Apple gets green light for parking extension as 1,300 new employees on Cork campus
The Council has attached 22 conditions to the planning permission to Apple Operations International Ltd (AOIL) for the additional car-park spaces — in one car-park with 159 spaces and the other with 126 spaces — on land banks it owns to the north of David McCarthy Rd on the northside of the city.
The permission follows consultants for AOIL, DBFL Consulting Engineers telling the council that the number of employees is expected to reach 5,350 across the entire Apple Campus at Hollyhill by mid-2025.
DBFL state that there is a longer-term projection 'of 6,000 employees by 2030 subject to market conditions'.
The grant of permission for the 285 car-spaces is in addition to the 2,572 parking spaces either on-site or under construction at the Hollyhill Campus.
In a planning report lodged with the application, consultants HW Planning stated that the proposal is appropriate to facilitate the continued success of Apple operations in Cork and to meet their growing needs "in the absence of frequent public transport provision'.
They state that the additional car spaces are required despite the initiatives being implemented on campus to promote sustainable travel options and are required to ensure the continued success of this strategic employment hub.
Outlining the background to the application in a Parking Justification Report, DBFL states that 'the additional spaces are requested to provide short-medium term resilience and mitigate anticipated delays to the planned public transport and road network improvements ahead of the opening of the Hollyhill 5 building in mid-2025'.
The report states that "in the longer term, there may be scope to repurpose these spaces to higher-value uses that support the expansion of the Apple campus – once the planned key upgrades to Cork's transport network are delivered'.
Outlining the need for the additional car spaces, the report cites delays in various public transport initiatives.
The report states that initially the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 envisaged the construction of the Cork Northern Distributor Multi Modal Road by 2027 which would provide orbital active travel and public transport connectivity to the campus.
The report states: 'However, the likelihood is that the delays to the roll-out of the Cork Northern Distrubutor Road in particular, will necessitate short-medium term requirement of the proposed car-parking."
On planned BusConnects, the report states that while the original BusConnects timeline envisaged roll-out of infrastructure and services beginning in 2024, roll-out is now scheduled to commence in 2025/2026.
The report states: 'The delays in the rollout of BusConnects has resulted in additional Apple shuttle services being required to address ongoing issues in journey time reliability."
The report further stated that CMATS also proposes six park-and-ride facilities, including at Dunkettle and Blarney/Stoneview, connected by high-quality public transport services to key destinations. However, 'to date, none of these park-and-ride proposals have been delivered despite the establishment of a dedicated park-and-ride office in the National Transport Authority".
The report states that in line with Apple's wider commitments to climate action and sustainability objectives, it would seek to reduce the number of employees commuting to the Hollyhill Campus by car in the long-term, by reducing the number of spaces per employee over time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
China hits EU with reciprocal ban on major medical equipment contracts
CHINA HAS HIT back at an EU ban on Chinese firms from major medical equipment purchases with a similar bar on European companies in the latest trade salvo between the two economies. China's finance ministry said in a statement that European Union companies, with the exception of 'those with European capital established in China, will have to be excluded' from orders of more than 45 million yuan (€5.3 million). China's ban, which comes into effect from today, covers a wide range of products, from prosthetic devices and parts to medical machinery and surgical instruments. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the EU's headquarters, as well as France and Germany, over the past week in a bid to improve relations with the 27-member bloc. However, deep frictions remain over economic ties, including a yawning trade deficit reaching into hundred of billions of euro between China and the EU. Advertisement Beijing's finance ministry also specified that the proportion of products from the EU could not exceed 50 percent in bids from non-European companies. The EU drew an angry response from Beijing, and an accusation of double standards, when it banned Chinese firms from government medical device purchases worth more than five million euros ($5.8 million) in retaliation for limits Beijing places on access to its own market. The European Commission said at the time the ban was a reaction to 'China's longstanding exclusion of EU-made medical devices from Chinese government contracts'. According to Brussels, just under 90 percent of public procurement contracts for medical devices in China 'were subject to exclusionary and discriminatory measures' against EU firms. 'China has repeatedly expressed, through bilateral dialogue, its willingness to resolve these disputes appropriately through consultations, dialogue and bilateral arrangements in the field of public procurement,' China's commerce ministry said in a separate statement. Over the last three years, Brussels and Beijing have come into conflict in a number of economic sectors, including electric cars, the rail industry, solar panels and wind turbines. With reporting by © AFP 2023 Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Extra.ie
A million premises face power cuts this autumn
Up to a million homes and businesses could face power cuts this autumn because the national grid operator failed to secure enough backup energy, has learned. And the blackouts could hit as soon as September after a damning new report identified Ireland as one of the three worst countries in Europe for electricity supplies. The findings are contained in a report released by the grid operators responsible for ensuring there is enough power to keep the lights on in 36 different European countries. Pic: fhm/Getty Images In their forecast for the winter ahead, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-e) said the failure to replace antiquated power plants is to blame for the looming power cuts in Ireland. The report said: 'Ireland is marked with adequacy risks in September where significant planned outages on conventional generation are foreseen.' The threat of looming blackouts comes after an investigation revealed earlier this year that more than 50,000 households and businesses are already experiencing power outages every week. Pic:Documents obtained under Freedom of Information confirmed that outages impacted almost three million ESB customers – including people temporarily left without electricity on multiple occasions – across the country last year. MEP and former minister Barry Cowen said the stark warnings in the ENTSO-e report should raise serious questions at the highest levels of government. As Mr Cowen told 'To be singled out at European level – something that has unfortunately been remarked upon by colleagues in the European Parliament — is more than just an embarrassment. It should spark serious reflection on how we ended up here. MEP Barry Cowen. Pic: Tom Honan 'This is not the result of some sudden crisis. It's the product of drift, poor planning and repeated failure to act on clear warnings – failures I have consistently raised in Dáil Éireann, the European Parliament and both institutions' relevant committees,' he continued. The MEP for the Midlands-North West constituency added: 'EirGrid's own former CEO even warned we were 'sleepwalking' into a capacity crisis. It appears that warning is quickly becoming a reality. 'Flexibility in the system is limited. Dispatchable generation [electricity that can be programmed on demand] is not arriving quickly enough. And the grid simply can't keep up.' Jack Chambers. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos Europe's grid operators' warning comes as the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, set up by Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers to remove roadblocks to housing and major infrastructure projects, is due to publish its first report. The report is likely to recommend significant investments in Ireland's electricity and water infrastructure, identified as two of the biggest obstacles to the Government's pre-election promise to build 300,000 new homes before the end of the decade. Estimates published by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) this week indicate the Coalition will fall far short of these targets. However, the report by the umbrella group of Europe's gird operators shows Ireland cannot produce enough electricity to maintain current demand. Pic: File According to ENTSO-e, the planned temporary closure to allow for repair works on four of the country's creaking power plants will suck one gigawatt of energy from the national grid in September. This is the level of energy required to ensure the lights are kept on in from 750,000 to one million households, farms and businesses. Although these shutdowns have been planned in advance, European grid operators are concerned there will not be enough alternative sources of energy to cover both planned and any unexpected shutdowns to be caused by faults and breakdowns. In their Summer and Winter 2025 Outlook report, ENTSO-e said there is no risk of blackouts in continental Europe, the Nordic countries or the UK. In contrast, the body identifies Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus as being the most at risk of power outages. The report states: 'Islands that are isolated or scarcely interconnected (Ireland, Malta and Cyprus) will require close monitoring. 'The adequacy risk identified in Ireland at the end of the summer season is driven by multiple overlapping planned large dispatchable generator outages and the lack of new dispatchable generation entering the market to replace old units that have closed and to cover the increase in demand.' The report said the 'adequacy situation in Ireland will depend on the operational conditions, namely unplanned outages of the ageing generation fleet and especially wind generation. Non-market resources are now available and will significantly alleviate the risk.' But it warned 'Ireland is marked with adequacy risks in September', and that 'significant planned outages on conventional generation are foreseen'. The report adds: 'These risks are driven by unplanned outages of ageing power plants and will depend on wind generation if such outages occur. The actual adequacy situation in Ireland will depend on operational conditions such as unplanned outages of the ageing generation fleet in Ireland and especially wind generation.' Maynooth University Professor and member of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Peter Thorne, said the 'a lot will depend on renewables' if Ireland is to avoid significant power outages. Professor Thorne told 'If at any time over winter we are stuck under a cloudy high pressure, [with] little-to-no wind, no solar, then we'd be in trouble.' Prof Thorne said: 'The solution is to accelerate the roll-out of renewables and batteries and ensure [that there is] enough gas, oil and biomass capability for bridging and load balancing'. But he warned: 'New commercial-scale renewables take time even once planning is in place'. Professor Thorne went on to add: 'The other issue is grid renewal which is required for the new generation and storage reality. It's a mixture of planning and funding that is required.' In response to queries, EirGrid said: 'Planned outages are an essential part of managing the electricity grid Such outages are carefully planned, managed and communicated to stakeholders.' Despite the warnings coming from Europe's power grid bosses, a spokesman insisted that the 'scale of outages planned for September in Ireland is broadly consistent with previous outage plans for this time of year, and is not out of the ordinary'. A plant will remain offline day and night during planned maintenance works. Asked whether householders will likely be impacted by the planned power cuts, the spokesman added: 'EirGrid does not supply electricity to households. We supply electricity to the distribution system, managed by ESB Networks, which then supplies electricity to households.' ESB declined to respond to queries from saying 'we have nothing further to add at this time'. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) said it is 'aware that… EirGrid has planned generator outages during what is traditionally a lower-demand period.' A spokesman added: 'The one gigawatt (GW) that is referenced in the ENTSO-e outlook refers to power plants that will be offline for scheduled maintenance.' The regulator insisted the planned outages does not necessarily mean 'electricity customers will lose power. EirGrid carefully plans the electricity system to ensure that there is sufficient power available from other generation plants to cater for the expected demand, even when some generation plants are offline for routine maintenance during this period.' The spokesman also noted that ENTSO-e's forecast 'does not include electricity available from renewable generation, which can provide additional power for increased demand. 'This further mitigates against the risk of any interruptions.'
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Stealth hike in Irish personal injury insurance payouts will hit us all in the pocket – Govt's timing couldn't be worse
INSURANCE premiums are another rising cost in Ireland's affordability crisis, with prices outpacing those in many other European countries. The average cost of 3 The rises can cause real world problems for many people Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan Credit: Alamy 3 Brian Hanley said prices outpace those in many other European countries Credit: social media collect - IVAN COOPER That's almost double the price of the average And there are fears they could shoot up even more, as the proposed personal injury award guidelines are to be increased by almost 17 per cent. These rises can cause real world problems for many people. It could mean driving less or taking Small READ MORE IN OPINION Justice Minister Brian Hanley of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, says the timing of an increase in personal injury awards couldn't be worse for policyholders. IF you are a motorist, small business owner, The Most read in The Irish Sun Now, in the middle of this affordability crisis, the Government is preparing to quietly make things even worse. A proposal is set to be brought to Cabinet to increase personal injury awards by nearly 17 per cent, reversing much of the progress made over the past three years to bring a degree of balance and consistency to injury compensation in Ireland. HIGHER THAN ENGLAND Nobody disputes that people who suffer injuries deserve fair compensation, but Irish awards are already among the highest in Europe. A 2019 analysis by the Personal Injuries Commission showed personal injury awards here were 440 per cent higher than those in That kind of disparity isn't fair — it's unsustainable. The move comes as the latest Central More claims and rising repair costs — driven by inflation — have already pushed up the cost of cover. The one factor helping to contain those costs was a reduction in injury awards. Now, that progress risks being undone. This is especially concerning for Tracy Sheridan, who runs Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and is a board member of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, sees the effect first-hand. HARDER TO KEEP GOING She says: 'Every month we're hearing about premiums going up. The only bright spot had been that awards had come down. If Government raises them now, there'll be no brake on rising insurance costs. It's just not sustainable.' And it's not just businesses feeling the strain. Across the country, voluntary groups, sports clubs and community organisations — many operating on a shoestring — are finding it harder and harder to keep going. They're doing everything right: improving safety, reducing risk, keeping clean records. Yet when the insurance renewal comes around, the premium has risen again. Here's the kicker: for liability insurance, which covers injuries that happen in places like community centres or sports pitches, the cost of claims has actually gone down — by ten per cent in the same six-month period. In a properly functioning market, that should lead to lower premiums, but that hasn't happened. What's worrying is how little public discussion there's been about this planned increase. The Government has been virtually silent for six months, even though this change affects every single policyholder in the country. There's been no proper scrutiny from the In 2021, new Personal Injuries Guidelines were introduced to bring more consistency and fairness. They helped align Irish awards more closely with international norms. FOOT THE BILL Those reforms were a step in the right direction — but they are now at risk of being reversed before they've had a chance to deliver lasting impact. The Central Bank's report makes another key point: legal costs blow up when claims are settled through litigation instead of the Injuries Resolution Board. For liability claims under €100,000 — which account for 94 per cent of all personal injury cases — legal fees go from just €597 at the Injuries Board to over €24,000 for claims settled in litigation. The average award for claimants is actually the same, so you're left asking who really benefits from almost 70 per cent of cases going into litigation? Not claimants and certainly not policyholders. It's the public — motorists, business owners, The Government must now pause this proposal and refer it to the relevant Oireachtas committee. We need transparency, data, and evidence — not quiet decisions made behind closed doors. Let's debate the facts, consult the experts and hear from the people who are paying the premiums. Because if insurance keeps going the way it is going, the damage won't just be financial — it will be social and structural. Ireland needs a personal injury system that is fair for claimants, and affordable for everyone else.
