An Taisce in Kerry is objecting strongly to plans by the Irish language development organisation Údarás na Gaeltachta for a large business park on the main Slea Head route in west Kerry on the grounds of "unsustainability, visual amenity, tourism, traffic safety and effluent treatment".
The plans, about 1.5km (one mile) west of the village of Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, include a joint proposal by Údarás and University College, Galway for a third-level language academy.
The plans were approved by Kerry County Council because of their importance to the Irish language in the local Gaeltacht area.
Along with the Irish language academy, the council granted permission for an office block to facilitate local development agency Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne, whose premises in the village are no longer adequate, as well as roads and extensive car park facilities. Permission for a pre-school facility on the site has already gone through. The 5.5 acres of land are owned by Údarás.
There are no footpaths or lights linking the development with the village, council planners noted.
The council's roads department also raised concerns about the narrow road and its bends. However, the development was described as important and prestigious and Kerry County Council granted permission.
Dr Catherine McMullin, honorary planning officer with An Taisce in Kerry, said the development was on the most-popular tourist route on the Dingle peninsula "and most, if not all, visitors to the area will pass by the site".
It was surrounded by areas of prime and special amenity and there were expansive views in all directions - so much so a proposal for three houses on the site had been turned down in 1998.
The council's recent decision was based on economic and cultural considerations.
An Taisce said not enough time had been spent assessing the development on what was a poor, wet site. An Taisce was now asking An Bord Pleanála to require a full environmental impact study before making a decision on the case, said Dr McMullin.
The language academy was welcome but it was "not site-specific" and there were other sites closer to the village and in the Gaeltacht which could be considered.
"The site is in a rural area with very little development other than dwelling houses, and the network of tarmac roads, paths, lighting, etc, will all introduce a distinctly urban element to the landscape. The extensive car parks will be particularly obtrusive when in use," she said.
Because of the damp nature of the site, material will have to be imported to build up stepped areas and embankments.
Much of the development taking place in Kerry, particularly on damp sites, such as this, uses "construction and demolition" waste to build up the ground, giving rise to concern the material may be contaminated, Dr McMullin added.