Latest news with #MichaelSheehan
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Uisce Éireann described as ‘biggest mistake' to ever happen in Ireland as Wexford council seeks ways to build in rural areas
With large swathes of the county unsuitable for new housing developments due to a lack of water services, Councillors John Fleming and Michael Sheehan cited potential changes to the County Development Plan (2022-2028) which would allow the council to rezone land for new housing projects. 'The County Development Plan is now open for review and there's an opportunity for this municipal district to have a say in the direction the town and villages will take over the next 15 years,' said Cllr Sheehan. 'There's vast tracts of land in this town that need to be rezoned for housing.' With regards to providing water services for housing developments which wouldn't have access to the Uisce Éireann (UE) mains, Cllr Marty Murphy said Wexford County Council (WCC) should simply proceed without the national utility company. 'My understanding is small developments in rural areas will be allowed to build their own treatment plants which is fantastic news, because our villages are dying due to planning laws,' he said. 'Do we have villages which will be targeted under that? We need to move on from UE because, as far as I'm concerned, it is the biggest mistake to ever happen in this country.' In response, a member of WCC planning team said they had not been informed of which villages had been targeted but they would find out and revert back to Cllr Murphy.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
New Ross Primary Care Centre delayed again
Last month local Independent councillor, Michael Sheehan, expressed his discontent after hearing from developers who have expressed their interest in the tender for the new facility, they hadn't received any acknowledgement nor confirmation of their submissions. However, in response to this, the HSE issued a statement to the New Ross Standard which read 'there is no obligation or requirement for interested parties to formally express an interest in the project. Furthermore, no acknowledgment is circulated to any potential developer – at this stage.' This is in reference to the Prior Information Notice (PIN), which is used to provide public awareness that a new Primary Care Centre is expected to be formally advertised under a new public procurement process on the e-Tender Platform. The advertisement stage was 'expected' to be publicised in quarter two of this year, according to Dr Sinéad Reynolds, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager with the HSE, which was said during a Regional Health Forum meeting in March 2025. However, in recent days the HSE confirmed that there is a delay in the tender process, adding the advertisement stage will be published 'in due course', which is understood to be the third quarter of 2025. The next stage involves a two-step procurement process; where step one utilises a Suitability Assessment Questionnaire involving an extensive assessment of the tender returns. The HSE clarified that it will be subsequent to this that 'tenderers which are deemed suitable are shortlisted and the developers are then invited to the next stage of the competition, which is a full tender'. To facilitate the re-advertisement of the Primary Care Centre, a full review of the current and future service needs was undertaken with relevant stakeholders. There are a number of stakeholders and services who require accommodation in the new proposed Primary Care Centre in New Ross and a scope is being identified based on all updated service requirements and a Schedule of Accommodation is being finalised. The HSE expects this process to be concluded in quarter two of this year. The HSE said they will then be in a position to progress with the advertisement on E-Tenders Procurement Platform, which will be no earlier than July 2025.
Irish Independent
23-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Wexford County Council looking at several potential uses for old New Ross courthouse building
Raised by recently independent councillor Michael Sheehan, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council Eddie Taaffe spoke of the potential that the building has. "We are looking at a number of options,' he said. 'There are a couple of aspects to this building. The courtroom is obviously that bit larger. It could potentially be used for different public events. Then there are offices at the back, so it could be a dual use building. "As you know, we've acquired the old pub building (The Bumblebee) beside it too, so it will form part of a bigger plan for the area.' The courthouse was purchased under the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) funded under the Department of Rural and Community Development DRDC.
