Tag Archives: clare county council

CLARE County Council has been requested to contact landowners to get their views before their land is zoned for residential purposes in the Draft County Development Plan without their consent. That’s the view of Clare IFA chairman, Tom Lane, who believes that it is unfair to place the onus on a landowner – who didn’t request residential zoning on their land – to be lumbered with the burden of having to lodge an appeal for exclusion. The Residential Zoned Land Tax is an annual tax, which will be first due in 2024 in respect of lands included on the RZLT Final Map to be published by local authorities on December 1 2023. Mr Lane said landowners can be easily identified by the Council through a search on the Land Registry. Many may even be unaware of existing residential zoning on a portion of their land. As land zoned residential is of much higher value, farmers could face the prospect of …

Clare County Council has opened a Book of Condolence in memory of the late cervical cancer campaigner, Vicky Phelan. The Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor Tony O’Brien, is inviting members of the public to sign the book and join people from all over Ireland and beyond in honouring Vicky’s legacy as “a remarkable person and a courageous and inspiring advocate for women’s health”. Councillor O’Brien said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Vicky Phelan. Vicky’s campaigning to expose the controversy around the national screening programme CervicalCheck gave voice to many women and reflected her immense courage, determination and dignity while facing her own illness. “In doing so, Vicky inspired us all. Vicky Phelan truly made an enduring contribution to Irish society. On behalf of the Elected Members and staff of Clare County Council, I wish to extend deepest condolences to Vicky’s family at this most difficult time.” Chief Executive of Clare County Council Pat Dowling …

CLARE County Council has been accused in engaging in an unauthorised development in one of its social housing schemes over the alleged failure to abide by one of its own planning conditions. In recent correspondence with the council, engineer Mick Duffy called on the local authority to carry out an investigation into this alleged unauthorised development. However, responding to Clare Champion queries, the Council confirmed it would not be following up on the complaint as the issue regarding Condition 3 was addressed in March 2022 under section 179(6)(b) of the Planning and Development Act. “This section of the legislation exempts certain local authority development from the normal planning obligations where it is necessary to deal urgently with a situation which the Chief Executive considers is an emergency,” a spokesperson said. “Having regard to the ongoing housing crisis and the levels of housing need in the county, the Chief Executive, Pat Dowling utilised his powers under this section to ensure the …

CLARE land and property owners who may be subject to a new tax on undeveloped sites have until January 2023 to make a submission to the local authority. The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) is a new tax aimed at increasing housing supply by activating zoned, serviced residential development lands (including mixed-use lands) for housing. This can include greenfield and brownfield land which will be subject to tax from 2024. Landowners can check if their property is liable by consulting the draft map for County Clare which is now available for the public to view via this link. They will have until January 1 2023 to then make a submission on the draft map. According to a Council spokesperson the introduction of the tax is a commitment under Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland, the Government’s housing plan to 2030. The RZLT Draft Map is now available to view on the Clare County Council website and …

PLANS for an extension to an Ennis primary school, to include the first Early Intervention Unit at a mainstream primary school in the town, have been put on hold as an appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala. The appeal to the two-storey extension of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg has been submitted by a Glenina resident who had previously lodged an objection to the plans with Clare County Council on behalf of a number of residents living in the Gort Road estate. The An Bord Pleanala appeal argues “traffic problems and anti-social behaviour are problems that already exist” in the area and the proposed development will add to this. “Trucks and diggers and building traffic will be in and out of the estate for a period of 18 months. This is a residential area were people work from home and work shift work and are entitled to live in a peaceful atmosphere,” the appeal states. The original objection documentation to …

A GROUP of Clare firefighters have voted in favour of proposed industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions. While the final result of the ballot for industrial action in Clare hasn’t been made public, SIPTU Sectoral Organiser, Brendan O’Brien told the Clare Champion members in the retained fire service have voted “strongly in favour” of taking some form of industrial action. Mr O’Brien said the union hadn’t received any meaningful proposals to resolve this dispute from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) or engagement from Clare County Council, apart from an acknowledgement letter. Having referred this matter to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and dealt directly with employers, Mr O’Brien said the union had to ballot its members for industrial action. Despite a number of recent recruitment drives by Clare County Council, Mr O’Brien claimed they had attracted very few new applicants in some cases because the overall package is not attractive enough for new entrants. Acknowledging …

CLARE County Council has said that it is continuing to engage with national government and the Housing Agency on the new scheme for homeowners with defective blocks.  Despite the fact that the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme was extended to Clare and Limerick last June, the grant has still not opened to homeowners in the Mid-West. The scheme itself was revised through legislation signed by the President in July, but is still not operational in the four counties it covers. Last week, angry homeowners, facing another winter of uncertainty, told Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien of their frustration at being “trapped” in their unsafe homes. They also appealed to him to give a date for the opening of the new scheme.  In response to a query from The Champion, the Council said it is still awaiting clarity on the role of each local authority. “Since the approved inclusion of County Clare properties onto the Defective Concrete Block Redress Scheme, we are continuing to engage with …

CLARE County Council is to seek funding for affordable housing in the urban areas of the county, the October meeting of the local authority heard. Independent Gerry Flynn put forward a motion asking that the Council make an approach on the matter to housing minister Darragh O’Brien. In a written response to his motion, Director of Social Development Ann Haugh stated, “As advised by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, proposals located within the CSO settlement boundaries of the five cities (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford) are eligible for Affordable Housing Fund funding. “However, proposals located outside the five cities must be located within local authority areas with a minimum average 5% Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) Affordability Constraint for new housing demand over the period 2021 to 2026 calculated for the entire local authority area. “The HDNA assessment of the Clare local authority area has not demonstrated this required affordability constraint and therefore does not meet …