Latest news with #SouthDublinCountyCouncil
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
The use of ‘laughing gas' canisters on the rise in parks across south Dublin
The small cylinders – or 'silver bullets' – are being dumped in places like Liffey Valley, Collinstown Park, Knocklyon Height and Adamstown, according to a spokesperson for South Dublin County Council (SDCC). They were responding to a question by Social Democrat councillor Eoin Ó Broin on its mapping of the locations of discarded nitrous oxide canisters in public land. 'The finds of larger cannisters of the substance appear to be more frequent now, with each of these estimated to be equivalent to approximately 50 silver bullets,' the statement said. 'It has not been possible to quantify the number of small cannisters found as, on occasions, they have been found to number in the hundreds at some locations.' The sale and possession of the chemical – usually used as a sedative by dentists – is legal in Ireland. Canisters are also used in catering for whipped cream dispensers and can be bought online for as little as €30 for a box of 50. According to inhaling nitrous oxide directly from a canister can cause frost bite to the mouth and nose. It can also cause a drop in oxygen levels and affect a person's heart and blood pressure. The dumping of the canisters was first raised at an SDCC meeting in 2021, when the executive began forming a map of problem areas based on information from constituents. On April 30, the Sale of Nitrous Oxide and Related Products Bill was presented at the Dail to try and regulate its sale to limited purchasers. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more During a debate on the issue, Mark Ward, TD for the Constituency of Dublin Mid-West said: 'A recent report published by the HSE's adolescent addiction service has shown that 22pc of young people presenting at its services for help have admitted to taking nitrous oxide. 'This is an increase of 175pc in a year, but that only captures the young people who are presenting and looking for help; it does not capture the ones who have not got to that stage yet.' Deaths have been reported due to the misuse of laughing gas in Europe and the UK. In Ireland, a teenage boy in Tallaght died after ingesting nitrous oxide five years ago. Between 2001 and 2020, 56 deaths were reported in the UK where its use its use has been more widely reported.
The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
TDs call on Fine Gael to carry out full investigation into Dublin councillors
POLITICIANS HAVE CALLED on Fine Gael to carry out a full investigation into two of its councillors over their involvement in a recruitment company that has charged foreign nurses thousands of euro in 'agency fees' to come and work in Irish nursing homes. Two opposition politicians have put in a complaint to South Dublin County Council's ethics watchdog about Baby Perappadan, a Fine Gael councillor for Tallaght South and a former mayor of the area, after a story by The Journal Investigates this morning. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said in a statement he would be making the complaint, stating that there are 'serious questions to answer' for Tallaght Fine Gael Councillors Baby and Britto Pereppadan and Fine Gael over unlawful agency fees being charged to migrant nurses. Independent Cllr Madeleine Johansson has also confirmed that she too has made a complaint to the Ethics Registrar of the council this morning. Unlawful agency fees Responding to an in-depth report by The Journal Investigates on the involvement of the two Tallaght Fine Gael councillors with a recruitment agency, Angel Care Consultancy Limited, and the charging of agency fees to at least three migrant nurses from India, Murphy said: 'Fine Gael Councillors Baby and Britto Pereppadan both have serious questions to answer. Fine Gael should also formally investigate them.' Advertisement The Journal Investigates has spoken to three nurses who say they paid thousands of euro in agency fees to Angel Care Consultancy Limited, on top of and separate to the money they paid for the standard expenses nurses face when coming to Ireland, including the fee associated with their visa, a work permit, the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) aptitude exam, the English language proficiency exam, and their plane tickets. Pereppadan has said he was 'totally unaware' that any such fee was being charged through his company. Part of a recruitment fee requested of one of the nurses The Journal spoke with was transferred to the bank account of Baby's son, Britto Pereppadan, who is also a Fine Gael councillor. It is unlawful for an employment agency to require an applicant to pay an agency fee in respect of employment under legislation introduced in Ireland in 2012. One nurse paid €3000 into Councillor Britto Pereppadan's bank account, despite him having no formal involvement in Angel Care Consultancy, which is co-owned by his father, the former Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Councillor Baby Pereppadan. The matter has been referred to the Indian police by the nurse involved. Calls for Fine Gael to take action Murphy said today that Councillor Britto Pereppadan must immediately make a full statement and answer questions from the media in relation to this payment as responses given to The Journal are not an adequate explanation. The People Before TD called on Pereppadan to make a full statement on his involvement with Angel Care Consultancy and any other recruitment agencies he is involved with and answer questions from the media. Related Reads Fine Gael councillor co-owns company accused of charging migrant nurses unlawful 'agency fees' The Journal Investigates also reported that just last month Pereppadan told a prospective client of another recruitment agency he has been working with that 'his political connections would help him to push through work permits for prospective employees in order to speed up the recruitment process' and that he was 'very close with Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris'. Murphy said Harris must make a statement on this matter and Fine Gael should carry out a thorough investigation into the business dealings of both of its councillors. Together with People Before Profit's local councillors, Kay Keane (Tallaght South), Jess Spear (Tallaght Central) and Darragh Adelaide (Clondalkin) Murphy said he is writing to the South Dublin County Council Ethics Registrar today to request that they investigate whether the Fine Gael Councillors under code of conduct regulations. 'Full investigation needed' Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has said 'these are very serious allegations against the individuals involved in the company, but also two prominent members of Fine Gael on South Dublin County Council'. 'In the first instance, they need to be fully investigated,' he said. 'But I have to say, the explanations from the individuals involved in the public domain simply don't stack up. I don't believe their response to the very legitimate questions from The Journal are credible, and therefore I would like to see a full and thorough investigation of these matters,' said the Sinn Féin TD. Not only is charging the fees unlawful, but Ó Broin said such an action is 'exploitation of very hard working migrant nurses in our health system'. The case also raises questions for Fine Gael, he said, stating: Sign up The Journal Investigates is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. Our newsletter gives you an inside look at how we do this. Sign up here... Sign up .spinner{transform-origin:center;animation:spinner .75s infinite linear}@keyframes spinner{100%{transform:rotate(360deg)}} You are now signed up 'Does Fine Gael think this type of behavior is acceptable. If it's proven to be true, are they going to take any intermediary action against the two party members pending the outcome of the investigation.' 'Any form of exploitation of any worker, no matter their country of origin or their form of employment, is unacceptable,' added Ó Broin, who said Fine Gael needs to take action against their own members. Fine Gael and spokespeople for Simon Harris have been approached for comment. No response has been forthcoming by time of publication. Investigations like this don't happen without your support... Impactful investigative reporting is powered by people like you. Over 5,000 readers have already supported our mission with a monthly or one-off payment. Join them here: Support The Journal
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Data centre operator successfully challenges decision to refuse it planning permission for two new centres
A leading provider of data centres in Ireland has successfully challenged the decision of South Dublin County Council to refuse it planning permission for two new centres at its campus in west Dublin. An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld the appeal taken by EdgeConneX Ireland against the council's ruling in July 2023 to reject its planning application to construct two adjoining single storey data centres covering an area of over 15,000m² on a site at Ballymakaily, Lucan, Co Dublin. Advertisement The plans also provided for 24 standby diesel generators with associated 25-metre-high flues in a yard to the west of the data centres as well as a new internal access road and security gates. However, the Commission imposed a planning condition that the standby generators have to be powered by a renewable fuel source. South Dublin County Council had refused planning permission for the development on the basis that it had failed to demonstrate that the proposed use was acceptable for lands zoned to provide for enterprise and employment given the lack of a fixed connection agreement to the grid and a lack of significant on-site renewable energy. In reaching its decision, the council said it also had regard to the existing insufficient capacity in the national grid as well as the applicant's reliance on gas powered plant to provide energy for the data centres and an absence of power purchase agreements (PPAs). Advertisement It also rejected EdgeConneX Ireland's application on a separate ground in relation to the retention and protection of existing green infrastructure. Council planners said the county development plan placed a key emphasis on the requirement for data centres within its administrative area to be sustainable and for applicants to show there was sufficient capacity within the electricity network to accommodate them. Elected representatives of South Dublin County Council had imposed a total ban on the development of new data centres but a ministerial directive issued in August 2022 reversed the controversial measure. In its appeal, EdgeConneX Ireland accused the local authority of adopting 'an unduly rigid approach" to its county development plan. Advertisement The company claimed the council's decision on its planning application was 'inherently flawed' and its concerns were 'unfounded.' EdgeConneX Ireland said that it was not within the remit of South Dublin County Council to determine whether there was sufficient capacity on the national grid. Nevertheless, it confirmed that it had obtained a connection agreement with EirGrid who had developed policy criteria which applicants had to satisfy and which were largely designed to take into account capacity constraints on the grid. EdgeConneX Ireland argued that the council should be satisfied that EirGrid, as the appropriate authority on the national grid, had determined that its data centre campus can connect to the grid. Advertisement It pointed out that the overall on-site dispatchable energy generation capacity on the campus was already established under a previous planning application and should not have to be reconsidered. The company said it had sought to maximise the use of renewables through the design and future proofing of the power plant on the campus so that it had capacity to accept biogas and hydrogen when they become available. It also argued that having gas as the primary fuel of the power plants played its part in decarbonising the national grid – which it claimed had been acknowledged in the Government's Climate Action Plan. EdgeConneX Ireland said it had also provided 'robust evidence' of engagement with PPAs in Ireland. Advertisement The company said having an onsite generation plant that was predominantly powered by natural gas should not be a ground for refusal of itself. In addition, it stressed that its power plant would reinforce the national grid once the EirGrid connection was realised. The company accepted that some 760 metres of hedgerow would be removed as part of the project but stressed that over 1,300 metres of hedgerow would be retained and a further 1,052 metres of new hedgerow was being proposed which would result in 'a net biodiversity and ecological gain.' Subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions, An Coimisiún Pleanála said it was satisfied that EdgeConneX Ireland had a fixed connection agreement to connect to the grid and that the data centres were not an 'islanded' development which was dependent solely on onsite energy generation. The Commission said it was also satisfied that the company had incorporated strong energy efficiency measures to reduce its carbon footprint and had demonstrated engagement with PPAs as well as that there was sufficient capacity with the relevant water, wastewater and electricity network to accommodate the proposed use. It accepted that EdgeConneX Ireland had sought to protect and enhance the biodiversity and ecological value of the existing green infrastructure network where possible. The Commission also ruled that it would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area and would be acceptable in terms of the safety and convenience of pedestrians and other road users as well as not being prejudicial to public health. The planning appeals authority said it was also satisfied that various mitigation measures proposed by the company would ensure that the development would not have any unacceptable direct, indirect or cumulative effects on the environment. The Commission noted that data centres had been identified as core infrastructure and enablers of a technology-rich innovative economy and of significant importance from a national and international perspective in the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy published in July 2022. It accepted that EdgeConneX Ireland had demonstrated that the proposed data centres would be in accordance with the twin transitions of 'digitisation and decarbonisation' as well as the principles outlined in the Government Statement. One of the planning conditions is that the company enters into a corporate PPA with a renewable energy provider for the proposed data centres before they become operational. EdgeConnex Ireland is also required to provide a draft agreement that it would be willing to connect to a future district heating network if one becomes available.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Rathfarnham Castle garden saved from being turned into a car park
As part of a €12m redevelopment plan for Rathfarnham Castle and Stables, South Dublin County Council (SDCC) planned to convert the Sean Keating garden into a 50-unit parking space. However, at SDCC's July meeting, council management confirmed they have arrived at a compromise with Rathfarnham Castle Residents Association. The amended proposal will see the car parking area reconfigured into an open space design. The new plan will see the parking spaces enlarged in the north and south, leaving more space for public use. More than 179 residents raised concerns about the initial plan, worrying they would lose a green space and popular public amenity in the area. A submission from one resident described the Sean Keating garden as 'a haven of nature to get away from the hustle and bustle'. 'I have grown up in Rathfarnham, and have seen a huge amount of change in the area in that time. Most of it, in my opinion, not for the better,' they said. 'So why is it being decided to dig up this wonderful green space to put a car park and restaurant in it? 'With all the building in Rathfarnham over the years, a lot of nature has seen its habitat destroyed.' Another resident highlighted the importance of the green space for families in the area. 'We support the re-development of the stable area, but are strongly opposed to the loss of any of our green space for car parking,' they said. 'We love the garden, the pond and statue and the peace the Sean Keating garden offers. We would be heartbroken at it's demolishment.' Jason Frehill, Director of Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development at SDCC, commended the local community's involvement in the redevelopment plan. 'We sat down with local community representatives in Rathfarnham, and we've agreed to redesign the garden area where the car park is,' he said. 'The same 50 spaces will be provided, but it will be an enlarged open space area extending from south to north. 'The residents' concern was that the area would not be as usable, so we're working with them to rework it.' The €12m redevelopment plan will also include Rathfarnham Stables and the four courtyards it is made up of. It will see the first three courtyards converted into a community centre, hospitality facilities and a new café and restaurant. Councillor David McManus introduced a proposal to ensure the fourth courtyard will stay within the council's control. 'Courtyard four will be a commercial space not to be encroached upon by commercial sector,' he said. 'This redevelopment plan has changed for the better in the last years – it has grown from a €5m plan to a €12m plan thanks to the lobbying by the local community.' Other councillors commended management for working with Rathfarnham residents on the plan. Councillor Yvonne Collins said: 'I'm delighted to see the garden will be remodelled. It's great to see so much work has been done to reach an acceptable situation for all.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
30-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘Some residents will still be asleep at 7.30am' – TD Paul Murphy objects to extension of NCT centre's opening hours
Applus Inspection Service Ltd applied for planning permission to increase the opening hours for its centre on Greenhills Road in Tallaght, west Dublin, from 66 hours a week, to 81 hours. The revised times would allow the centre begin work at 7.30am Monday to Friday, and finish at between 11pm and 11.30pm three days a week. Mr Murphy, who represents the Dublin South-West constituency, raised concerns on behalf of 17 residents in an estate behind the centre. 'This has been an ongoing issue over many years because the back of the Applus building is literally 50 metres from the back of residents' homes and there is significant noise pollution during the operating hours,' he claimed. 'The proposed new opening hours represent a very big increase in hours open, in particular at unsocial times, and would be very disturbing to residents. 'While the centre currently has the right to open from 8am Monday to Saturday, the new proposal is that from Monday to Friday, it will open from 7.30am when some of our residents will still be asleep. 'The noise is loudest and most disturbing in the upstairs rooms, which is where the bedrooms are located. If these late night hours are granted, it will significantly impact the ability of residents to relax in the evenings in their own homes as well as sleep'. Under its current permitted hours, the centre opens at 8am Monday to Saturday. It closes at 6pm three days a week, and 8pm three days a week. The new proposal would let the centre open until 5.30pm on Monday, 11.30pm on Tuesday, 11pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 9pm on Friday and 7.30pm on Saturday. Despite the objection, South Dublin County Council (SDCC) granted permission, but with certain conditions. ADVERTISEMENT It said the maximum operating hours would be from 7.30am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 7.30pm on Saturday. If the increased opening hours are granted, it will significantly interfere with normal sleep Following the granting of permission, Mr Murphy has now submitted a third-party appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly An Bord Pleanála. In his appeal to the planning authority, he claimed the centre is 'around 15 metres' from residents' homes. 'If the increased opening hours are granted, it will significantly interfere with normal sleep and rest patterns and when residents could reasonably expect a level of quietness,' he said. He also complained of 'substantial' noise pollution including cars revving, horns beeping, music playing and 'people shouting loudly at each other'. A decision is expected by November 11. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the NCT system experienced a significant backlog. Centres were also hit by weather-enforced closures in January during Storm Éowyn. Data released by the Department of Transport in May said the national average wait time for an NCT is up to 17 days higher than the target. The Irish Independent contacted Mr Murphy and Applus for comment.
