A Connemara community group is weighing up an appeal after planning permission for a state-led marine industry park in Cill Chiaráin was rejected.
As The Times Ireland edition reports, Galway County Council has refused planning approval for the Páirc na Mara project, a “low carbon marine innovation park” spearheaded by Údaras na Gaeltachta on the Connemara coast.
Michael Dunworth of the 'Jobs for the Iorras Aithneach Area' group said that the council’s ruling was a major blow to an area that has been an employment blackspot.
“I was forced to leave and work in England for 20 years, and I came back here to rear my kids through Irish,” he said.
“We need this project to attract young people, new families, and keep our schools open, and we will fight for this little corner,” Dunworth, who lives near Cill Chiaráin, said.
The community group is holding a meeting early this week to consider options in relation to an appeal, he said.
Údaras na Gaeltachta is also considering the ruling, which is said to have come as a complete surprise.
The Gaeltacht development agency aimed to tap into a 12 billion US dollar global seafood industry through the 3 to 5 million euro project, on which some 1 million euro has already been spent in planning stages.
Renewable energy, new uses for seaweed and recirculation systems for land-based aquaculture are among projects identified, with promised employment for 200 people and potential for 400 more indirectly.
Galway County Council had previously approved permission for an early stage of the project in 2018 - an administrative building and temporary waste water tank and ancillary works.
However, this was successfully appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the Galway Bay Against Salmon Cages grouping.
In its ruling, Galway County Council has identified concerns about impact on a special area of conservation (SAC), and on water supply and roads.
Officials at the State agency are studying the ruling, with sources close to the project saying it affected a “fraction of a percentage of an SAC”.
“This was not about salmon farming, as people suggested. A range of marine industries have expressed interest,” Dunworth pointed out.
Údarás na Gaeltachta said the project is “based on sustainable principles”, and its commitment to the circular economy and is of “national importance to the marine sector”.
It said the marine park is part of its “core strategy” to develop a “sustainable ' green' Gaeltacht ( An Ghaeltacht Glas)” based on the “sustainable utilisation of the regions natural resources”.
“The Páirc na Mara project - for which more than 20 expressions of interest from potential investors have been received - will deliver 200 direct jobs and up to 400 indirect and ancillary jobs in an area blighted by emigration and which census figures demonstrate as being disadvantaged and suffering population decline for many years,” it said.
“All necessary environmental studies and assessments have been carried out as part of the preparatory work and planning process,”it said.
Údarás na Gaeltachta said it would “carefully assess the decision documents issued by Galway County Council with a view to identifying all options open to the organisation to continue to progress this vital project”.
Read The Times Ireland here
