An unprecedented number of motions directing the county manager to grant planning permission to one-off houses in the countryside came before the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council yesterday.
In a number of cases, alternative, less-elevated sites were available on family farms, but the applicants refused to consider them. Members had placed 27 of what are known as Section 140 motions under the Local Government Act 2001 before the council and most of the business of the meeting was taken up with them.
Some 21 of the 27 were passed by a clear 22-member majority, with only two members, Cllr John Brassil (FF) and Cllr Treasa Ní Fhearaíosa, consistently abstaining. Three or four members were not present. The six other motions have been adjourned.
Councillors endorsed developments in some of the most scenic parts of the county - sensitive heritage and wildlife areas - against the clear advice of planners.
In one case, the houses would be for sale, the councillors were told. On Valentia Island, they voted to direct planning to a site on the western side for a bungalow and septic tank in an open and undeveloped scenic landscape.
An alternative site which would not have interfered with the scenic character of the area was available, and owned by the applicant, but had not been taken up, planners had advised.
However the proposer, Cllr PJ Donovan (FG), said, "You would have to go out in a boat towards the Blasket to see it", adding that it was not visible from the road. Other developments would follow, planners warned.
Cllr Donovan also moved a motion to grant planning permission to a house near Cahersiveen on an elevated site above the Ring of Kerry road. The site was part of a small farm owned by the applicant's father where a total of 15 dwelling houses have been permitted by the council since 1997. In the same period 13 houses have been refused, said Mr Michael Scannell, director of corporate services.
However Cllr Donovan said the farmer had "kept the best site for his son" and this was the site in question.
Councillors also directed the county manager, Mr Martin Nolan, to grant outline permission to two houses near Lisselton in north Kerry on an elevated and exposed site visible from a wide area. It constituted ribbon development and the two sites were for sale, planners stated in their report.
Other one-off developments voted through were in secondary special amenity areas, in sites where entrances would constitute a danger to traffic. The heritage officer of Kerry County Council warned against a dwelling house at Tulig, Kenmare, because it would interfere with an important habitat of bats. Planners advised the applicant to build on an alternative site on the family farm but the applicant was "reluctant to move the position of the dwelling".