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AN TAISCE’S report of the national planning system has suggested that Ireland’s “obsolete” abundance of local authorities, with no direct method of local taxation, helped to contribute to commercial overdevelopment.
The report suggests that Ireland is overserviced by local councils, with 34 city or county councils, and a further 54 borough and town councils – an overpopulation which meant internal competition to approve new planning developments.
“In the absence of local taxation, these 88 councils compete fiercely for new development, with their eyes firmly on the capital contribution levies and commercial rates that result from development, leading to extremely bad planning outcomes,” the report suggests.
The report also remarks that smaller town councils were unable to justify recruiting the prerequisite number of staff to give planning applications the attention they needed.
Combined with what An Taisce deemed to be a surplus of local councillors, “resulting in patronage, clientelism and cronyism,” councils would therefore approve developments in order to raise capital contribution levies and commercial rates.
One example named is the proposal for a ‘Smart Park’ business park within a woodland on the grounds of Carton Demesne, just inside Meath’s border the Kildare.
The report details how the site had not been zoned to allow such a project, but that Meath County Council “facilitated the developer by hastily publishing and adopting a statutory local area plan which retrospectively zoned the land for the precise use the applicant envisaged”.
That application was later refused after an appeal by An Taisce.
This “rate chasing” could be avoided in future, the organisation says, by the adoption of a site value tax which would “provide a real incentive for land that becomes zoned” while also helping to deter over-zoning and the hoarding of development side.
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Lucinda might be a regressive god-botherer – and good riddance to her – but if Paschal Dohohue’s performances on Vincent Browne’s show are anything to go by, he’s a proper idiot.
“I have tonight accepted with regret the resignation of Deputy Lucinda Creighton ….” He asked for her resignation, so where is the regret? Kenny should do the honourable thing and hand his resignation in to the President.
Genuine question. Who would you like to replace him? Martin? Adams?
Just because you don’t agree will the legislation that passed through the Dail tonight does not mean Enda Kenny is not an honorable man without morals. Hypothetically speaking I wonder what your response would be if say Enda Kenny had brought legislation to stop women from travelling to the UK for an abortion. I’d be willing to bet that you and you pro-life cohorts would be singing the man’s praises if he did.
Regardless of the legislation passed through the Dail tonight (a watered down woman abusing piece of junk) Kenny is a twit.
Killian,
There’s a spare Bruton.
Terence, it’s called manners.
The Jobs Minister? Or is that autocorrect and you meant the Social Protection Minister?
The one that can replace Enda quickest… Et Tu Bruton. That Bruton.
The one with a brain.
George, in any sphere of life there are manners and conventions that must be conformed to. This is such a sphere. Another example is in law where a judge is addressed as ‘Your Honour’ and lawyers speak of learned colleagues. I was merely trying to explain why I said ‘manners’, not having a chip.
Your Honour doesn’t cut it here. “Judge” does.
Thanks, Paul. Haven’t been to court. Must have been watching too many movies :-)
Smiley,
Your manners put mine to shame. I applaud your good nature.
And yet he’s Taoiseach and you’re not.
This comment thread concerns a call for him to resign. Yes, he is Taoiseach. In time he won’t be. Some here think sooner would be better than later.
Another ‘yes’ man….
He’s a lovely man. He’s replacing a nice, but at the same time, miserable woman.
What was that about bad decisions being made at this time of night???
She stood by her views. The Only Woman who did x
What about the many women who agreed with the legislation and voted accordingly?
Best of luck to him. Shane Ross tweeted earlier that he works hard, does his homework. Let’s hope he works to get us out of the bailout and to restore our sovereignty.
“Congratulations Paschal”
You’ve hit the pension jackpot!!
And you thought Lucinda was thick!
What is that based on Kevin?
Personal interaction with him going back as far as 1993/94.
Fair to say the FG talent gene is fairly shallow.
Should have tom Barry into battle with Merkels rear end
Oh my god. This tool. AND the hits keep coming………
Plenty of ambitious climbers in the FG lobster pot.
I like lobster; they can only think in two dimensions – a bit like Enda Kenny.
He is a bloody free loading waster. Our local TD who showed up at every community event and meeting pushing himself as some sort of hero for Dublin central going to solve all the problems. Haven’t seen him or the pr1ck who follows him everywhere since… Useless councillor useless senator sh1te TD and will help bring down the Govt as a pr1ck of a minister…
Dubdon
I’d wish you were a little bit more open about your views!
I presume that he got elected without your vote! Could it be you wouldn’t vote FG anyway?
Congratulations to Paschal. Very well suited to the position. No doubt he will do a great job.
He’s an incredibly annoying looking/ talking man, another embarrassment to our country.
Somewhere there is a village missing an idiot
Wrong Steve, FG is a whole village of idiots.
@ Colm. Gay.
@Simonjblake: What is that “gay” comment? Rather insidious. If you’re making an allegation about a TD or a poster (not sure which) then do it properly, don’t just drop the word in like that. Not that a person’s sexual orientation had anything to do with anyone else. Cowardly and a cheap shot.
Calm down insider. I was calling Colm gay for giving Edna’s new whipping boy such an unashamed blowing. And why did you automatically assume Gay was bad? Says something about your perceptions perhaps.
Another freeloader to pay a pension to.
Once Lucy gets the pension that’s all I’m worried about
She’s not entitled to a pension
Yes she is. Entitlement to a Ministerial pension is achieved after two years of service.
Top Quality Appointment.
And so the merry-go-round begins. Shouldn’t we have the best person for the job not flip-flopping ministers so they get their pensions is not the way forward.
Couldn’t believe this when I saw it! A small talent pool indeed! At least Creighton was competent, but this guy….? I still don’t think it’ll be enough to save a FG seat in Dublin Central. Unbelievable!
Daffy duck on the gravy train now
Ah a “yes man” thank god for that.
This is fantastic news really really . Great news for him .
Ah sweet, Endas’ little pet yes sir no sir 3 bags full sir
I pity the poor translators working for the European Union.
If Smithers were describing Donohue to Mr Burns he would describe him as ‘one of your chair moisteners from sector 7G’.
have your say