Latest news with #PlanningandDevelopmentAct2000
Agriland
16 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
DAA issued with enforcement notice over passenger cap breach
Fingal County Council has issued an enforcement notice to Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) requiring the authority to comply with planning conditions relating to a 'passenger cap' at Dublin Airport. The local authority has written to DAA over what it said was a breach of planning conditions imposed by An Bord Pleanála. The Dublin Airport passenger cap has proved controversial, with aviation sector stakeholders wanting to see the cap increased or removed altogether, and DAA applying to have the cap increased by 8 million people, or 25% higher than its current figure of 32 million. However, many environmental stakeholders, as well as farm organisations, have suggested that this would not be in line with environmental targets, with the farm organisation believing the move would be unfair given the climate-related restrictions on farming. A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said today (Friday, June 20): 'The two-year period provides an opportunity for DAA to progress its planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport, or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance.' The conditions were attached to planning permissions granted in 2008 for the construction of Terminal 2 and the extension of Terminal 1, and 'clearly stated' that the combined capacity of both terminals must not exceed 32 million passengers per annum. In response to complaints received alleging that the conditions were breached in 2023 and 2024, Fingal County Council, as the relevant planning authority, initiated a formal investigation to assess compliance with the conditions. A warning letter was issued to DAA, providing them with an opportunity to respond, which they did. Fingal County Council said it acknowledges the 'operational complexities', but that information provided by DAA does not constitute sufficient grounds to prevent further action. The investigation has determined that a breach of relevant planning conditions has occurred and remains ongoing. The county council said that, in accordance with its legal obligations as the planning authority, it issued an enforcement notice under section 154 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. DAA has been given two years to bring its operations into compliance. Passenger cap controversy The efforts to increase the Dublin Airport passenger cap has proven controversial with the farming community and farmer representatives. In early 2024, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), as part of a wider nationwide campaign of protests known as 'Enough is Enough', protested against the proposed increase. Speaking at a protest in February 2024 at Cork Airport (which is also run by DAA), Cork Central IFA chairperson Mathew Hurley said the aim of the protest was to highlight 'the unfairness' of Dublin Airport seeking to grow passenger numbers by 25%, while farmers must cut their emissions by the same amount. Also in early 2024, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) said that any suggestion of lifting the cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport without referencing increased emissions would be 'surreal'. ICMSA president Denis Drennan said at the time that farmers, and the country's multi-billion euro dairy processing sector, will be closely watching the government's reaction to the 'campaign' to increase passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Oral hearing request for Creeslough redevelopment rejected
An Bord Pleanála has rejected a request for an oral hearing against the planned redevelopment of a service station at the site where ten people lost their lives in Creeslough, Co Donegal more than two years ago. Family members who lost loved ones requested that an oral hearing would be held as part of their appeal against the planned redevelopment of the service station. On 19 February, Donegal County Council granted planning permission to Vivo Shell Limited to redevelop the existing building at the site of the explosion which occurred on 7 October 2022. The company's planning application proposes to demolish the existing building and erect a new building to include a shop, a post office, a beauty salon, fuel pumps and memorial features. In a letter to Donegal County Council this week, An Bord Pleanála said it has decided "to determine the appeal without an oral hearing". The board said it "has concluded that the appeal can be dealt with adequately through written procedures". "The Board has absolute discretion to hold an oral hearing and generally holds one where this will help its understanding of a particularly complex case or where it considers that, in a case involving significant national or local issues, the written submissions need to be supplemented by an oral hearing of the issues." An Bord Pleanála said processing of the appeal will continue and it is due to decide on the case by 14 July. During the statutory appeal period, An Bord Pleanála received six appeals. Two appeals were valid. Four were deemed invalid. The two valid appeals were submitted on behalf of bereaved family members and survivors by Damien Tansey Solicitors and Phoenix Law Solicitors. Phoenix Law said in a 25-page submission due to the complexity of the legal and human rights issues raised, "a fair hearing could only be met through an oral hearing". Phoenix Law said: "They [bereaved families] do not object to the rebuilding of a commercial shopping enterprise in the Creeslough village, they do however object to same being redeveloped on the very site their loved ones lost their lives." The law firm said the planning application caused immeasurable hurt and suffering and they added that the site is a place marked by immense loss and trauma. Damien Tansey Solicitors said in their submission that the notification of decision to grant the planning application was "untimely and premature". In respect of inquests yet to be held, the submission said if the notification of decision to grant is upheld, "it will result in the destruction of crucial evidence which is required for the said inquests". As part of its statutory obligation, Donegal County Council responded to the objections submitted by the law firms. The council observed that many of the grounds of appeal did not fall within the parameters for assessing planning applications as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000. The council said it had "strict regard" to its statutory requirements in response to the observation that the proposal was premature given the ongoing criminal investigation. The explosion at the service station and apartment complex in Creeslough more than two and half years ago claimed the lives of four men, three women and three children, aged between five and 59. Those who lost their lives were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; Jessica Gallagher; Martin McGill; James O'Flaherty; Martina Martin; Hugh 'Hughie' Kelly; and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork protestors want updated wind and solar farm regulations
Cork Communities Alliance for Change is an alliance of ten action groups around the county. Their goal is to increase public awareness of the lack of regulation of wind and solar projects and their associated battery energy storage systems (BESS) and to put pressure on the government to pass appropriate regulations. Bernie Collins of the Gooseberry Hill Action Group, one of the groups in the alliance, told the Irish Independent that they are not against renewable energy, but are against unregulated or under-regulated sources. "There is a place for renewable energy, but it has to be regulated and it has to be away from people's houses, schools, villages, and in appropriate settings," he said. "And what they're doing at the moment is they're not doing that because there's just too much money being rolled out to developers to get these things off the ground to meet the 2030 [climate] targets. And they're basically putting the horse behind the cart instead of the other way around,' Mr Collins added. The current wind energy development guidelines date back to 2006. The wind turbines of today are vastly different in design, efficiency, and scale compared to when the guidelines were drafted, according to the Community Environmental Protection Alliance (CEPA), an organisation founded by families and communities affected by industrial wind turbine developments in Ireland. There are currently no central planning guidelines for large-scale solar farms in Ireland. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority or, if appealed, to An Bord Pleanála. One of the issues concerning groups like Cork Communities Alliance for Change is the risk of a wind or solar farm's lithium-ion batteries catching fire. "Everywhere there is solar or wind going to be, there will be batteries because [former Environment Minister] Eamon Ryan brought a framework document in last year. And basically he was pushing for battery storage, BESS, with every renewable energy project, which again is putting the horse before the cart because there is no fire officer anywhere in Ireland trained for this," said Mr Collins. A fire at a lithium battery production plant in Claregalway in January forced the evacuation of a number of schools and businesses and saw five firefighters briefly hospitalized. The plant has since closed. In addition to the protest at next week's meeting of Cork County Council, two Councillors will put forward motions asking the Environment Minister to pause all further planning applications until there are proper regulations in place for wind turbines and also calling for solar and BESS regulations to be implemented. Similar motions have been or are being brought before other County Councils, including in Clare where a recent motion calling on the Council not to approve any more wind farm applications until the national guidelines are updated received cross-party support. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Frustrations in Galway at HSE's ‘disgraceful' delay in disposal of buildings on derelict hospital site
At a meeting of the Regional Health Forum West on Tuesday, May 27, Fine Gael's Cllr Alan Harney said the HSE has failed 'abysmally' in relation to these buildings. The councillor said it's 'absolutely disgraceful' that the HSE has been served a Derelict Sites notice for these buildings following multiple pleas for engagement with local authorities. Cllr Harney said we need to 'see action' and 'immediate works' under way, and not further delays. He also noted the opportunity to transform one of these buildings into a health centre which is needed for the local Ballinasloe community. After a recent fire on the hospital campus, Cllr Harney noted an increase in security around the Ballinasloe site's vicinity, which he did applaud the HSE for. A response to Cllr Harney's request for updated information on the disposal of the site was answered by Niall Colleary, the HSE's Assistant National Director for Capital and Estates. 'The HSE are aiming to have a sales agent selected before the end of June to manage the disposal process for St Brigid's,' he said. 'The campus is not in compliance with Section 58 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as the HSE has recently been served with a Derelict Sites notice. 'The HSE have engaged with the local authority in relation to this matter with a view to reaching agreement on a pragmatic approach to addressing the issues.' However, as Mr Colleary, or any other representative for Capital and Estates, wasn't in attendance at the meeting, Ann Cosgrove, the HSE's Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Galway and Roscommon, assured Cllr Harney that the HSE is 'intent to move forward' with their strategy to destroy these properties. ADVERTISEMENT 'We need to keep it moving forward to get the best possible outcomes,' Ms Cosgrove said. Cllr Harney also expressed his annoyance at no representatives from Capital and Estates being in attendance at the meeting, saying he noted that there is 'no one here from estates which seems to be a common occurrence at these meetings'. Later in the meeting, following numerous questions directed at the HSE's Capital and Estates department, the Regional Health Forum West's Chairperson Cllr Ciaran Brogan asked if it is made a priority that a representative from that department be present at next month's meeting.
The Journal
19-05-2025
- The Journal
'A huge relief': Man who feared fine or jail time over insulation added to house receives planning permission
A MAN WHO was threatened with jail or a €5,000 fine for retrofitting his home has been granted retrospective planning permission. Clive Ryan had put new insulation in the wall at the front of his home in Kilnamanagh in the Ballymount area of Dublin in 2018. Earlier this year , he received a letter from South Dublin County Council telling him that he had to 'cease and discontinue the use of the insulation' and to 'remove the insulation and, in so far as is practicable, reinstate the facade to its condition prior to the commencement of the development'. Otherwise, under the terms of the Planning and Development Act 2000, he could face a fine which can reach up to €5,000, or even a jail term for up to six months. He had received a grant worth more than €4,000 to help pay for the costs from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The other €13,000 came from his own pocket. 'Huge relief' With the help of councillors, Ryan applied for planning permission, which has since been granted. He said it's a 'huge relief'. Ryan believes the publicity around his case, as well as the support of local representatives, ultimately helped him. 'We tried ourselves and I don't think we would've got any further with it … I was down an avenue I'd never been.' Advertisement Ryan says, despite the arduous process to get planning permission, he still recommends people retrofit their homes. 'I think it's brilliant,' he said. 'It brought down our bills significantly.' When Ryan spoke to The Journal in March, he said he found the case 'baffling', explaining that while the insulation expanded the facade of the house, it is not visible when looking at the home. 'It probably moves the house forward a few inches – that's what the insulation does. But that's the only logical thing I can come up with. 'The rest of the house is done like every other house. The insulation is just around the window. It's not a new structure, we tried to finish it as neat and as clean as we could.' While some forms of insulation and solar panels are exempt from planning permission, the situation with insulation for external walls is not so cut and dried. The Green Party is calling on the government to introduce further planning exemptions. 'It's hard enough for people to take time out of their busy lives to begin the process of a home retrofit. Government, including local councils, should be making it as easy as possible,' a spokesperson said. As well as the planning exemption, Green Party want specific grants tailored for neighbours to retrofit together, to speed up retrofitting around the country and lower household energy bills. Mark Lynch, a Green Party councillor for the Rathfarnham-Templeogue area said it needs to be made 'as easy as possible' for people to retrofit their homes. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
