Planning refusal for Kerry leisure park a ‘sucker blow' to rural region
'This is the 'sucker punch' that local residents and the South Kerry diaspora, scattered throughout the world, did not deserve. It appears to be the same old story, remote, rural areas of our country are being dealt decisions by officialdom, which will negatively impact on the sustainability of the local economy forever more,' stated the Kerry TD.
The plans for 'Rinn Rua' holiday Park, revealed in 2023, include the demolition of the famous Reeroe hotel which has been derelict for over 30 years to develop a large scale holiday park west of Reenroe beach.
The proposal included holiday lodges, mobile homes, touring campervans, tent/caravan pitches, glamping pods and hobbit huts and all associated services.
Planning was also sought for a leisure complex with swimming pool, play areas and a surf shop.
Kerry County Council gave four reasons for the refusal including that such a development would contravene the County Development Plan objective as this area is deemed 'visually sensitive'. Another reason was that the local authority said it was not satisfied that it would not cause pollution of groundwater.
In light of the decision Mr Cahill, the FF spokesperson on Tourism, said planning restrictions in rural Ireland must be judged by different criteria other than that used for urban settings to help regenerate rural areas.
'With the progression of the South Kerry Greenway project, we were beginning to believe that, at last the pendulum was swinging in our direction. Decisions like this knock the stuffing out of you. Anything that can attract visitors to remote areas, must be encouraged, as the revenue they generate can help to create an employment ripple effect, that allows young people to remain on, and emigrants to return to available livelihoods,' he said.
'Planners need to take into account the bigger picture in rural areas, such as the Iveragh Peninsula. Places that have been neglected for generations like South Kerry, now need to be nurtured and returned to financial health, so that they can sustain viable businesses and jobs,' he said.
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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Planning refusal for Kerry leisure park a ‘sucker blow' to rural region
TD Michael Cahill (FF) said the proposal for the holiday complex was of major importance to the region and 'would have a major long term impact on employment for all of this neglected area of rural Ireland, for generations to come,' he said. 'This is the 'sucker punch' that local residents and the South Kerry diaspora, scattered throughout the world, did not deserve. It appears to be the same old story, remote, rural areas of our country are being dealt decisions by officialdom, which will negatively impact on the sustainability of the local economy forever more,' stated the Kerry TD. The plans for 'Rinn Rua' holiday Park, revealed in 2023, include the demolition of the famous Reeroe hotel which has been derelict for over 30 years to develop a large scale holiday park west of Reenroe beach. The proposal included holiday lodges, mobile homes, touring campervans, tent/caravan pitches, glamping pods and hobbit huts and all associated services. Planning was also sought for a leisure complex with swimming pool, play areas and a surf shop. Kerry County Council gave four reasons for the refusal including that such a development would contravene the County Development Plan objective as this area is deemed 'visually sensitive'. Another reason was that the local authority said it was not satisfied that it would not cause pollution of groundwater. In light of the decision Mr Cahill, the FF spokesperson on Tourism, said planning restrictions in rural Ireland must be judged by different criteria other than that used for urban settings to help regenerate rural areas. 'With the progression of the South Kerry Greenway project, we were beginning to believe that, at last the pendulum was swinging in our direction. Decisions like this knock the stuffing out of you. Anything that can attract visitors to remote areas, must be encouraged, as the revenue they generate can help to create an employment ripple effect, that allows young people to remain on, and emigrants to return to available livelihoods,' he said. 'Planners need to take into account the bigger picture in rural areas, such as the Iveragh Peninsula. Places that have been neglected for generations like South Kerry, now need to be nurtured and returned to financial health, so that they can sustain viable businesses and jobs,' he said.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Three babies born to inmates in Irish prisons and 19 pregnant women jailed this year
The three babies born to inmates across the Irish prison estate this year follow four babies born to inmates in 2024 Three babies have been born to inmates at the Dóchas Centre women's prison in Dublin and Limerick's women's prison to date this year, new figures show. According to the new figures provided by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan (FF) TD, four infants aged under 12 months, three at Dóchas and one at Limerick - have been accommodated with their mothers at the females prisons to date this year. This followed three infants being accommodated with their mothers at Dochas Centre only in 2024. The three babies born to inmates across the Irish prison estate this year follow four babies born to inmates in 2024. This followed no babies born to prison inmates in 2023 and 2022 and there was only baby born to a woman jailed at Dóchas Centre prison at the time during 2021 and 2020. In written Dail replies to Deputies Gary Gannon TD (Soc Gen) and Matt Carthy TD (SF), Minister O'Callaghan confirmed that two babies have been born to inmates at Dóchas Centre to date this year and one baby to an inmate at the 50-capacity Limerick's women's prison. In the replies, Minister O'Callaghan also reveals that in 2025, 19 pregnant women have imprisoned at Irish prisons - 13 at Dóchas and six at Limerick. This followed 27 pregnant women being jailed last year - 22 at Dóchas and five at Limerick and the 27 total was more than double the 12 total for 2023. In his reply Minister O'Callaghan told the two deputies: 'I can confirm that there are currently no pregnant women remanded to custody within the Irish Prison Estate.' He said: 'Pregnant woman in custody are provided with as much privacy as possible and are accommodated in single occupancy rooms.' He said that in accordance with prison rules 'a child may remain in the care of their mother in prison, until the child has reached twelve months of age' He said that in the Dóchas Centre, mothers and babies are accommodated in single occupancy double rooms. He said: 'These rooms are on a small landing which is shared with enhanced status prisoners. Work is commencing in relation to additional, bespoke rooms for mothers and babies in the Dóchas Centre.' He said that 'Limerick Women's Prison does not have a separate building for women with children, however the women and their babies are accommodated in 'independent style apartments'. He said: 'Each has their own individual apartment. This overall area is not specifically for women with babies and may house other prisoners deemed suitable to live in these "independent style apartments'. He said that in relation to the health and safety of pregnant women in custody, the Irish Prison Service has developed and apply bespoke risk assessments to both pregnant women and to mothers and babies who are in their custody. He said: 'These risk assessments inform strategies which support managing the health and safety of pregnant women, and mothers who have given birth to babies whilst serving prison sentences, within the prison environment.' He said that the Irish Prison Service employs a National Family Connections Officer and Iin May 2025 this officer established a multi-agency working group to review Protocols and update the Irish Prison Service Mother and Baby Policy to ensure best practice for the care and support of mothers and babies in custody. He said: 'This work is currently at scoping stage.' Minister O'Callaghan said that 'the level of maternity care and supports provided to women in custody, is comparable to that available to women in the community'. He said: "Primary care nursing is provided in female prisons on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year. Doctor services are available Monday to Friday 9-5, with locum services available at the weekends. He said that 'due to the specific needs of a number of the women who are pregnant, specialist HSE services have a very close and responsive working relationship with both prison management and the prison healthcare team'. He said: 'Most pregnant women receive all their antenatal care external to the prison, in routine antenatal clinics in the local HSE maternity hospital. When needed and in cases of emergency, specialist midwives will attend the prison; however, this is not a common occurrence.' He said that 'expectant mothers are always facilitated to have their children born in hospital'. Dochas women's prison. Photo: Jim Walpole Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Irish Independent
Add language conditions to Cork Gaeltacht planning approvals
Cllr Gobnait Moynihan made the call at this week's meeting of Cork County Council as the councillors considered the Chief Executive's report on a proposed housing development in the West Cork village of Ballyvourney. 'This housing development is in Ballyvourney and that's in the Gaeltacht. A Gaeltacht is only there because people speak Irish on a daily basis. If the level of Irish isn't kept, then the status can be gone like that or the boundary of the Gaeltacht can be cut in half. So it's very important,' Cllr Moynihan said. 'The problem I have with it [the proposed development] is that there's no language conditions on the planning. A language condition is that you would put a certain percentage of these houses aside for people who speak Irish on a daily basis.' The Fianna Fáil Councillor said the requirement for Councils to put language conditions in place in Gaeltacht areas came into effect back in 2000: 'This is not something new, this is something that's happening all around the country and all the other Gaeltachts, except in Cork County Council.' Cllr Gearoid Murphy supported Cllr Moynihan's call: "Unfortunately, we are, as far as I'm aware, the only local authority that doesn't have specific language surrounding Gaeltacht and Irish language requirements in relation to multi-residence developments in the Gaeltacht. And I think that's something that we need to look at remedying as a matter of urgency." Cllr Michael Creed said that when the Macroom Municipal District was briefed on the proposed development in Ballyvourney, 'we got a commitment from the people that were at the meeting that they would seriously consider native Irish speakers.' Responding to Cllr Moynihan's call, Cork County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell said that language conditions in relation to planning permission would need to be specified within the County Development Plan. 'It would require a specific percentage being assigned within the plan to a particular part of the Gaeltacht that would say that X percent of houses built in this area, public or private, would be allocated for Irish speakers,' she said. The Chief Executive said she will come back to the Council with information on how best to alter the County Development Plan so that it allows language conditions going forward.
