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Planning rules ‘forcing people to live like Hobbits’

Published

10 years ago

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Councillor Maura Healy-Rae.
Councillor Maura Healy-Rae.

C

Councillor Maura Healy-Rae.

Councillor Maura Healy-Rae.

Councillor Maura Healy-Rae.
 

 
PROSPECTIVE homeowners in the county are being forced to live below ground “like Hobbits” due to planning rules, it has been claimed.
Kerry County Council member Councillor Maura Healy-Rae evoked imagery of the renowned Middle Earth residents as she asked the planning authority to stop making applicants build in low ground or in hollows.
Addressing the issue at the meeting of Killarney Municipal District, Cllr Healy-Rae said it should also be ensured that floor levels are "at least three feet above the ground level around them".
Kerry County Council said the siting of houses is critical when it comes to considering visual impact on the landscape and this means there is a preference to develop houses on lower ground.
Referring to current generation of prospective rural homeowners, Cllr Healy-Rae said: “I know of a couple who went for planning and were told their site poles were too high and the ground they were in was too hollow. I asked the council is it the case that people will have to go underground with their houses like the Hobbits?”

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Kerry Airport secures major funding boost

Kerry Airport has been allocated over €2.76 million under the new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030. This significant funding will support a variety of essential projects at the Farranfore base, including […]

Published

13 hours ago

on

30 April 2026

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Kerry Airport has been allocated over €2.76 million under the new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030.

This significant funding will support a variety of essential projects at the Farranfore base, including the replacement of fire tenders and the implementation of new safety and security upgrades.
The capital investment is part of a wider €8 million package aimed at supporting regional connectivity and economic development across the country. For Kerry, the funding is seen as a vital step in ensuring the airport can meet future demand while maintaining its infrastructure.
Basil Sheerin, Chief Financial Officer at Kerry Airport, welcomed the announcement and acknowledged the support of local representatives.
“Kerry Airport is very grateful to the Minister for Transport and the Kerry-based members of Government Minister Norma Foley, and Michael Cahill TD as well as Deputies Michael Healy-Rae, Danny Healy-Rae and Pa Daly for their steadfast support,” Mr Sheerin said. ”The funding provided for both operational and capital expenditure has been critical to delivering investment to upgrade safety and security infrastructure.”

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Minister Niall Collins visits KCYS Youth Diversion Project

Kerry Community Youth Service (KCYS) was pleased to welcome Minister Niall Collins to its Youth Diversion Project in Kilarney last week. The visit gave the Minister an opportunity to meet […]

Published

3 days ago

on

28 April 2026

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Kerry Community Youth Service (KCYS) was pleased to welcome Minister Niall Collins to its Youth Diversion Project in Kilarney last week.

The visit gave the Minister an opportunity to meet staff and hear directly about the work of the Kerry Youth Diversion Project, including early intervention, family support, court accompaniment and wider youth justice practice across the county.
KCYS supports young people across a broad continuum of services in Kerry, from preventative and developmental youth work through to highly targeted interventions for young people and families facing significant challenge and complexity. The Youth Diversion Project forms an important part of that wider continuum of support.
Speaking following the visit, Seamus Whitty, CEO of KCYS, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Minister Collins to Kerry and to have the opportunity to give him a sense of the breadth and depth of the work being carried by the Youth Diversion Project here.
The Youth Diversion Project in Kerry is a strong and well-developed intervention, grounded in practice, informed by evidence, and marked by innovation in how it supports young people and families. It is part of a broader continuum of supports provided by KCYS, and it depends on strong collaboration across teams, services and community partners to make a real difference in people’s lives.
It is also important to acknowledge the Department’s continued commitment to youth justice. The policy direction in this area has been a progressive one, and that has created space for work of this kind to develop and respond to need in a meaningful way.”
The visit highlighted the scale and complexity of the work being carried by the KCYS team, and the importance of sustained investment in youth work responses for young people and families.

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