future of the site would be done in consultation with everybody, including the regulatory authorities such as the EPA as well as with the local community and that remains his objective,” he said.
“This site has a history going back 70 years and since he took office, Minister Gormley has spent more and done more to involve the appropriate experts and relevant stakeholders to ensure a long-term sustainable solution.”
Last week, Mr Gormley said the Government would establish a new working group, chaired by the Office of Public Works and involving a range of departments and State agencies, to develop detailed proposals for the future use of the site.
Meanwhile, Cork East TD Seán Sherlock (Labour) has voiced strong criticism of Mr Gormley’s plan. “Setting up a working group is a classic kick to touch. There has to be a concrete set of proposals for the site. Whether that will mean excavation or containment is for the Minister to ultimately decide, but he should make that call now.”
Mr Sherlock welcomed the prospect of local involvement in the process of deciding the future use of the former Irish Steel site, but stressed that the time had come for straight-talking.
“If it is going to cost more than €100 million to contain or manage the site, then let’s say so,” he said. “If the money isn’t there to do that at the moment, then let’s be honest about that too.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
FIE spokesman Tony Lowes has told The Irish Times that solicitors for the group have informed John Gormley of its intention to seek an order in the High Court compelling him to either remove the waste at Haulbowline or obtain a licence for its continued storage.
Mr Lowes said FIE was concerned about serious levels of pollution from heavy metals, including lead, from the continued holding of waste on the site and that this had been acknowledged by the Department of the Environment as far back as 2004.
He cited an affidavit sworn by the current department secretary, Geraldine Tallon, in a legal action to recover costs from the Ispat liquidator in 2004, that “there is serious environmental pollution at the site as a result of holding, recovering or disposing of waste”.
Mr Lowes said that under the Waste Management Act 1996, any person or body holding waste for more than six months must have a licence. Despite repeated requests to the Minister for the Environment, he had failed to apply for a licence to hold the waste.
“We have repeatedly written to the Ministers involved requesting them to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency for a waste licence, but the only response has been to establish yet another ‘working group’,” he said.
In the letter, lawyers for Friends of the Irish Environment say: “Our client formally calls upon you to apply to the EPA for a licence for the ongoing holding of waste or, in the alternative, for the decontamination of the island by means of removal and proper licensed disposal of the waste currently held on the island.”
A department spokesman said he could not comment on the legal letter sent by FIE as it had not yet been received, but that it would forwarded to the department’s legal advisers for consideration upon receipt.
The spokesman said there had been “ongoing engagement” between the Department of the Environment and the EPA in relation to the site and that Mr Gormley was committed to cleaning up the site and achieving a long-term sustainable solution.
“One of the key issues for Minister Gormley is that deciding the future of the site would be done in consultation with everybody, including the regulatory authorities such as the EPA as well as with the local community and that remains his objective,” he said.
“This site has a history going back 70 years and since he took office, Minister Gormley has spent more and done more to involve the appropriate experts and relevant stakeholders to ensure a long-term sustainable solution.”
Last week, Mr Gormley said the Government would establish a new working group, chaired by the Office of Public Works and involving a range of departments and State agencies, to develop detailed proposals for the future use of the site.
Meanwhile, Cork East TD Seán Sherlock (Labour) has voiced strong criticism of Mr Gormley’s plan. “Setting up a working group is a classic kick to touch. There has to be a concrete set of proposals for the site. Whether that will mean excavation or containment is for the Minister to ultimately decide, but he should make that call now.”
Mr Sherlock welcomed the prospect of local involvement in the process of deciding the future use of the former Irish Steel site, but stressed that the time had come for straight-talking.
“If it is going to cost more than €100 million to contain or manage the site, then let’s say so,” he said. “If the money isn’t there to do that at the moment, then let’s be honest about that too.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Copying costs 'impeding planning'
Local authorities are obstructing the planning process by charging “excessive and unjust” rates for photocopying planning documents, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has said.
In a report submitted to both houses of the Oireachtas today, Ms O’Reilly said many local authorities were deliberately ignoring Department of Environment guidelines on what was reasonable to charge for such services in order to create revenue streams.
The report found some 60 per cent of local councils were levying charges for simple black and white photocopying that were completely out of line with commercial rates, in some cases up to 100-times the market rate or €5 per single sheet of A4 paper.
The Ombudsman said this could not be justified and posed “a direct impediment to a properly functioning planning process".
"Public participation in the planning process should be encouraged, not checked. People are put off, by excessive charges, from taking part in the planning process despite the fact that in law they are entitled to inspect and obtain copies of certain planning documents.
Ms O'Reilly said: “Voluntary organisations interested in preserving and protecting our heritage, the built environment and balanced regional development, are hugely disadvantaged by these excessive charges.”
“Disproportionate charges could be viewed as a subversion of what should be an open and crystal-clear planning process by placing obstacles in the way of people interested in particular planning applications, for whatever reason,” she said.
The report found there was a lack of consistency across local authorities on charges imposed for photocopying, with charges ranging from zero to €5, and many also failed to set minimum and/or maximum charges for the service.
The worst offending local authorities for setting a minimum charge to copy a standard A4 sheet were Galway, Kildare, Longford, Roscommon, Tipperary NR and Waterford County Councils, and
The authorities which imposed the most excessive charges by reference to Department of Environment guidelines, ranging from 50 cent to 80 cent and up to €5 for an A4-sheet copy were Cavan ,Clare, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Galway, Kerry , Laois, Limerick, Louth, South Dublin, South Tipperary and Wexford County Councils.
Ms O'Reilly called on local authorities that were overcharging to immediately review their rates, saying her preference was for authorities to put their own houses in order voluntarily.
But Ms O’Reilly warned that in the absence of any real change and a fair system of charges, she would consider calling for legislative change in the future, “as the present situation is untenable”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In a report submitted to both houses of the Oireachtas today, Ms O’Reilly said many local authorities were deliberately ignoring Department of Environment guidelines on what was reasonable to charge for such services in order to create revenue streams.
The report found some 60 per cent of local councils were levying charges for simple black and white photocopying that were completely out of line with commercial rates, in some cases up to 100-times the market rate or €5 per single sheet of A4 paper.
The Ombudsman said this could not be justified and posed “a direct impediment to a properly functioning planning process".
"Public participation in the planning process should be encouraged, not checked. People are put off, by excessive charges, from taking part in the planning process despite the fact that in law they are entitled to inspect and obtain copies of certain planning documents.
Ms O'Reilly said: “Voluntary organisations interested in preserving and protecting our heritage, the built environment and balanced regional development, are hugely disadvantaged by these excessive charges.”
“Disproportionate charges could be viewed as a subversion of what should be an open and crystal-clear planning process by placing obstacles in the way of people interested in particular planning applications, for whatever reason,” she said.
The report found there was a lack of consistency across local authorities on charges imposed for photocopying, with charges ranging from zero to €5, and many also failed to set minimum and/or maximum charges for the service.
The worst offending local authorities for setting a minimum charge to copy a standard A4 sheet were Galway, Kildare, Longford, Roscommon, Tipperary NR and Waterford County Councils, and
The authorities which imposed the most excessive charges by reference to Department of Environment guidelines, ranging from 50 cent to 80 cent and up to €5 for an A4-sheet copy were Cavan ,Clare, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Galway, Kerry , Laois, Limerick, Louth, South Dublin, South Tipperary and Wexford County Councils.
Ms O'Reilly called on local authorities that were overcharging to immediately review their rates, saying her preference was for authorities to put their own houses in order voluntarily.
But Ms O’Reilly warned that in the absence of any real change and a fair system of charges, she would consider calling for legislative change in the future, “as the present situation is untenable”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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