Latest news with #LaoisCountyCouncil
Agriland
6 days ago
- General
- Agriland
Appeal against retention permission for tree removal at Tirlán premises
An appeal has been lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála about the removal of existing trees and hedges at Tirlán Farmlife, Graiguecullen branch, Co. Laois. In May this year, Laois County Council received an application for retention planning permission from Tirlán for "the removal of existing trees and hedges to a 22.5m portion of the front boundary adjacent to the entrance gate and replacement of same with a 2.7m high paladin fence". The application also noted "affixing" advertising signage along the front boundary fencing and entrance gate amounting to a total of 12m², and the erection of building signage onto existing structures within the site amounting to a total sum of 15.3m². In the application, Tirlán outlined that the proposed development did not involve the demolition of any structure, is not inside a strategic development zone, and does not require a waste licence. The company also stated that development did not consist of work to a protected structure, is not located within an architectural conservation area, and did not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement, or licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the process seeking retention planning permission, an objection was lodged by a nearby resident with several concerns. The objection to the county council stated: "I live directly across the road from this premises. My family's house predates the establishment of the Tirlán commercial outlet. "As pointed out in my correspondence... the removal of the trees and trees hedgerow late last year considerably affected me and my family. "The present application makes no attempt to address the issues raised by the unauthorised development. The trees and hedging which were removed formed part of an existing hedgerow which was a field boundary going back to the time before the time the Tirlán premises was built," the letter of objection continued. The neighbour outlined his belief that the proposed retention will do nothing to "prevent the visual intrusion, noise and dust nuisance" which he claimed operations on the premises create. "I wish to be put back in the same position I was in before the unauthorised development took place, with a screen of mature evergreen trees reaching to the height of the remaining hedgerow along the front of the premises," he argued to Laois County Council. However, despite the objections, Laois County Council in recent weeks decided to grant conditional retention planning permission to Tirlán. The conditions included the planting, within three months, of trees and shrubs of species native to the area to form naturalised hedgerows similar to existing native hedgerows in the vicinity. Another condition, was for a payment to Laois County Council's Development Contribution Scheme, in respect of public infrastructure and facilities. The decision to grant retention permission has now been appealed by the same neighbour to the higher planning authority, An Coimisiún Pleanála, which has stated that a decision is due by November 24, 2025.
Irish Independent
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Young people in Laois moving back in with parents amidst housing shortage and sky-high prices
House prices in Laois and Offaly are up by over 16% year on year, and are now around 60% higher than costs before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the House Price Report for Q2. The counties are among the fastest-rising housing markets in the country, driven largely by a severe housing shortage and placing additional pressure on first time buyers in the midlands. The average house price in Laois is currently €284,031 and the price of a one bed apartment in the county at the moment is around €118,000, up just over 30% from this time last year, according to the report. Independent councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley, who was chair of the housing committee at Laois County Council for the previous two terms, said that these issues are causing 'a stressful time for young people'. 'We are bringing on a stream amount of social housing which is good, but we don't have affordable cost rental or private housing coming on stream, and that is where I see the problem. 'There are 30-year-olds who have moved back in with their parents because they can't see themselves ever affording their own home,' the councillor said. Cllr Dwane Stanley said that many young people have been in touch with the council about being 'outside the income limits' to be eligible for social housing, however, cannot afford to buy their own home. Working with housing applications through the county council, the councillor said that the greatest demand in Co. Laois is for one bedroom and two bedroom places. A two bed terrace is up 17.3% this year compared to last year at €154,000 and a three bed semi-detached house is up 13.9% at €204,000. A four bed bungalow has risen 18.5% to €412,000 and a five bed detached house is now worth €427,000, up 21.4% on last year. Independent Cllr in Laois James Kelly said that the county is the centre of Ireland and is home to many large businesses and state funded bodies. 'I'm not surprised that housing prices are increasing with the demand and infrastructure there but I would worry that we're going to head for another crash. 'As a councillor, I see the number of housing applications coming in so we have to try and meet that demand,' he said. He added that like most of Ireland, rental properties are scarce in the midlands, leading to a competitive and expensive market for tenants.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Ground-breaking' initiative launched for autistic children in Laois
Autistic children in Laois are taking part in a ground-breaking initiative that aims to teach them about science, technology, engineering (STEM) and maths. Free workshops are being rolled out across the county that will bring these subjects to life for kids with autism and special education needs. Students will build robot cars from scratch and learn how to drive it, and make 'pop' rockets to learn about astronomy. The Laois County Council initiative aims to nurture the strengths of these children, as the workshops are being showcased as part of Your Council Day on June 27. Seanie Morris, STEM Engagement Officer with Laois County Council, developed the programme. It involves two-hour sessions in schools across the county, and has already been delivered in ASD units in three schools. Speaking about creating these workshops, Mr Morris said: "I am a Level 6 SNA myself, and working with kids I feel it is very important that no child gets left behind as they grow. "School and education is not only about learning skills, facts and numbers, but also about having fun and building their own personalities. "Sometimes, something extra is needed to help them along the way. Maybe it's sports, which every school automatically has a focus on, but not every kid is sporty." Mr Morris said STEM may be an interest for many children with autism, however, it isn't always focused on as something fun. He continued: "The activities I do help bring a lot of children out of their shell and add new soft-skills like verbal communication and presentation, teamwork, co-ordination and even patience. "It's great fun for me, but it's the kids who will be the real winners. We do things like make pop rockets out of toilet roll holders. "We put vinegar and bicarbonate of soda in special bottles inside and as the pressure builds it explodes safely and in so doing it 'launches' the rocket off the table. There's great excitement when that happens and it gives the children real time science investigation and experimentation."
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Laois town members invited to engage in plans to tackle vacancy and dereliction
Today at 08:03 Laois County Council's Regeneration Section, in partnership with the Mountmellick Town Team and SLR Consulting is inviting members of the community to attend an information evening on a draft plan to tackle vacancy. The Draft Town Centre First Plan for Mountmellick states that vacancy and dereliction needs to be addressed with 'urgency'.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Planning permission sought for sand and gravel quarry activities in Laois
The permission sought is for over a 10 year period, including all site associated works, on 4.40 hectares of land based in Redhill, with an excavation area of around 3.1 hectares. The planning application includes mention of on-site equipment for a dry screener, a loading shovel, a dumper, an excavator, and a concrete wheel wash at entrance. It will also involve the installation of a new site entrance, with removal of hedgerows to the south and north onto the public road L6719 to achieve 90 metre sightlines. There has been a series of objections to the planning proposal, with concerns around traffic flow on a narrow road, creating what some objections described as an 'unsafe' environment for walkers and cyclists. There were also concerns raised about rising dust from quarry activities, and further concerns around 'undermining' land quality from soil run off. Some lodged objections have raised potential issues about ecosystem impacts, and many state that there was 'no consultation' with neigbouring property and landowners. A fenced off buffer zone of 10 metres between existing hedgerows and the proposed excavation area has been allowed to protect the ecological value. A restoration plan has also been included in the application, which will reinstate the site to agricultural use at the end of the project. An Environmental and Planning Report, Ecological Impact Assessment Report, Appropriate Assessment Screening Report and detailed site drawings have been included as part of the application. Uisce Eireann has provided the applicant with a condition to enter into a 'connection agreement' with the state body to provide for a service connection(s) to the public water supply and/or wastewater collection network. Laois County Council approved the decision early last month, and a decision is due by An Bord Pleanála by August, 25.
