Leitrim's county manger, Mr John Tiernan, has defended housing developments permitted under the Upper Shannon rural renewal tax scheme. He was responding to concerns of residents in the coastal village of Tullaghan, which were reported in last week's column.
Mr Tiernan said he believed the tax scheme had been of "significant benefit" to Co Leitrim and to Tullaghan. Over the past year, 72 houses have been built along a half-mile stretch of coastal road at Tullaghan and planning applications for a further 70 have been lodged.
Leitrim's short stretch of coastline is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty in the county development plan. Mr Tiernan said he stood over planning decisions taken, and that in his view the principles and guidelines in the county development plan had been applied.
"There are two views coming forward to me in relation to Tullaghan. One is that the village is now suddenly wakened up, that there is building activity and economic activity where there was very little happening in the past. The other view is that enough is enough."
He said he believed the developments were in line with the principles of the county development plan. "It could be argued that the development has given a lifeline to sustain the village."
In relation to a development where houses are being built just yards from the sea, Mr Tiernan said this constituted an improvement because they were replacing a poorly maintained caravan park.
He said he believed the local authorities were applying "all the necessary controls" and handling the tax scheme "very well". It had been argued by the Western Development Commission and the Heritage Council that the scheme should not have been introduced in the absence of integrated area plans.
Mr Tiernan said the council had a heritage officer and referred applications to Duchas and An Taisce for comment, but that in relation to further planning controls, he "wouldn't like the train to leave the station while we are scratching our heads".
He said the rural renewal scheme differed from the seaside-resort scheme. It applies to owner-occupiers and people who lease a house for longer than three months. He said there was no evidence of any widescale abuse of these regulations.
One of the prime objectives of Leitrim County Council was to achieve population growth, and there was evidence that the tax scheme was helping to reverse the trend of population decline, he said.
Some 25 per cent of applications under the scheme were for the refurbishment of derelict houses, and this had greatly improved the landscape.
Mr Tiernan, who is to meet a delegation of residents from Tullaghan next week, said the council would continue to assess the situation and would protect the coastline and amenities of Tullaghan.