Derogation Licences for 2022
Copies of species derogation licences for Louth and Meath in 2022
Copies of species derogation licences for Louth and Meath in 2022
The High Court published its judgment quashing changes to the residential zoning in South Drogheda which released significantly more building land than was needed for the population projected by the national planning framework. There is a copy below if anyone is interested.
We got copies of derogation licences issued by NPWS to disturb species protected by the Habitats Directive covering all of Louth and Meath for 2021
Re: Sea buckthorn funding – SAC Mornington
My AIE request is in regard to this funding.
1. How much was the amount?
2. Which department was it paid to?
3. Why no work has taken place on removal of the sea buckthorn since the awarding of the funding?
4. What works are planned and when is work due to start? 5. Specific individual and department responsible for carrying out the works
Copy of valuation report on Old Mill site Julianstown
The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a plan that was agreed by Ireland’s politicians and the public and this legally binding plan now serves as a template for accommodating Ireland’s growing population to the year 2040. This also impacts on land use and zoning. A central goal of the NPF is to ensure the correct infrastructure (jobs, health, education, transport etc) accompanies residential developments and that development is carried out in a sustainable and environmentally strong way.
The County Development Plan (CDP) for Meath must be consistent with the NPF and related policies such as the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), which transposes the NPF to a more local level, right down to our own CDP.
Since the public consultation phase before the CDP 2021-27 was adopted right through to the recent High court ruling, Protect East Meath has made submissions to the responsible authorities in relation to flaws in the zoning of lands for residential use in the South Drogheda environs. Meath Country Council, An Bord Pleanála and the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) were formally advised of our concerns at the relevant stages of the process. Because these competent authorities ignored or disagreed with our arguments in relation to the zoning in the Southern environs, we had no choice but to pursue the matter in the courts. The High court has now confirmed that the points we raised are correct and legally valid.
The provision of much-needed housing in our community would likely have been accelerated if the competent authorities had fully heeded the NPF stipulations, prior to the adaptation of the current CDP 2021-27.
We took this course of action In the interest of the proper planning, sustainable development, environmental protection and ultimately the good of our community – all of us existing and future residents of Louth/Meath.
The main points raised by Protect East Meath in relation to the residential zoning in the Southern Environs of Drogheda are:
No infrastructure assessment is in place for the 178.7 hectares zoned residential in South Drogheda in the Meath CDP or indeed for any area in the County. Such an assessment should have been carried out by the county council prior to the zoning of any. The UAP to be put in place jointly by Louth and Meath County councils must also have regard to such an infrastructure assessment. Once the court publishes its judgment in the New Year we will find out exactly what the legal position and we will know whether there will be an appeal or if the Council intends varying the development plan to bring it into line with the Court’s ruling.
Regular readers will be aware that Meath County Council listed the Old Mill on the Derelict Sites Register to avoid proposed litigation from Protect East Meath. Since then there was some minor clean up to remove graffiti and weeds, both of which have returned.
We recently filed an information request with the Council to get an update on what they are doing. You can see the results below:
The Minister in charge of the NPWS has written to a supporter in relation to ongoing concerns around the protection of the sensitive dune habitats at Mornington. We intend taking him up on the offer to meet onsite on the dunes to discuss our mutual concerns.
In 2014 Meath County Council commissioned a walking and cycling study which resulted in a 200 page report which, as far as we can tell, was never published. The report sat on a shelf for 7 years. Last year, the Council commissioned another report to update the 2014 study to take account of policy changes in the intervening 7 years. No doubt the update will take its rightful place on the shelf with all the other reports.
You can see both documents below