Meath Expand The Meath Local Association runs a programme of events and manages the Boyne Navigation property along the River Boyne from Navan to Drogheda. Email: [email protected]
Limerick Expand Our Limerick Local Association is very active in advocating for Limerick's natural and built heritage. Keep up with their work on Facebook, Twitter and their own website. They have also compiled a register of Limerick Buildings at Risk available for download here. The Associations is also authorised to make planning submissions to the Local Authority and to recommend appeals for approval by An Taisce Advocacy Head Office. Email: [email protected]
Donegal Expand The Donegal Local Association is active in the north of the country and publishes an annual calendar with photos of Donegal, as well as managing Rough and Gull Islands in Mulroy Bay. There's also the Crocnafarragh Nature Reserve beside Glenveagh National Park which is leased to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. They also run an annual series of Walks and Talks that are free, open to the public and suitable for all ages. Download the 2019 brochure here. Donegal has also publish a book on the Gate Lodges of Donegal, which is available for download. Email: [email protected]
Cork Expand The Cork Association is active in making planning submissions to the Local Authority and recommending appeals for approval by An Taisce Advocacy Head Office. An Taisce also holds Kanturk Castle as one of its properties. Email: [email protected]
Clare Expand The Clare Local Association is active in advocacy and manages the Mullaghmore Nature Reserve, an An Taisce property beside the Burren National Park. The association has annual rhythm each year, starting with the Annual General Meeting, which is now held in April. Meeting are also held during Biodiversity week (Environmental Fair) and Heritage week (our Annual Bat meeting) with the tenth Bat meeting in 2015. Two or three newsletters are published per year and typically to members by email. They detail of our two annual meetings, projects we are involved with, and they welcome new members. A lot of time and effort was put into the setting up of the Clare PPN (Public Participation Network), which is now has a secretariat and is formed in each municipal district. Interim environmental representatives have been appointed to the Clare County Council Strategic Policy committees, two of which are An Taisce members. This Association has been functioning for many years with a short break in the late 1990s. There are two sub-committees: Burren Committee which looks after our land in the Burren KULYANA Communities Combatting Climate Change who are preparing for a busy time ahead. Email: [email protected]
Kerry Expand The Kerry Association is authorised to make planning submissions to the Local Authority and to recommend appeals for approval by An Taisce Advocacy Head Office. Email: [email protected]
Galway Expand The Galway Association is authorised to make planning submissions to the Local Authority and to recommend appeals for approval by An Taisce Advocacy Head Office. Email: [email protected]
Northwest Expand The Northwest (LN, RN, SO) Local Association covers the counties of Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo. Follow them on Twitter here.
Dublin South (R. Dodder - N11 - Commons Rd.) Expand The Dublin South association is authorised to make planning submissions to the Local Authority and to recommend appeals for approval by An Taisce Advocacy Head Office. The Dublin South association area is from the source of the Dodder to the Co. Wicklow border west of the N 11 excluding Dun Laoghaire South to Ballybrack River. Email: [email protected]
Kilkenny Expand Kilkenny city centre has a rich medieval heritage consisting of a network of streets, laneways and public spaces, city walls, historic buildings and nine architectural conservation areas. There is also a green infrastructure that includes the River Nore and its tributaries, parks, trees and trails. Much of the work of the Local Association is concerned with monitoring developments here through the planning process and ensuring that adaptations for modern use protect its character, historic structure and biodiversity. In pre-Covid times we regularly had nature walks that addressed biodiversity loss in the rural landscape and held lectures on heritage issues. We have over 30 local members and an active committee of six. Our service to the local community is providing a voice for the natural and build heritage in local planning and contributing to education in this field. We may be contacted at [email protected]
What is An Taisce’s role in planning? Expand A cornerstone of the Advocacy Unit's work is our role as the only independent charity in Ireland with a statutory or “prescribed” role in the planning process. This means we are sent planning applications for proposed developments of all types and of all sizes that may impact the environment and/or built heritage. Our role is to review and comment on the applications as part of the decision making process. Essentially, we act as a watchdog. We also have a similar role regarding infrastructure developments (such as large electricity projects), forestry licensing, aquaculture licensing, pollution control licensing, and dumping at sea permits. The detailed submissions we make often result in changes to the proposals to better promote sustainable development and ecological protection. Our work can also result in particularly problematic proposals being refused. Learn more about these statutory roles here. More broadly, the Advocacy Unit's focus in this oversight role is to advocate for the full implementation, enforcement and improvement of national and European environmental law and policy. We also advocate for the right to full public participation in all environmental decision and policy-making processes.
What policy areas does An Taisce work on? Expand We provide detailed submissions to policy consultations at all levels, from the local to the national, and on a wide range of issues, from County Development Plans to marine conservation to climate legislation. The top priorities in our policy work include: Addressing the climate change and biodiversity loss emergencies; Improving and protecting water quality and air quality; Creating a sustainable food system; Creating sustainable communities to support the wellbeing of both people and environment; Shifting from dependence on private car use to more sustainable modes of transport such as public transport, cycling and walking; Protecting our built and cultural heritage and advocating for the sustainable and sensitive use of heritage buildings.
Can I view An Taisce’s planning and policy submissions? Expand All of our submissions on planning applications are publicly accessible through the planning authority websites. The relevant databases can be found on ePlans. We are currently in the process of uploading all of our submissions on policy consultations here.
Where can I find information about planning applications in Ireland? Expand Information regarding a planning application can be found on the planning authority websites. The relevant databases can be found on ePlans. Planning applications are searchable by reference number, applicant name, development description, or development address. An Bord Pleanala’s website, Ireland’s planning appeals board, provides information on planning appeals on local authority decisions, Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) applications and Strategic Housing Development (SHD) applications (this system is now discontinued but previous SHD cases and cases awaiting a decision are still accessible). For a library of information on the planning system, visit the Office of the Planning Regulator’s website.
What can I do if I have a planning-related query? Expand We appreciate and value public concern for planning in Ireland. If you would like to bring an issue to our attention, such as that regarding a planning application or an unauthorised development, please email [email protected]. Due to resources and capacity, however, we are unfortunately unable to respond to every concern raised with us.
There is development occurring in my area that I think may be unauthorised. What can I do? Expand If you believe that there is development occurring in your area without the necessary planning permission, you can submit an enforcement complaint to the local Council asking them to investigate. Each Council website should provide specific instructions on how to do so. In general, you will need to provide details of the location and development and/or activity in question. Providing photos, if possible, is often helpful as well. If you are unsure if the development is unauthorised, you can start by searching for it in the relevant planning authority database, which can be found on ePlans. The enforcement process can be very slow, and unfortunately, this is a systemic issue in Ireland. If an enforcement file has been opened in relation to your complaint, you can request updates from the Council, but progress may be slow. If you haven't heard back from the Council in relation to your initial complaint, follow up to ensure it was logged.
Why did An Taisce make a submission on one application and not another? Expand We receive, on average, over 500 planning application referrals per month. The number of applications we are able to respond to at any given time is largely dependent on our workload. We try to prioritise the submissions we make based on, among various criteria, the scale of the development in question and the likelihood and severity of potential environmental or heritage impacts. Due to our limited resources, we are unfortunately unable to respond to every planning application that we would like to.
What is An Taisce’s aim in making planning submissions? Expand The majority of our planning submissions are observations and would generally raise the need for further assessment of one or more aspects of the planning application as well as issues of ensuring compliance with local, national or EU policy. Our goal is to ensure that planning decisions are made in compliance with national and EU environmental law such as the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, Habitats and Birds Directives, Water Framework Directive, national climate mitigation policy, etc. All of these have to be factored into planning decisions at local council and An Bord Pleanála levels. Our overall focus in our planning work is ensuring: Environmental legal compliance in the planning process; The protection of our built and cultural heritage; and That planning in our rural areas, cities and towns is done as sustainably as possible for the wellbeing of both people and the environment.
What can I do about the destruction of hedgerows in my community? Expand Hedgerows are immensely important in Ireland for many reasons, including supporting wildlife, aiding in carbon sequestration and alleviating air pollution, as well as mitigating impacts from flooding and wind. To learn more, we recommend this document from The Heritage Council, Conserving Hedgerows. Per the Wildlife Act 1976 (as Amended, 2000) hedge cutting is banned from 1 March to 31 August every year, unless exempted for reasons such as health and safety. Please report illegal hedge cutting to Gardai and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Including photos or videos as evidence is best if possible. Visit Irish Wildlife Trust and the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland for more information. If you believe hedgerows have been cut, removed, or destroyed as a result of wider unauthorised development, also contact the local county council. Please provide full details of the area of concern, including location and photos if possible. If you believe that more than 500 metres of hedgerow or field boundary has been removed, please contact An Taisce at [email protected] and provide us with precise location details and photos if possible.
What can I do about the destruction of trees in my community? Expand Please visit the Tree Council of Ireland’s website for comprehensive information about tree maintenance, tree felling, legal requirements, and other general tree information.
Can An Taisce help with injured birds and other wildlife? Expand Unless there is a concern that a planning application or development will have an impact on birds or other wildlife, we are unable to help. If you have found an injured bird, contact an experienced wildlife rehabilitator, which can be found on the Irish Wildlife Matters website. If you are concerned about an abandoned baby bird, please remember that it is often the case that they do not need help and it is normal for young birds to leave the nest before they are able to fly. It is best to return the bird back to where it was found or to its nest if it does need help so that its parents can look after it. Otherwise, it will need specialist care. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator, which can be found on the Irish Wildlife Matters website. For more information, visit BirdWatch Ireland’s website. Additionally, their FAQ page is an excellent resource.