Zones of Contention: Councillors v Planning Regulator – January 12th, 2024

Yesterday, Kenmare Municipal District councillors held an 11-hour meeting about the draft development plan for the area of South Kerry which ranges from Kilgarvan in the east to Valentia in the west. Councillors reviewed 230 submissions made on the plan, many of which related to the zoning of individual plots of land as residential. Dozens of submissions made on the draft area plan requested that certain lands be zoned residential, and councillors repeatedly requested the council to zone these lands. However, zoning land for one-off rural housing and out-of-town/village housing developments is in direct contravention of the position taken by the Office of the Planning Regulator which has oversight in this area. Jerry spoke to two councillors from the area, independent Johnny Healy-Rae and Norma Moriarty of Fianna Fáil.  There was a problem with a phone line during the interview which causes some interference.