Latest news with #CorkCityCouncil
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Cork leading the charge against skin cancer with free suncream dispensers deployed by the Council
Cork City Council has been urged to contact the EU to reclassify suncream as essential, citing high costs and rising skin cancer rates in Ireland. A Cork man is trying to convince the European Commission to eliminate VAT from suncreams and creams with SPF protection. Currently, suncream is classified as a non-essential item under EU VAT law, and is therefore subject to the standard rate of 23%. That means, for example, on a 200ml bottle of Piz Buin sun lotion, which retails at €14 at a major high-street pharmacy, €3.22 goes to tax.
The Journal
3 days ago
- General
- The Journal
Plans for 950-bed Cork student accommodation on former Magdalene laundry site put on hold
PLANS FOR A large new student accommodation facility with 957 bed spaces on the site of a former convent, orphanage and Magdalene laundry in Cork city have been placed on hold following several objections to the project. An Coimisiún Pleanála has received four separate appeals against the recent decision of Cork City Council to grant planning permission for 274 student apartments in a large-scale residential development on lands of the former Good Shepherd Convent on Convent Avenue, Sunday's Well in the north-west of the city. They include objections from the community representative group, Blarney Street & Surrounding Areas Community Association. The proposed development by Bellmount Good Shepherd Limited – which is owned by developer brothers, Padraig and Seamus Kelleher – on a 3.57-hectare site will consist of eight student accommodation apartment blocks ranging in height from 3 to 5 storeys. A separate three-story mixed-use building is also planned with shops on the ground floor and student accommodation on the upper floors. The proposed works involve the partial demolition, conservation and redevelopment as well as extension of the former Good Shepherd Convent buildings. It is planned that the existing Gate Lodge will be converted to operate as a café and provide co-working space. Most of the buildings on the site are now derelict and have suffered extensive fire damage with all floors, roofs and interior finishes destroyed as a result of a series of fires including one in April 2025. The convent which opened in 1870, was closed by the Good Shepherd Sisters order in 1977. University College Cork had planned to use the former convent and its lands for a new campus in the 1990s before abandoning the project. Figures collated by Justice for Magdalenes Research show the names and of 195 women and girls who died at the Good Shepherd laundry were recorded. One of the conditions imposed by Cork City Council in its decision to grant planning permission for the student accommodation facility stipulates that all construction work on the site should stop if any human remains are found. Advertisement In its appeal, the Blarney Street & Surrounding Areas Community Association said it understood the need for student housing but it had serious concerns about the suitability of the specific proposal and location. The group's chairperson, Tom Coleman, claimed the proposal represents overdevelopment of the site and would be out of character with the surrounding area. He said locals were concerned that the facility would result in increased noise levels, particularly during evenings and weekends. 'This does nothing to improve social cohesion or foster a sense of long-term community, which is meant to be one of the stated priorities of Cork City Council's development strategy,' said Mr Coleman. He pointed out the area already suffered from total gridlock, while the assumption that all students would use sustainable forms of transport meant the provision for private car use was 'grossly understated.' The group claimed the proposed development would result in hundreds of additional car journeys every week in an already congested residential area which could also impede access for emergency services. Another appellant, Jurek Kirakowski, said it made no sense to create a large student centre on the northside of the Lee when the two main third-level institutions in Cork were mostly located south of the river. Another objector, Martin Krase, said the fact that none of the previous permissions to develop the site had been acted on showed it was neither suitable nor viable for a large-scale development. Mr Krase called on the council and the State to earmark a repurposing of the site through consultation with local communities which would take into account its 'unique and important history.' He claimed there was a need to respect and not just pay lip-service to 'the nationally recognised horrors of the mother and baby home.' However, Bellmount said the proposed development, which is planned to be constructed over five phases, would deliver much needed new development of purpose-built student accommodation within Cork City. 'The proposed development will see student accommodation provided in a location that is very accessible to high-level education campuses by means of walking, cycling and public transport,' the company stated. It added: 'The development will contribute to a mixed and inclusive neighbourhood by way of layout and shared amenity uses.' A ruling on the various appeals is due by early November 2025. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Plans for student accommodation facility at site of former Cork convent paused
Plans for a new student accommodation facility with 957-bed spaces on the site of a former convent, orphanage and Magdalene laundry in Cork city have been paused following several objections. An Coimisiún Pleanála has received four separate appeals against the decision of Cork City Council to grant planning permission for 274 student apartments in a large-scale residential development on lands of the former Good Shepherd Convent on Convent Avenue, Sunday's Well in the north-west of the city. They include objections from the community representative group, Blarney Street & Surrounding Areas Community Association. The proposed development by Bellmount Good Shepherd Limited — which is owned by developer brothers, Padraig and Seamus Kelleher — on a 3.57-hectare site will consist of eight student accommodation apartment blocks ranging in height from three to five storeys. A separate three-story mixed-use building is also planned with shops on the ground floor and student accommodation on the upper floors. The proposed works involve the partial demolition, conservation and redevelopment as well as extension of the former Good Shepherd Convent buildings. It is planned that the existing Gate Lodge will be converted to operate as a café and provide co-working space. Most of the buildings on the site are now derelict and have suffered extensive fire damage with all floors, roofs and interior finishes destroyed as a result of a series of fires including one in April 2025. The convent which opened in 1870, was closed by the Good Shepherd Sisters order in 1977. University College Cork had planned to use the former convent and its lands for a new campus in the 1990s before abandoning the project. Figures collated by Justice for Magdalenes Research show the names and of 195 women and girls who died at the Good Shepherd laundry were recorded. One of the conditions imposed by Cork City Council in its decision to grant planning permission for the student accommodation facility stipulates that all construction work on the site should stop if any human remains are found. An artist impression of 950-bed student accommodation development at the long-derelict Good Shepherd Convent in Cork City. In its appeal, the Blarney Street & Surrounding Areas Community Association said it understood the need for student housing but it had serious concerns about the suitability of the specific proposal and location. The group's chairperson, Tom Coleman, claimed the proposal represents overdevelopment of the site and would be out of character with the surrounding area. He said locals were concerned that the facility would result in increased noise levels, particularly during evenings and weekends. 'This does nothing to improve social cohesion or foster a sense of long-term community, which is meant to be one of the stated priorities of Cork City Council's development strategy,' said Mr Coleman. He pointed out the area already suffered from total gridlock, while the assumption that all students would use sustainable forms of transport meant the provision for private car use was 'grossly understated.' The group claimed the proposed development would result in hundreds of additional car journeys every week in an already congested residential area which could also impede access for emergency services. Another appellant, Jurek Kirakowski, said it made no sense to create a large student centre on the northside of the Lee when the two main third-level institutions in Cork were mostly located south of the river. Another objector, Martin Krase, said the fact that none of the previous permissions to develop the site had been acted on showed it was neither suitable nor viable for a large-scale development. However, Bellmount said the proposed development, which is planned to be constructed over five phases, would deliver much needed new development of purpose-built student accommodation within Cork City. 'The proposed development will see student accommodation provided in a location that is very accessible to high-level education campuses by means of walking, cycling and public transport,' the company stated. It added: 'The development will contribute to a mixed and inclusive neighbourhood by way of layout and shared amenity uses.' A ruling on the various appeals is due by early November 2025.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Incomplete structures in Kilmore Road development facing demolition
Cork City Council spent almost €2.5m on a controversial and unfinished 24-house development on the city's northside, but it is unclear how many of the incomplete structures are now being demolished. In March 2020, a private contractor began work on 24 houses on Kilmore Rd in Knocknaheeny before work ground to a halt a few months later in what Cork City Council described as 'a complex contractual dispute'. The houses were being built under phase 2c of the Cork Northwest Quarter Regeneration (CNWQR) project, a huge multi-annual, phased regeneration project which began in the Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill area more than a decade ago. The CNWQR, adopted by the council in November 2011, involves the demolition of 450 houses and the design and construction of more than 600 new homes. Last year, the council resolved its dispute with the Phase 2c contractors, and reissued the tender for the project, costed at an estimated €5m. Works eventually began this summer under a new contractor. At a recent council meeting, Sinn Féin's Kenneth Collins asked the total sum paid to the original contractor and 'the percentage amount of work complete that will require demolition and the cost of this demolition'. He was told the original contractor had been paid €2,452,317, ex Vat, in May 2024, and '0% of the works complete will require demolition'. Rectification and completion works Asked by the Irish Examiner how this claim squared with photographic evidence of current demolition work, a council spokesperson clarified that the council had engaged a contractor to undertake 'rectification and completion works on the 24-unit housing development at Kilmore Road Lower". 'These works include the demolition and taking down of incomplete works. 'Works that have been certified as complete which were undertaken by the initial contractor do not require demolition,' they said. When asked how much of the development was not certified as complete, a spokesperson admitted that, in fact, none of the 24 homes had been completed by the original contractor. 'Zero homes are certified as complete,' the spokesperson said. 'We are still within a construction contract and practical completion of the contract has not been reached.' In a subsequent email, they said not all of the initial works were being demolished but they did not immediately respond when asked how many of the buildings were being retained. Almost two weeks after his initial question, Mr Collins said he was again asking how much of the original work was being demolished. 'I can't understand why we can't get a straight answer, but first we're told 0% required demolition, then they say it's 0% of completed buildings and now they say none of the buildings were completed, but some aren't being demolished,' he said. So how many of the buildings are being demolished? Why can't the council answer a simple question? 'This is a long running saga. The people of Knocknaheeny want these homes built. 'They've lived opposite and beside a building site for years on end. The council have broken commitment after commitment when it came to this site. In its most recent statement, a council spokesperson said: 'Works undertaken by the initial contractor would have constituted approximately 55% of the project. 'The new contractor is now at approximately 60% (plus c5% on the initial signed off works) completion overall as they have recently commenced. 'As per previous all works signed off in that approximately 55% are to be retained. A minor percentage of works not signed off were not retained.'
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- General
- Extra.ie
Plan to move €366k 'robo trees' from Cork to Dublin gets chop over safety fears
A plan to move two 'robo-trees' – which cost the taxpayer €366,000 – to a Dublin train station were abandoned over concerns they could be a fire hazard or used as climbing frames by delinquent youths. The two 'CityTrees' – which were originally installed in Cork city four years ago to clean pollutants from the air – have now been put into storage by the city council with no firm plans for their future. The trees were purchased with a grant from the National Transport Authority. The overall costs involved in the project have now reached more than €440,000, with a proposal for them to be moved to Dublin's Connolly Station permanently derailed. The 'trees', built by a German company, were placed in 2021 at Grand Parade and Patrick's Street in Cork, where academics and environmentalists slammed them as 'ineffective' and an example of 'wasteful spending'. A plan to move two 'robo-trees' – which cost the taxpayer €366,000 – to a Dublin train station were abandoned over concerns they could be a fire hazard or used as climbing frames by delinquent youths. Pic: Cork City Council Even before they were removed from their Leeside platforms in May, it had been proving difficult to find a new home for them. Email exchanges beginning last year show how Irish Rail did not believe it was workable to have them indoors because too many of their components were wooden. In discussions with the manufacturer, the rail operator said all furniture in Ireland needed to meet certain standards and that the timber would need to be replaced. The manufacturer responded saying: 'As the CityTrees are made from timber, it's not really possible to replace it without building completely new products (also the inner frame is made of timber).' The manufacturer suggested that a mini-fire extinguisher could be placed beside them or they could have a fire protection paint applied to them. Pic: Cork City Council Irish Rail also asked whether the two robo-trees were 'anti-climb', saying that train stations were a 'notorious hot-spot for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.' The manufacturers said they could not guarantee they were '100% resistant towards unusual use' but they had no experience of people climbing them. 'The wooden cladding is made as good as possible [to be] unfriendly to climb,' said an email. 'We have to consider [installing] anti-dove spikes anyways, so that would decrease the risk of climbers?' Irish Rail was also worried about how the two €183,000 units would be moved, given their size, and whether they could be taken apart. An email from the manufacturer said: 'The CityTree itself is divisible in two parts – lower and upper unit. These both can be separated for transportation.' The manufacturers said Irish Rail did not have to keep hexagonal seating at the base and that these could be safely removed. By February, Cork City Council still believed the plan for the move was going ahead, and asked if Irish Rail could take them by the end of the month. An email from the local authority to Irish Rail said: 'We are currently preparing a press release for that week. 'Are you happy for us to say the walls are being transported to Irish Rail where they will be trialled in a train station platform setting?' However, the council's hopes were dashed soon after when Irish Rail's environmental and sustainability manager said the robo-trees would not be taken due to 'safety concerns'. A message from the rail operator said: 'Specifically, they must not contain flammable materials, such as the wooden slats on the exterior, and there is also a risk of them being used for climbing.' The email said Irish Rail had been in touch with the manufacturers about making them safe for indoor use, but this was 'not feasible'. 'While the supplier suggested fire extinguishers or fire-retardant paint as mitigation measures, these do not meet fire safety regulations,' an official wrote. 'Additionally, there is a strict prohibition on wooden elements in high-traffic railway stations.' The robo-trees were bought in 2020 for installation in Cork city the following year. They caused controversy from the outset amid claims they were a 'gimmick.' Annual maintenance costs for the eco-friendly moss walls were around €17,000, with upkeep of the machines ending this year. Asked about the future plans for the 'robo-trees,' a spokesman for Cork City Council remained tight-lipped. He said the council would not provide the total costs of the abandoned scheme or what plans they now had for reuse, and said the council 'don't have comment [at] this time'.
