THE PROPOSED “dezoning” of substantial areas of land in mid-Kerry was adjourned yesterday at a special meeting of Kerry County Council after Fine Gael said “new information” had come to light.
A week ago, Fine Gael, which for the first time in decades holds the majority on the council with support from Labour and others, appeared to favour management proposals to deal with the excessive development zonings of the past decade in Kerry.
This was against much opposition from Fianna Fáil and Independent councillors Danny and Michael Healy-Rae.
Enough land to cater for six times the population of Kerry – for almost the whole of the population of Munster – has been zoned for development in the county, amid a plethora of zonings by members, often against planners’ advice.
Management now insists such overzonings cannot remain and points out it is being forced to act under ministerial directive.
In Killorglin town, management is proposing to dezone some 200 acres, leaving 52 acres zoned residential. In Glenbeigh some 11 acres would remain zoned residential.
However, the proposals have caused uproar among councillors, with warnings by Fianna Fáil’s Paul O’Donoghue that the council would leave itself open to being sued if it pursued plans to dezone.
Mr O’Donoghue said he had to safeguard the ratepayers of the county and said there was no onus on the council to dezone. He also suggested the dezonings that had already taken place this year – some 600 acres in the case of Kenmare alone – should be rescinded.
Independent Danny Healy-Rae also argued the zonings should remain, as this would facilitate the consumer, while others warned that developers and speculators who paid high prices during the boom would be left high and dry.
Fine Gael appeared to back the management proposals last week but yesterday Cllr Brendan Griffin – seconding a Fine Gael proposal to adjourn again – said “new information” had come to light. However, he refused to disclose what that information was.
Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said: “Ye are buckling under pressure,” while Sinn Féin councillor Toireasa Ferris said individual landowners were putting on pressure.
Michael McMahon, director of services for planning, said he had left the last meeting with the view that there was broad agreement.
He warned there was no “wriggle room” in the village of Glenbeigh, where a number of landowners – including the brother of Cllr John Sheahan and TD Tom Sheahan – have made a submission that the residential part of their land be retained. Management proposes to dezone the approximately eight acres held by Pat and Eileen Sheahan. The matter was adjourned to Monday next.
KILGARVAN INCIDENT MAN IN ROW WITH COUNCILLOR TO SUE:
A SOLICITOR acting for the man involved in an incident with the Kerry councillor Danny Healy-Rae at the weekend said his client had been released from hospital and “continues under his GP’s care.”The alleged altercation took place on the main Kenmare to Kilgarvan road near Kilgarvan village at lunchtime on Saturday. Gardaí are investigating.
Two ambulances and gardaí were called to the scene and both men, Mr Healy-Rae and a neighbouring landowner in Fossa, Kilgarvan, were taken to Kerry General Hospital in Tralee where they received treatment for injuries.
It is understood the incident centred on a dispute over access and rights of way to land.
The man involved in the dispute “is refuting any allegation of any assault on any person,” his solicitor Pádraig O’Connell said yesterday.
“Further, legal proceedings both of an equity nature and a civil nature are being pursued immediately on behalf,” he added.
Meanwhile Mr Healy-Rae, the eldest son of the Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae was discharged from hospital at noon yesterday.
Mr Healy-Rae’s brother Michael said Danny was suffering from injuries to his face, neck and back and was recuperating at home.
- ANNE LUCEY