Planners seek clarity on Coalition's gas reserve policy before deciding fate of Shannon LNG plan
An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála) has written to the Environment Minister, saying it needs to know what the Coalition's official policy is before it makes any decisions on Shannon LNG's proposal.
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Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Uisce Éireann warns of 'critical constraints' in water capacity
Uisce Éireann has warned that its capacity to serve could hit critical constraints resulting in housing delivery coming to a standstill in the next few years. Concerns were raised at the Oireachtas housing committee that housing delivery could be stymied in the next three or four years as the water utility urged for the situation to be treated as an emergency. The committee heard that an additional €2bn — paid out over five years — would be required in order to deliver on the Government's housing targets. Uisce Éireann's Strategic Funding Plan had set out a requirement of €10.3bn investment in capital infrastructure based on the Housing For All targets of 33,000 new homes per year for 2025 to 2029. "The Government has now moved to increase national housing targets by 17,000 additional units a year to 2030," CEO of Uisce Éireann, Niall Gleeson said. The challenge for infrastructure providers like Uisce Éireann is to work out how we can mobilise our workforce, funding, processes and supply chains to support these targets on top of our existing obligations. Mr Gleeson said Uisce Éireann "is not a housing delivery body" but is tasked with ensuring the provision of water and wastewater infrastructure for the construction of new developments and for the homes when they are completed. The Dublin area in particular is "running out of road" in terms of headroom and that projects in Dublin and the Eastern and Midlands region are on the cusp of critical phases, the committee heard. "Until we address the challenges highlighted in planning, consenting and funding, Uisce Éireann remains concerned about the level of risk in these projects," said Mr Gleeson. With the demand outstripping the supply in Dublin on certain days already this year, it was warned that the area could be one fine day away from the introduction of water restrictions. Funding is just one element that is needed to deliver the big and small projects that need to be delivered. Infrastructure projects need to be prioritised when it comes to planning, the process needs to be streamlined and the committee heard that when it comes to consent, there is an element of 'nimbyism' (not in my back yard). Mr Gleeson told the committee that the utility has "consistently advocated for an urgent approach" to addressing the issues facing infrastructure projects and reiterated the need for a sense of urgency. Read More Ireland facing sand and gravel shortage due to planning delays, industry warns
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Fees issue calls into question cohesiveness of Government
The faces on the Government benches in the Dáil were strikingly solemn today. The reason was not merely the result of grim warnings about major economic uncertainty issued by the equally lugubrious Jack Chambers. It stemmed from a ferocious few days for TDs having to respond to calls from worried parents and stressed students. Minister for Higher Education James Lawless awkwardly revealed on RTÉ's This Week last Sunday that student fees were, as things stand, going up by a whopping €1,000. Chaos ensued and the language has since then been far less blunt from Government. Indeed, the outline of a solution is probably well advanced at this stage, but political damage has been done. This evening the Tánaiste urged parents and students to pay the fees in installments and see what unfolds in the Budget. Simon Harris's words are a strong hint that the final figure will be below €3,000 and this time it will be a permanent reduction coupled with a promise of further cuts in the years ahead. The roots of this controversy lie in the decision not to have a cost-of-living package in the next Budget, that after all was the mechanism which kept the fees lower for the last three years. But the poor handling of an issue that affects so many families does raise questions about the cohesiveness of the Government. And that is important if the economic uncertainty that the Minister for Public Expenditure cited today leads to the coalition having to make some unpopular decisions soon. Ministers would do well to acquaint themselves with the guiding principles on this subject as set down in the Programme for Government. It states that a reasonable balance must be found between the different priorities of the Government parties, adding that "this requires food faith and there should be no public discussion of government policy until there is agreement". Words that Minister James Lawless will no doubt have etched on his mind next time he takes to the public stage.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Sinn Féin tables motion to protect cultural heritage of GPO
Sinn Féin has tabled a Private Members' Business Motion which it says would protect the cultural heritage of the GPO and put it at the heart of a 1916 cultural quarter. Aengus Ó Snodaigh condemned as a "clanger" Government plans to redevelop the site. He rejected charges that his party's plans would harm commerce in the area. Mr Ó Snodaigh urged that the "the full heritage and cultural potential is honoured and realised", and he said that the Government's countermotion deleted that phrase from his party's proposal. "Was it for Starbucks that all the blood was shed?" he asked, noting that the GPO's roof "gave birth to the Republic". His party colleague Joanna Byrne criticised the Government's response to the motion, saying it was a "dismissive smoke screen", and accused the Coalition of trying to "tear the heart out of the birth place of our Republic". Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly condemned as "shamfeful" the "breathtaking ignorance of our history" which she accused the Government of displaying. "Commercialisation of the GPO will not be tolerated," she added. Christopher O'Sullivan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, responded by saying that the GPO is not just "bricks and mortar" but "a witness" to - and "living symbol" of - Ireland's struggle for freedom. "The bullet holes still etched in its columns are not scars, but scriptures," he said. He noted that most of the workforce has moved to a new site, and quoted a regeneration report which urged that an ambitious national flagship project be undertaken at the site. It will remain in public ownership, he said. He condemned as "completely outrageous" and "completely out of order" accusations made by Sinn Féin against the Government of "betrayal" and "wanton destruction". "That is why we are strongly opposing this motion," he said, and added that there is already a commercial element at the site. He urged the party to take advantage of this "opportunity to create something wonderful", insisting that the cultural signifiance of the site would be at the centre of the redevelopment.
