‘Unacceptable’ level of An Taisce objections criticised

Date Published: 03-Dec-2009

RURAL Affairs and Gaeltacht Minister Eamon O Cuiv has said the present level of planning submissions and objections from An Taisce in relation to rural houses is unacceptable.

Minister O Cuiv said that he now intends to make an effort to bridge the gap between rural communities and An Taisce based on the model used to sort out the controversy about countryside walking routes.

“This level of objections to rural houses cannot go on”, Minister O Cuiv said in comments in Carna in Connemara this week.

“From looking at planning files relating to Connemara it seems that An Taisce is now putting in a lot of submissions to the planning authority about rural townland houses” the Minister said.

“As Rural Affairs Minister I think this is unacceptable. We must remember that the people who are looking for planning permission in Connemara and in other rural areas are part of the community and want to be part of the community. This issue should not be confused with big developments in villages or towns.”

Minister O Cuiv said he felt it was now time for action on this issue.

“We set up Comhar na Tuaithe to deal with the long running row over walks in the countryside” the Minister said “and that eventually fostered better understanding among the different sides in that dispute. I think a similar initiative is needed in relation to An Taisce and objections against rural houses.”

Continued on page 2 of this week’s Connacht Tribune