€900,000caughtup in red tape

May 2009

NINE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND euro meant for community facilities in Wicklow can’t be accessed by Wicklow County Council because An Bord Pleanála have sat on an appeal for over two years.

When planning permission was given for the Ballynagran Dump, one of the conditions was that for every tonne of waste brought on to the site, Greenstar had to pay ¤3 to a local community fund administered.

Greenstar appealed the condition to An Bord Pleanála, but the appeal board still haven’t made any decision despite over two years having passed. ‘It’s an absolute scandal,’ says Cllr. Conal Kavanagh. ‘300,000 tonnes has passed through Greenstar in that time, which means €900,000 is just sitting there.

‘It’s the only potential source of money out there. This is a time when Wicklow could really do with that sort of money.’

Cllr. Kavanagh believes Wicklow County Council could be doing more to place some pressure on An Bord Pleanála to finally make a decision one way or another.

‘ There aren’t any requirements on An Bord Pleanála to turn around a decision within a certain time frame.

‘Instead they can sit on something for over two years and deny a community some much needed facilities.’

The committee formed by the Council to decide on how to best spend the money consists of Council and local representatives, elected Council members and Greenstar representatives. But they have yet to actually hold any meetings.