In the second of a two-part series, planning issues and systems are examined By Caroline O'Doherty.

A GROUP representing rural families has called for an urgent review of the composition of An Bord Pleanála, claiming its membership may be unlawful.

In the first of a two-part series, Caroline O’Doherty details the differing views in the rural housing debate.

DEBATE about the desirability of one-off housing has raged since the 1980s although in the early days the argument was more about aesthetics than environmental and social sustainability with many builders accused of destroying the landscape with incongruous Spanish-style villas, mock Palladian mansions and mini-Southforks.

AMORPHOUS was a new one on Mary Sweeney. She had seen planners use many descriptions before but this one necessitated consulting a dictionary.

LONG-DISTANCE farming wasn’t what Bernadette and Gerald Sheehan had in mind when they bought 160 acres of land in coastal west Cork 10 years ago.

A PIGEON-FANCIER may have to demolish a large state-of-the-art pigeon loft in his back garden following a court action yesterday.

FEATHERS are being ruffled in one of Limerick’s most fashionable addresses over birds of prey.

A PLANNING application for about 100 houses in Killorglin, Co Kerry, has been refused by An Bord Pleanála.

STUDENTS whose hopes of a move to a new school building were shattered when councillors refused to rezone the site last summer were celebrating yesterday after the decision was overturned.

CHILDREN attending a Limerick city school will have to continue using converted toilets as classrooms due to a planning row.

NORMAN TURNER is an American businessman and the developer of Europe’s largest entertainment venue the MEN Arena in Manchester.

BORD Gáis unveiled three possible routes last night for a proposed €60 million pipeline to increase gas supply to the south.

SENIOR officials from the Department of the Environment have been invited to Cork in an effort to ease their concerns about the city’s delayed central library project.

SOUTH Tipperary County Council has urged An Bord Pleanála to reject the application of a company that wants to develop an animal by-products processing plant in a rural area close to horse training and breeding establishments.

STATISTICS, and widely differing ones at that, were thrown around like confetti yesterday as opposing sides at a hearing on a controversial superdump tried to gain the upper hand.

THE company planning a €500 million liquid gas terminal on the Shannon Estuary has confirmed it will seek planning permission within the next eight days.

Opposition to the landfill cites local wildlife, and risk of water contamination Seán O’Riordan.

MUNSTER is facing a waste crisis because its local authorities won’t be capable of disposing of all non-recyclables in the next few years, it was claimed yesterday.

ANTI-INCINERATION groups have criticised An Bord Pleanála’s decision yesterday to grant permission to Indaver Ireland to increase the size of its Co Meath incinerator by a third.