UPGRADING water and waste water infrastructure and implementing a new County Development Plan have been prioritised by the new West Clare Municipal District (MD) chairman, Councillor Shane Talty.
The Lahinch postmaster said these two issues have to be viewed against the backdrop of a national housing crisis and the dramatic 70% increase in Clare’s population since 2011.
He recalled Councillor P J Kelly has stated the County Development Plan is an impediment to the sustainable growth of rural communities.
“From the Burren to Loop Head, our young people are facing impossible obstacles trying to build their own homes with their own resources.
“They are dealing with issues such as visual impact, scenic routes, national roads and other reasons to prevent homes being built in the area.
“I believe we must do everything in our power between now and next spring to ensure the new plan becomes an enabler for development for all communities, urban and rural, big and small.
“Often the advice from planners when there is a refusal is for people to buy houses within our existing rural settlements.”
While Councillor Talty doesn’t disagree with this principle, he pointed out in numerous settlements development is not possible without investment in waste water facilities.
He recalled that back in 2019, the Irish Open showed Lahinch to a global audience where the state agencies combined to make this a wonderful event for the village, county and country.
With remote working now becoming more popular across the MD, he noted 80% of the 48 new homes build in multiple phases in two sites in Lahinch were purchased for permanent occupancy.
“Many local young people have bought these houses including a barber, nurse and garda, the list continues. These are people putting down roots to start new families, the very definition of a sustainable community.
“Last March, a separate proposal for a new development of 28 houses was refused permission because of a deficiency in waste water facilities in Lahinch.
“This week, a further application for eight housing units as part of a final phase of an existing unit of 40 has been refused for similar reasons.
“The outcome of this decision is existing developed phases will now be left as a ghost estate with a line of fencing instead of a completely neatly finished estate. What do the eight people who had lined up to buy these houses off the plans for permanent residency do while Irish Water drags its heels and we wait for an upgrade of the plant in Lahinch?
“There are no houses to rent or second hand sales in the market. Now you can’t build a scheme of new houses in Doolin, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Miltown Malbay, Carrigaholt and Cooraclare amongst others.
“The developer in this case was willing to install a temporary on site pre-treatment plant. Irish Water wasn’t opposed to this but the council had to refuse it because it doesn’t accept developer-led infrastructure.”
“There is another separate application due to go to decision next week.”
Stressing the need to address this issue for the eight people who were being denied the opportunity of purchasing their own home in Lahinch, he proposed developer-led infrastructure should be permitted in the next County Development Plan, particularly in towns with existing services that are inadequate and can’t take further development.
Councillor Talty said it was a great honour to become chairperson of the West Clare MD for the coming year. As a believer in local politics and decision making, he said MD had a significant role to play and relished his new role.
Three years after his election, he said only now does he fully appreciate how little he knew about the role coming in 2019 – the demands, challenges and setbacks that he encountered along the way.
However, he stressed there were far more positives that make the role enjoyable and rewarding.
In GAA terms concerning his involvement with teams, he said there will always be more matches, defeat is never permanent and you keep moving forward, there is another hurdle and eventually endeavour will be rewarded with success.
“I try to keep that same perspective representing communities in North and West Clare. We are in a people business. The diversity of people we come across really makes the job – the public, officials, media ensure that no day is repetitive or boring.
“I look forward to working collectively with colleagues and staff across the MD. Central to this is our continuing welcome and support to our newest friends and residents from Ukraine.”
Proposing Councillor Talty, Councillor Joe Killeen said the new chairman, in addition to holding a business degree, is interested in farming and sport as well as running his own post office business, which will be very valuable dealing with issues in West and North Clare.
Councillor Killeen said Councillor Talty brings huge enthusiasm to job creation and tourism promotion.
Seconding this proposal, Councillor P J Kelly described the new chairman as a very competent councillor, was ‘no one’s prisoner” a great listener and had a great way of assessing things before he makes a comment.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.