South Dublin councillors yesterday unanimously passed four separate motions condemning Department of Justice plans for a third prison in the Clondalkin area.
The Department, which is seeking to build a secure juvenile prison on land zoned as green belt at the Naas Road, is not obliged to achieve the planning authority's approval for its intentions.
Angry councillors from all the main parties criticised the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, for "dumping another prison on the area". They also criticised the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, for his "failure" to appoint a referee, as he is entitled to in planning disputes between local authorities and State agencies.
Cllr Don Tipping said Section 181 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 empowered Mr Cullen to make a regulation which would allow him to appoint an independent referee to adjudicate on such cases.
