My apologies for not keeping this website up to date.

I have taken a job as a policy adviser to John Gormley, Minister for
the Environment.  Despite my criticisms (see below) of the agreement to
go into government, I accept the decision of the majority in the
Party.  And I do acknowledge the major opportunities which now exist to
move sustainability to the core of the political process.

So the last few months have been particularly busy.  But I am fully
committed to continuing as a Councillor and that includes keeping the
website properly updated, which I will be doing again from now on.

An outbreak of fireblight has been identified on a number of whitebeam street trees in the Bayside area.  Due to the severity of the disease, the trees will have to be felled.  The notice from the Council Parks Department is below.

Despite Ireland’s protected status, there doesn’t seem to be any public information on the web from the Department of Agriculture.  The UK government has a very informative leaflet at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/fireblight.pdf

(Update (July 2008) – Dept of Agriculture information is at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=crops_and_plants/plant_health/plant_health.xml )

Fireblight is a serious disease of plants in the rose family which

includes hawthorn, rowan/mountain ash and whitebeam. If the disease were

to become established in Ireland, particularly on hawthorn, it would be

catastrophic. The disease is covered under plant hygiene regulations and

the Department of Agriculture must be notified if it is found. Plants

with the disease must be removed immediately and destroyed by burying or

burning. Whitebeam is particularly susceptible.

In May 2007 fireblight was found on 2 street trees (whitebeam) on

Seagrange Avenue. The Department was notified and the inspector

confirmed that it was fireblight. The trees were removed and destroyed

under the supervision of the Department. In July 4 more whitebeam trees

were found with the disease on Verbena Avenue and these have also been

removed. This week a further 16 whitebeams have been identified with the

infection at

Bayside Blvd North No. 27

Verbena Avenue No.’s 106/108, 45/47, 37/39, 33/35, 29/31, 82/84, 13/15,

50/52, 22/24,

6/8, 26/28 and the first tree on the

left as you enter from Kilbarrack

Road. 3 trees at No.’s 17/19, 62/64, 66/68 are suspected of being

infected but not confirmed at this stage.

Alden Park No. 42/44

Verbena Grove No. 5/7

All of the trees with the infection will be removed in the next few

weeks and destroyed.

It is intended to replace all of the trees with species resistant to the

disease. Residents will be notified when the trees are being removed but

there is no possibility of retaining trees where the disease has been

identified.

Barnmore waste have applied for a renewal of the waste permit for their waste transfer and sorting facility in Baldoyle Industrial Estate.  This facility has no planning permission and should never have been given a permit.  An Bord Pleanála has also ruled against the company.  My letter of objection is below.
A chairde,

I refer to the application by Barnmore Ltd. for a waste permit for 21A Baldoyle Industrial Estate, received by the Council on 6th July 2007.

I object to this application on the following grounds

1.    The works and the use on site including the use for which a waste permit is being sought are unauthorised development and being carried out in contravention of the Planning and Development Act, 2000.  This has been confirmed by means of a Section 5 reference by a local resident in relation to the use on site.  (Ref 5/40/2006).  

Enforcement proceedings have been taken by the Council against works carried out on site, specifically the erection of a screen wall of shipping containers. (report to Malahide /Howth Area Committee, 18th May 2006)  

As a matter of policy and in the interests of coherent and effective regulation, Fingal County Council should not grant waste permits for facilities which do not have planning permission.  Some local authorities, e.g. Kildare County Council already operate this as a definite principle.  If this permit were to be granted it would amount to one Department of the Council undermining the work of another Department.

2.    The County Development Plan, which the Council as a whole is bound to implement zones the area with an objective  “to facilitate opportunities for science and technology based employment” and “to formulate and implement a strategy for the densification and an environmental improvement scheme for Baldoyle Industrial Estate”.   The obligation to comply with the Development Plan falls on the entire Council and not just the Planning Department.  An Bord Pleanála has ruled that the use of a nearby site in the Industrial Estate by the same company for the same purpose  

“would conflict with those objectives and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”  

(Ref F05A/0935)

3.    The operation of this facility to date has caused severe nuisance to local residents and neighbouring businesses, in the form of noise, dust and litter.  I know that details of this nuisance have been submitted in other objections to this application.

This is not in any sense an appropriate location for a waste transfer and handling facility.  An Bord Pleanála ruled in relation to the application at no 24 that :

“Having regard to the nature and scale of the proposed development and its proximate location to residential and recreational land uses, it is considered that the proposed development, both in itself and in conjunction with an associated similar development in the immediate vicinity would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, the amenities of the area and would be prejudicial to public health.”  

4.     The application is incomplete and therefore invalid in that it does not refer to the planning application for no 24 referenced above, nor even to Reg. Ref. F06A/0066 an application for this site itself.  Reg Ref. f06A/0066 was deemed withdrawn in September 2006 when no response was received to an Additional Information request.

In the interest of proper operation of regulatory consent and enforcement systems in Fingal, it is essential that this application be refused.  Refusal is also vital to the Council’s Development Plan objectives for the Baldoyle Industrial Estate.  Most of all, refusal of this permit application is essential for the health and well-being of local residents.

Is mise, le meas,

David Healy

Councillor David Healy
Green Party/Comhaontas Glas
Howth ward / Dublin North East
 
www.davidhealy.com
01 8324087
54, Páirc Éabhóra, Beann Éadair
54, Evora Park, Howth
 
 

The Transport SPC has agreed to my proposal for a Fingal Cycling Forum.
Proposal for Fingal Cycling Forum
 
Membership
·        FCC Transportation Dept
·        FCC Community Dept (re liaison with schools and community organisations and sports clubs in particular re cycling training and health promotion)
·        Dublin Cycling Campaign
·        Fingal Safe Cycling
·        Representative of body responsible for health promotion
·        Councillor representative from SPC

Terms of reference

a)  Develop Cycling Strategy to contain
·        Objectives
·        Actions
·        Implementation
·        Indicative budget
Timescale – months 1 and 2

b)  Put draft strategy to public consultation
Open consultation on website plus targeted consultation with
·        Transport SPC
·        FCC Planning Dept (routes and design, planning enforcement)
·        FCC Awareness officer/publicity expertise
·        FCC Parks Dept (re routes through parks and amenity areas)
·        Green Schools
·        Fingal Community Forum
·        Dublin Cycling Campaign
Month 3

c)  Finalise and adopt Strategy
Formal adoption by Transport SPC then by County Council
Month 4

d)      Implement strategy, monitor implementation of strategy
Month 5 onwards

Note: The draft strategy should rely on good practice elsewhere, successful examples etc.

Actions are likely to include:

·        Cycling officer with resources and access to a backup team to drive the strategy.
·        Cycling promotion  (including engagement with media)
·        Cycling training for adults
·        Cycling promotion and training in schools, link to Green Schools
·        Fingal Co.Co. as a cycling employer
·        Policy in relation to road design/infrastructure issues
·        Safety auditing of road schemes and proposing remedial measures
·        Strategy for amenity routes
·        Strategy for engagement between Forum/Co.Co. and other relevant bodies

Garda Síochána
Public Transport Organisations: Irish Rail, RPA, DTA, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, etc.
Health promotion bodies
Schools
Other road-user organisations: mobility impaired, pedestrians, motorists, hauliers."

A very welcome development of housing for older persons and a primary health care centre is going onto the Christian Brothers’ site in Baldoyle.  However, the current site includes the Pastoral Centre which is the most important venue for community activity in Baldoyle
I raised the importance of community facilities in my submission.

As a result of this and of discussion at the Area Committee, the Bereavement Counselling Service are being accommodated in the new buildings.

However, other activities which use the Pastoral Centre are not being facilitated.  The Community Department of the Council has been looking for alternative accommodation but has not found any yet.

As a result, I proposed the following condition to the plans at last Monday’s Council meeting:

"The plans will be adjusted to provide for an area of at
least 200m2 to be made available to voluntary and community organizations and
services currently
facilitated by the Pastoral Centre on this site unless this is found not to be necessary."

This was defeated.  I hope that alternative accommodation will be provided, but the very slow pace of movement on community facilities in both Howth and Baldoyle is not encouraging.

A number of people have been asking me my views on the decision by party members to support the Greens going into government with FF and PDs.

I voted against.  Unfortunately my name was not among those picked by lot to speak at our Convention.  In conscience there is no way I could support a programme for government which will see a continuation of military use of Shannon Airport.

But even if I were to ignore my conscience, and the victims of war,  the deal struck is a terrible one.  No key Green demand has been met:

• No end to corporate donations
• No change to M3 through Tara valley or to any of the road-building programme
• No new public transport commitments
• Hospital co-location to go ahead

What about climate change?  The programme for government contains a 3% target for annual reduction of greenhouse gases.  There is no earthly way that this will be met without a fundamental change in transport policy.  And there is no change to transport policy.  Presumably that’s why its just a government target instead of the legally binding commitment NGOs have been looking for.

As to why a majority of those at the Convention voted for this, I don’t know.  I remain amazed.

The Green Party today reminded voters that climate change is the
greatest political challenge of our time and reiterated that a change
of Government is the only way to ensure climate change solutions are
delivered in Ireland. 21 May 2007

Political climate change needed, says Green Party

The Green Party today reminded voters that climate change is the greatest political challenge of our time and reiterated that a change of Government is the only way to ensure climate change solutions are delivered in Ireland. Speaking in Dublin city centre today where the Party unveiled a banner with the words ‘Climate Change – It’s time to act’, Green Party Chairman and Director of Elections John Gormley TD said there was definitely a mood for change out there, despite the findings of latest opinion polls.

"The Green Party is committed to real change and to achieve this, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats must be removed from Government. We must remove Ministers who are clearly not up to the task of tackling climate change and to do this you must give the Green Party your number one vote. We are the only Party who can deliver on climate change."

Green Party Energy spokesperson Eamon Ryan TD said: "The issue of climate change is top of the agenda at every international summit. The science is now clear; developed economies will have to make radical cuts in their emissions in the next decade to stop the world going past a ‘tipping point’ which would trigger runaway and catastrophic changes. In the lifetime of the next Government we will be faced with much more demanding obligations to cut our greenhouse gas emissions. Buying our way out of the problem is not a sustainable solution. As the Stern Report shows, it makes economic sense to make the necessary changes sooner rather than later.

"With oil prices again close to $70 a barrel and with householders reeling from ever higher gas and electricity bills, the electorate knows that Ireland’s reliance on imported fossil fuels will cost us dearly. A major report to the US Department of Energy has stated that Governments need to prepare for a peak in oil production decades in advance, with major changes to infrastructure investment and planning. The time for such changes in Ireland is now.

"The solutions to both these energy challenges are the same. We need to promote public transport, increase our energy efficiency and introduce new renewable energy supplies. However, none of the other parties have the political will to deliver the necessary changes. It will take a Green Party involvement in Government to get our transport system working right and to push through proper planning and building regulations.

"The absence of any debate on these issues over the last three weeks is a sad reflection on our election contest. We need to go beyond just talking about whether one party or another will make up the numbers, and start discussing what real changes we need to make in the Governing of our country. By voting Green Party number one, a voter is giving a mandate for positive action on these energy issues. If we get enough Green TDs elected then we will be able to implement that mandate in Government."

Green Party Environment Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said: "Climate Change is one of the defining issues of our time; it is the greatest threat to humanity. If we tackle climate change it can improve the quality of our lives. It can mean more Luas lines in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland so that people can rely on public transport as they do elsewhere in Europe.

"It will involve improvements in the construction industry so that new homes are warmer and cheaper to heat. It requires proper planning so that people can spend less time on the road in their cars, and safer streets so that children can be safe walking or cycling to school. Tackling the challenge of climate change requires smart thinking and political will. The Green Party is ready to face that challenge.
 

Green Party Climate Change spokesperson and Candidate for Dublin North-East Cllr. David Healy said: "With the publication of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report there can no longer be any doubt that climate change is a global challenge on a scale never before experienced by humanity.

"The good news is that the measures needed to reduce our emissions are mostly positive and beneficial changes. They will mean a healthier, fairer, happier society, with a higher quality of life.

The difficulty is facing up to the extent of the changes to systems which we are well used to.

It won’t be easy to convert our economy from a fossil fuel-based energy-intensive economy to a leaner, more efficient, clean energy-based economy. But that economy will be stronger and healthier.

It won’t be easy to convert our transport system to one dominated by public transport, walking and cycling.   But the new transport system will be friendlier, quieter, cleaner, fairer and healthier.

These are achievable and necessary tasks, tasks which the Green Party in Government, are committed to."

[ENDS]

Information

John Gormley TD: 087 275 6135                        Ciaran Cuffe TD: 087 265 2075

Eamon Ryan TD: 086 829 4429                          Cllr David Healy: 087 617 8852

Nicola Cassidy, Press Office: 01 618 4088 / 087 914 8175

I have three youtube videos up: transport; energy efficient housing and climate; fuinneamh tithíochta agus teorann luas 30 km/uair i ceantair tithíochta.

On youtube.

My observation on the appeal against the proposed development by Thormanby Woods.

Councillor David Healy
Green Party/Comhaontas Glas
Howth ward / Dublin North East
www.davidhealy.com
01 8324087
54, Páirc Éabhóra,
Beann Éadair, Co. Bh.Á.C
54, Evora Park,
Howth, Co. Dublin

                        
                                                                    14th May 2007    
An Bord Pleanála,
64 Marlborough Street,
Dublin 1

Re: Appeal PL06F.223250, aplication by Borg Developments, Thormanby Road, Howth

A chairde,

I would like to make the following observations on the above appeal.

1.    Visual impact and character of area

The site is in the Special Amenity Area Buffer Zone.  Other development in this vicinity has correctly been kept at a low level, mostly single storey.  The proposal for very large two-storey houses spread evenly across the site is entirely out of keeping with the character of the area and the existing pattern of development.  The designated protection of the Buffer Zone is intended to protect the character of the area as well as views to and from the Special Amenity Area proper.  The proposed development by virtue of its size and intrusive nature is not in keeping with these objectives. In particular, the importance of the tramway as an amenity route to the Special Amenity Area is recognised in the SAAO.  Views from the tramway are therefore of particular importance.

2.    Biodiversity

The site is one of significant biodiversity value, containing woodland and important wildlife corridors, including for bats (which are legally protected).  Development of low density housing is not incompatible with maintenance of biodiversity value provided that sufficient appropriate and interlinked planting is carried out, and existing woodlands and hedgerows are retained, improved and connected as needed. Unfortunately the current plan seems to envisage considerable enclosure on the site in such a manner as would disrupt wildlife movement.

The Council’s response to this has been to impose the following condition:

Condition 4
a)  A detailed scheme with full specification for the development of the woodland as an amenity to be submitted for the written agreement of the Planning Department following consultation with the Parks Division prior to the commencement of development works on site.  This to include full details of paths, bridges, gates and boundary treatments.  The chain link fence on the northern boundary of the woodland to be replaced with a railing.  A woodland management strategy that identifies an appropriate level of access and penetration but leaves other areas inaccessible for wildlife will form a major component of the scheme.  Bird and bat boxes to be erected at appropriate locations.
b)  The cause of the flooding within the woodland to be identified and rectified as part of the woodland development.

There seems to be a mistake in the wording of the proposal to “leave other areas inaccessible for wildlife.  This condition does not provide for any public consultation or information.  These important aspects of the proposal should be specified in the application and not left to be dealt with by condition.

3.    Drainage and hydrology

The development is proposed to be located in a damp hollow which acts as a reservoir at the head of Gray’s Brook which drains the valley around it, flowing down through the town of Howth under Main St. and Abbey St.  Interference with this hydrological regime could cause flooding locally and/or downstream.  The planning application does not ensure that this development is not allowed to have negative impacts.  

The requirement in Condition 4 that
“The cause of the flooding within the woodland [be] identified and rectified as part of the woodland development”
is likely to be directly contradictory to the maintenance of the wildlife and conservation value of the site.

The wetness of the area undoubtedly contributes to its biodiversity value.  Therefore solutions which would seek to drain the woodlands and adjoining areas should not be contemplated.  These considerations argue towards clustering of the development on the site (together with dedication or sterilisation of the remaining land).

4.    Water supply

The existing water supply in the area is inadequate, with generalised low pressure leading to frequent complete loss of supply on the upper stretches of Thormanby Road and adjacent areas.  Adequacy of water supply should be a central consideration in deciding on a planning application.  The Council is entirely aware of the inadequacy of the water supply in this area.  Extra houses will add significantly to the demand on an already inadequate supply.  Further development in this area is therefore premature until such time as the necessary water supply is made available

5.    Traffic

The entrance to the site is between two dangerous bends and would increase traffic hazard at this location.

6.    Existing Rights of way

There are claimed rights of way in the area and through the woods which would be interfered with by the proposed development.  The Council as planning authority and An Bord Pleanála on appeal are required to respect and protect rights of way.

7.    Proposed new public roads/rights of way

The proposal from the Parks Department that the development and the woods be accessible from the Tramway is a good and important one.  This is both to maximise the amenity benefit of the woodland and to maximise the access for residents of the proposed development to local facilities by foot.

Proper planning and sustainable development requires that walkability be prioritised in developments.  The The tramway is the primary walking route to Howth village from this location including the local school.

The pedestrian access does not need to be beside Grey’s Lane as identified by the developer, nor indeed from a design point of view should it be at this location.  From an inspection of the maps, the logical location for the access to/from the tramway is along the access road to the flagpole lot, house site 14.  This is a walking route link to another walking route which does not meet accessibility specifications in a naturally hilly area, acting as an alternative access to the site, and therefore it is not necessary that it meet accessibility specifications.

8.    Affordable housing

The proposed provision of affordable housing in Castleknock does not help to meet local demands and needs.  An Bord Pleanála should not allow the Council and developer to sidestep the intentions of the Planning and Development Act in this way.  The affordable and social housing component of this development should be provided on the Howth peninsula and this should be a condition of any grant of permission.

9.    Naming

Condition 10 reads

“That an acceptable street naming and house numbering scheme be submitted to and approved by the Council well in advance of commencement of any works on site or marketing by title.

”Reason:  In the interest of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

”Note:  Failure to have a naming and numbering scheme approved in time could result in a delay in marketing or the provision of utility company services to the site.  It is suggested that a number of alternative names be submitted together with a brief history of their origin, which should be of local historical significance.  The street naming scheme should be in both English and Irish and the Irish version should be an Official translation, which can be obtained by contacted the Official translator, Dial Eireann (sic).”

I assume that a “note” to a condition is in fact part of the condition.  The specification that the base language is English and the Irish version is a translation of the English version is in contravention of Objective RO24 of the Development Plan:

“To require the use of meaningful local names in bilingual format or in Irish alone in naming housing estates.”

An Bord Pleanála should reword the last sentence of the condition to comply with the Development Plan; something like would be appropriate:

“The street naming scheme should be in either Irish or in both English and Irish.”

10.    Conclusions

A number of the issues above are capable of being addressed by condition.  

Others should have been addressed as part of the application and should not be left to resolution outside the planning applicatoin process.

However, I feel that the development as a whole is of over-sized houses and fails to comply with many of the planning objectives for the area, in particular the protection of views, as set out in the County Development Plan and the Special Area Amenity Order.

Additionally, the lack of an adequate water supply and the effect the development would have on the users of the existing supply means the development is premature.

Therefore permission should be refused for the applicant to come back with a proposal more in keeping with the area and the planning objectives for the area, after an adequate water supply has been made available.

I enclose the €50 fee.

Is mise, le meas,
 
Cllr. David Healy