Portmarnock Times
The Newsletter Of The Portmarnock Community Association
September 2004

Portmarnock Bites Back

Candidates Pay Price For Ignoring Community's Wishes

Peter Coyle (Lab.)
The recent Results of the Local elections have been a great boost for the community of Portmarnock. Those candidates who pledged to support the issues identified by the Portmarnock Community Association dominated the outcome with local Labour Councillor Peter Coyle Heading the poll with almost a quota of votes (2289) in Portmarnock alone.

Robert Kelly (Green Party)
Green candidate, Robert Kelly also did well in the Portmarnock area. The Green Party have stated their opposition to plans for a new runway at Dublin Airport which would impact so negatively on the quality of life, property values and most importantly the health of our. community.

Daragh O'Brien (F.F)
The Portmarnock vote was particularly damaging for Fianna Fail with Cllr. Daragh O'Brien polling only 260 first preference votes out of a possible 4186 (Less than 7%). Cllr. O'Brien supported the New Runway Proposal in a vote in the Council prior to the election. Cllr. O'Brien was unable to meet with the PCA prior to the election and as a new Councillor may not have been briefed on this issue which is so vital to the people of Portmarnock.

Alan Farrel (F.G)
Cllr Farrell was the last elected and he pledged to work in the interest of our community.He is particulary strong on the planning issues that have stained the reputation of the planning process in Fingal.

PCA Battles To Save Green Belt
Developers Move In On Portmarnock

PCA Chairman Joe Gallagher has recently submitted the view of the Association in relation to the new County Development Plan. The strongest comments related to the new runway at Dublin Airport and to the increasing developer assault on our green spaces especially the area between Portmarnock and Malahide.
Efforts by developers to use local sports clubs to promote re-zonings are little more than social blackmail and must be rejected for what they are. Joe Gallagher warned that developers should " Keep their hands off Portmarnock. If they want to give them land fine, but don't take advantage of them."

GAA club's support sought for Bailey scheme
Article in Sunday Post 26/09/04
By Neil Callanan

Multi-millionaire developers Tom and Michael Bailey have enlisted the support of a north Dublin GAA club in a bid to have a green belt of land owned by the brothers rezoned for housing. The brothers and another developer have promised Naomh Mearnog GAA club in Portmarnock 17 acres of land for free if a bank of land is rezoned residential by Fingal County Council.
The Bailey brothers, who were found to have obstructed the work of the Planning Tribunal, asked the High Court last week to have their tribunal legal costs covered by the taxpayer. Last week, the tribunal's counsel, Des O'Neill SC, said that, given the findings of the tribunal in relation to the Bailey brothers, they should not be awarded their costs. Peter Coyle, who is the council's chairman, said the tactic of enlisting the support of local sports clubs had been used by developers for land rezonings for a number of years. "It's been carried out since the 1993 Development Plan and it's now a common tactic by developers," he said. "I'm not in favour of it at all. It doesn't fit in with proper planning." This is something that's been going on for 12 years. Exterior influences like this should not be brought to bear. "It's not just the Naomh Mearnog deal, the same applies to other cases. It's only one of a few that's happened throughout the county." The best known example of this was in 1997 when councillor; approved plans to rezone over 200 acres of green-belt land between Malahide and Howth owned by developer Gerry Gannon. In return, Gannon made pitches available to seven sports clubs in the area. The councillors voted for the rezoning despite thcrz being more than 5,500 representations made in opposition to the proposal.
In a recent submission to Fingal County Council - obtained by The Sunday Business Post - Portmarnock Community Association described the practice of giving land or facilities for sports clubs and other groups in return for the rezoning of green belt areas as "social blackmail". The submission states: "The result is that worthy individuals striving to do their best for their clubs are encouraged to lobby and pressurise for the rezoning of lands to the long-tenn detriment of the community as a whole. and the short term gain of the individual developers. While still legal in this jurisdiction, the iinkage vi auch oifcrs to pla:ming and rezoning are we believe unsavoury and unethical. "Green Party councillor Robert Kelly said he believed that the council would vote to overturn any proposed rezoning of any of the Baileys land in the green-belt area.
Naomh Mearnog is planning a centre of excellence on the site if the rezoning is approved and the GAA has already said it will part-fund the centre."It is our wish and intention to co-operate with Dublin County Board in establishing this," said Pat O'Leary, a member of Naomh Mearnog's development committee. The club hopes to develop pitches, all-weather and indoor facilities and dressing rooms.-We have 17 acres and we want to double that to give the club extra facilities," O'Leary said. "It's a great idea but not if there's any further rezoning of green belt land for development," said local Fine Gael councillor Alan Farrell. "It would be a great facility for Dublin." Fingal County Council would not comment on submissions to the county development plan.
The latest accounts for the Bailey's company, Bovale Developments, show it made a profit after tax of €55.36 million in the year ending June 2003, while the brothers received an overall remuneration package worth €8.2 million for the year.

Traffic Calming

The PCA supports recent efforts by residents to have traffic calming maeasures introduced in certain areas of Portmarnock.A recent petition taken in the areas showed overwhelming support for such a move. Over the past few years the instances of speeding cars, usually driven by youths, travelling around the neighbourhood has become alarming. Measures must be taken to prevent serious injury or death to our residents.You too can help by keeping an eye on your sppedometer.

Portmarnock Against Litter(PAL)

The Annual Community Clean-Up organised by PAL will take place on

Saturday October 16th 2004. 10am - 12 noon.

Why not get the family involved and do your bit to keep our neighbourhood a place we can all have pride in.Gloves and plastic sacks will be provided so look out for the meeting point signs in your locality.