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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Plans lodged for 666 homes, crèche and new Wicklow bridge
Lodged by Certain Assets of Dawnhill and Windhill Limited, the proposed development will see the demolition of three structures on a 25.07-acre site in Kilbride to make way for 578 semi-detached and terraced houses, comprising 100 two-beds, 317 three-beds, and 161 four-beds, along with 88 apartments and duplex apartments in a mix of 24 one-beds, 51 two-beds and 13 three-beds. The c. 2335 sqm 'local centre' will feature a c.1,095 sqm crèche with an outdoor play area, three community/medical units, and three retail units. Building heights within the development will range from one to five storeys, with all residential units having associated private open space facing north, south, east and west. A new public boardwalk/bridge for pedestrians and cyclists from the development across Arklow marsh and the Avoca River to the Arklow Riverwalk is also proposed, with the bridge element across the Avoca River constructed atop the concrete columns (debris traps) permitted as part of the Arklow Flood Relief Scheme. Forming part of the designated Kilbride Action Area Plan, the development will include streets, pedestrian/cycle links, open spaces/parks (with play areas) and will see the closures of two existing entrances onto the Kilbride Road, along with amendments to the permitted open spaces and access road granted as part of an adjacent 86-home development by Certain Assets of Dawnhill and Windhill Limited, which was conditionally granted by An Bord Pleanála last year after a third-party appeal. Adding to the wave of developments in the works on the back of the completion of Arklow's Wastewater Treatment Plant, Certain Assets of Dawnhill and Windhill Limited's latest application has been welcomed by Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan as a 'potentially game-changing residential development for Kilbride in Arklow'. 'This is exactly the boost that Arklow needs, however, we must ensure that this, and any other projects for the town provides all the infrastructural requirements in terms of roads, access, traffic management and also the facilities to meet the needs of the growing population, from schools, sports and leisure facilities, provisions for entertainment and community spaces,' he said. 'We need to start to make serious progress on a second bridge in Arklow and the development of a third link road to the M11. 'Arklow has been waiting for many years for these types of developments, and now that the time has come, we must ensure that we do it properly, giving people the proper facilities to live and work in our town.' Wicklow County Council will make a decision on the application by July 17. Public submissions can made until June 26.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tourism stats show Ireland's most popular county for staycations
Dublin was the most popular destination as the number of people opting for staycations in Ireland increased by almost 16 per cent last year, according to new figures. Irish residents treated themselves to overnight trips in other counties more than 16.5 million times during 2024, representing an increase of almost 2.3 million compared to the year before. Dublin was the primary destination for around 17 per cent of these staycations, with staycationers from other counties visiting the capital on 2.8 million occasions. This was followed by Cork, which was the primary destination of 1.8 million staycations last year, seeing a rise of just over seven per cent compared to 2023. Galway was third on the list, with the City of the Tribes attracting visitors from around Ireland on more than 1.4 million occasions in 2024, increasing by nearly 18 per cent and leapfrogging Kerry on the list. Meath was bottom of the pile when it came to Irish residents choosing a destination for overnight visits, attracting visitors on just 231,000 occasions last year. It was followed by neighbouring Westmeath at 266,000. Tipperary was next from the bottom of the list, recording around 372,000 overnight stays by Irish residents. The figures, compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), were published by Minister of State Mary Butler in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan. She also revealed that overnight visits by non-Irish visitors increased by just over five per cent last year to almost 6.6 million compared to nearly 6.3 million in 2023. This data was based on passenger surveys conducted during the relevant years. Other popular counties for staycations on the list included Clare, which welcomed around 810,000 Irish visitors last year, while Donegal had 867,000. Kerry was the main destination for 1,360,000 Irish visitors in 2024, and Limerick was the location of choice for around 592,000. Kilkenny was visited 488,000 times, according to the statistics, while Wexford proved very popular, attracting visitors from other counties on 962,000 occasions.
Irish Times
29-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
TD tells Dáil he is ‘lucky' to have declined surgery suggested for son by consultant under investigation
A Government TD has spoken in the Dáil of his family's personal experience with the consultant under investigation for the implanting of unapproved springs into three children during spinal surgery. Fine Gael Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan said he has two children aged seven and six. His young son has cystic fibrosis and was called to see the consultant under investigation, he said. 'We met the consultant. He told us literally straight away that my son needed surgery. I asked straight away, like any parent would ask, 'what are the pluses and what are the minuses'.' 'He explained about them. I said, 'leave the decision with us' ... I told my wife we're not going ahead." READ MORE Mr Brennan said his son had already been through enough with his cystic fibrosis. 'So I am a lucky parent, but my heart – and I'm emotional on this – my heart goes out to every other parent who has been affected.' 'How someone can stand there and look a child in the eyes and say, 'we need to do surgery on you' when it's not needed,' Mr Brennan asked 'It's simply horrific. It's unfair, I'm upset, but I'm also annoyed,' he said. appealing to the Dáil 'to let justice take its course'. He was speaking during a debate on the surgeries in which Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill offered her 'deepest regret for the distress and anxiety caused to the families'. The HSE and CHI (Children's Health Ireland) have apologised to the children and families affected by these issues, she said. She said children were 'failed in process, duty and responsibility'. 'We must confront this failure openly, honestly and with a determination to make sure it does not happen again and to regain trust.' The Minister said a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report into the use of unauthorised springs in spinal surgeries was a 'stark reminder of what happens when safeguards fail'. The report found that springs implanted in surgeries between 2020 and 2022 were not CE-marked and that the controls in place 'did not provide adequate safeguards at each stage of the process'. She said 'what happened to the children involved was wrong ... should not have been allowed to happen.' The chair of the board has resigned and a new chairperson is expected to be appointed 'in the coming weeks'. She added: 'I assure everyone here and outside of this House that I am totally committed to dealing with these issues.' The HSE's chief executive and his team are regularly meeting the CHI's chief executive to ensure the 19 HIQA recommendations 'are being implemented without delay'. Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said 'the story of CHI has been a sorry saga of dysfunction and crisis. A separate audit is continuing into hip dysplasia amid reports that 561 children were recalled after claims that surgeries were carried out unnecessarily and in some cases children did not have the condition at all. Mr Cullinane said parents of children who had surgeries 'don't know if the osteotomies were needed or not and are still in the dark'. Many people got a second opinion and were told their child did not have the condition or need the surgery. The procedure involves cutting into the child's bone 'so it's a really invasive surgery'. He said 'there has to be accountability' in CHI and very similar issues happened concerning surgeries for children with scoliosis and spina bifida. 'It's the same people, it's the same culture, it's the same failures.' The Minister said she had not received the audit report into hip dysplasia and could not verify the details Sinn Féin had based on media reports that 60 per cent of surgeries at Temple Street were not indicated, 79 per cent at Cappagh were not indicated, and 2 per cent at Crumlin were not indicated. She pledged to publish the audit when she received it and to hold a debate in the Dáil.
