Dublin councillors voted for rezoning contrary to advice

Dublin county councillors voted, against the advice of planners in 1993, to rezone some of the lands which are at the centre of the controversy surrounding the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke.

The rezonings were supported by councillors from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the PDs. One Labour councillor who supported the rezonings subsequently became an independent.

Fingal County Council is investigating the zoning and ownership history of the lands and is likely to report to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, on Monday.

The lands involved total just under 700 acres and are at North Road, Finglas (110 acres approx), Jamestown Road, Finglas (12 acres approx), Poppintree, Ballymun (100 acres approx), Donabate (225 acres approx), Balgriffin (250 acres approx) and Port marnock (nine acres).

In early 1993 the council held a series of special meetings to con- sider the new development plan for Co Dublin. On March 19th, 1993, councillors voted to rezone three lots of land near Ballymun, at Charlestown, Jamestown and Poppintree. The lands were re zoned from agricultural to residential or industrial use.

The planning officer told councillors that because of the absence of drainage facilities, rezoning would not be appropriate.

The motions, relating to Bovale Developments Ltd, were in the names of councillors C. Gallagher (FF), S. Gilbride (FF) and A. Devitt (FG). In two votes 37 councillors voted for, 12 against, and one abstained. In the third vote 37 voted in favour and 13 against.

The councillors who voted in fa vour were: S. Barrett (FG), S. Brock (FF), L. Butler (FF), B. Cass (PD), R. Conroy (FF), L.T. Cosgrave (FG), M.J. Cosgrave (FG), A.Devitt (FG), M. Elliott (FG), M. Farrell (FF), T. Fox (FF), C. Gallagher (FF), S. Gil bride (FF), T. Hand (FG), F. Han rahan (FF), C. Keane (PD) M. Kennedy (FF), J. Larkin (FF), L. Lohan (PD), D. Lydon (FF), M. McGennis (FF), C. McGrath (FF), D. Marren (FG), T. Matthews (FF), O. Mitchell (FG);

T. Morrissey (FG), M. Muldoon (FG), C. O'Connor (FF), J. O'Hal loran, (Lab), A. Ormonde (FF), N. Owen (FG), C. Quinn (PD), T. Ridge (FG), N. Ryan (FF), S. Ter ry (PD), C. Tyndall (PD) and G.V. Wright (FF).

On April 29th councillors voted to rezone nine acres of Bovale land in Portmarnock. The motion was in the names of councillors M. Kennedy (FF), N. Owen (FG) and G.V. Wright (FF). It was passed 32 votes to 15, with one abstention. The vote was against the recom mendation of the planning officials, who felt the lands should remain part of the green belt between Portmarnock and Malahide.

The councillors who voted in favour were S. Ardagh (FF), C. Boland (FG), P. Brady (FG), S. Brock (FF), L. Butler (FF), B. Coffey (FF), M.J. Cosgrave (FG), L. Creaven (FF), A. Devitt (FG), M. Farrell (FF), T. Fox (FF), C. Gallagher (FF), S. Gilbride (FF), R. Greene (Ind), T. Hand (FG), F. Hanrahan (FF), C. Keane (PD), M. Keating (FG), M. Kennedy (FF), J. Larkin (FF);

L. Lohan (PD), D. Lydon (FF), S. Lyons (Ind) C. McGrath (FF), T. Matthews (FF), T. Morrissey (FG), J. O'Halloran (Lab), A. Ormonde (FF), N. Owen (FG), N. Ryan (FF), S. Terry (PD), G.V. Wright (FF).

On May 14th, 1993, councillors voted to rezone lands at Beverton, Donabate. The representation was from Bovale Developments. The motion was in the names of councillors C Gallagher (FF) and A. Devitt (FG). The motion was passed by 35 votes to 18, with two abstentions.

The land at North Road, Finglas has not been rezoned. It is understood the Balgriffin land has also not been rezoned although it is understood this has not yet been confirmed by the council.

A small housing development has been built by Bovale at the Portmarnock site, at the end of Lime Tree Avenue.

The Donabate land has not been built on yet although adjacent lands which were rezoned in the same vote have been built on by Kinane Developments Ltd.

The lands at Poppintree, Jamestown and Charlestown have not been developed but it is understood an application may be in for some industrial units at Jamestown.