Friends' Work

// 19 December: Call for implementation of Planning Act on quarries

On foot of the Taoiseach's intervention in a planning enforcement case [see our coverage], FIE points out that 'more than two years after the Planning Act came into force, the section requiring the registration of quarries has still not been implemented'. Our call was ignored by Dublin centred politicians, quarries are of no concern to them, but picked up by local radio stations in Roscommon, Clare, Mayo, Cavan, and Galway. The registration process would require publication and a chance for comment by the public, but an increasingly urban Ireland is turning its back on the quarry issue.

CALL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANNING ACT ON QUARRIES

Friends of the Irish Environment today wrote to Bertie Ahern, requesting him to implement Section 261 of the Planning Act 2000 to require registration of all quarries operating in the Republic.

'More than two years after the Planning Act came into force, the section requiring the registration of quarries has still not been implemented', the group claimed.

The registration process includes an opportunity for local authorities to impose new conditions on existing quarries and gives the public the right to comment on the terms of the permission.

Section 261 is intended to bring all quarries - including those who have claimed exception because they were operating before the 1963 Planning Act 1963 - within the planning system.

'The failure to implement this section is at the root of the current controversy over the alleged unauthorised quarry at Athleague', said a spokesman for the organisation.

More: Tony Lowes 027, 73025

Irish language: David Healy 01, 832 4087