Rural voters giving politicians ‘stick’

POLITICIANS canvassing for votes in the general election are getting plenty of ‘stick’ on the doorsteps from people experiencing difficulties in obtaining planning permission in rural areas, a planning conference heard.

Acting IRDA secretary Jim Connolly said people were now afraid of the planning system and of An Taisce, in particular.

An Taisce came under sustained attack and the Government was accused of hiding behind it.

Kerry Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae said planning was the ‘‘the one major complaint” for families in rural areas.

He also the new rural housing guidelines were not working.

IRDA chairman James Doyle said the organisation was calling on politicians to nail their colours to the mast on rural planning.

South Tipperary Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes told delegates of deep frustration among the public with the planning regulations.

“Urban dwellers see them as too lax and damaging to the countryside; rural dwellers regard them as too strict,” he said.

Serial objectors were also criticised and there were calls for an end to third party appeals to An Bord Pleanála in the case of one-off houses.

Mary Sweeney, whose children have been refused planning on family lands in Tomies, Killarney, over the past nine years because of appeals mainly by one individual, called for an end to third party appeals in the case of one-off houses.

Speaking from the floor, former general election candidate, in Kerry, Tom Randles, claimed: “It’s Government policy to get rid of rural Ireland because it will cost too much money and they (government) are hiding behind An Taisce.”

Dr Catherine McMullin, of An Taisce (Kerry) and a member of the IRDA, maintained there was a misunderstanding with regard to An Taisce’s role.

She said An Taisce did not go around looking at sites, but was a prescribed body under the Planning Acts and therefore notified about applications in amenity areas, or those close to archaeological sites.