Planning permission granted for 30 house development in Rath Cairn
The Gaeltacht community of Rath Cairn is “shocked and bewildered” by the decision to grant planning permission for a 30 house development and guesthouse in the heart of the village.
Residents say move will have devastating impact on the Irish language, the primary language
spoken in the community and the decision was described as “cultural vandalism” by Deputy Peadar Toibin.
An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission to Colm Griffin for a large housing development and guesthouse in the heart of the Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht.
The decision by the board went against its own inspector's recommendation to refuse permission on the grounds that “the density and incongruous form of the proposed development, together with the in-migration of non-Irish speakers” would not be in keeping with Rath Cairn and would adversely affect the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht in County Meath.
Chairman of Comharchumann Ráth Chairn (the community organisation working to promote the language since 1973) Éanna Ó Cróinín said that in the last 40 years, 40 houses have been built in the area, which showed the rate of demand for housing in Ráth Cairn.
"This development, were it to go ahead, would consist of an estate of 30 houses and a guest house in one fell swoop, right in the heart of the Gaeltacht, adjacent to the national school, créche and pre-school, community centre and church.
"In the words of their own inspector 'Superimposing what is a large-scale housing estate into this village will radically alter not alone the physical form and character of the village but will distort socio-economic characteristics of the community, which will ultimately distort the linguistic and cultural distinctiveness of this Gaeltacht community'”.
Comharchumann Ráth Chairn says its "bewildered and hugely disappointed" with an Bord Pleanála’s decision for Ráth Cairn and plans to appeal the decision which would see the construction of a three-storey corner side guesthouse with 30 en-suite bedrooms and conference/meeting room facilities; a residential development comprising 28 five, four and three bedroomed houses.
"We will be taking the case to the High Court and are currently applying for a judicial review of the case, to defend the linguistic and cultural heritage of this Gaeltacht," added Éanna Ó Cróinín.
The Plean Teanga for the Meath Gaeltacht was approved by Minister for State Seán Caidhean in 2018. Comharchumann Ráth Chairn was appointed by Údarás na Gaeltachta as the lead organisation to implement the plan, which ultimately seeks to increase the number of daily speakers by 10 per cent over the course of seven years.
Comharchumann Ráth Chairn says the proposed development will "destroy this effort, which so far has taken three years of voluntary work and much State funding".
“Although the board has recommended implementation of language conditions under the Planning and Development Act 2000, that no less than 70 per cent of houses be reserved for Irish speakers, they have not indicated what standard would be required, or how assessment would take place.”
In making it's decision An Bord Pleanala said it would contribute to the vibrancy and sustainability of the Gaeltacht village by providing housing for native speakers and would not, therefore, have a significant negative impact on the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.
Deputy Peadar Toibin said the Rath Cairn community “is a rich well of one of the oldest, most beautiful living languages in the world.”
“There is no faster way to kill a Gaeltacht that to building homes within the Gaeltacht that are for English speakers.
“All the state agencies know this. All of the campaigning groups know this. It is the policy of the Department to ensure that homes built in the Gaeltacht are for Irish speakers. The inspector that the wrote the report for An Bord Planála knew this. Yet we have a decision by the Bord that goes contrary to all this knowledge and wisdom”.
The Meath Chronicle has sought a comment from the developer.