Donegal has been found to have the highest level of unauthorised quarrying in Ireland – with 30 projects currently operating without permission.
In-depth investigations by RTE have uncovered a high number of quarry operators circumventing the regulations around Ireland.
And Donegal will be revealed as the worst-affected county for planning breaches in a special edition of RTÉ Investigates tonight at 9.35pm.
The RTÉ Investigates – Between a Rock and a Hard Place programme will look at how some operators are able to challenge the system of regulation for quarries. Reporters will uncover a system that is full of loopholes, delays and grey areas, which results in environmental risks.
One case of unauthorised quarrying was detected on an island on the River Foyle estuary – Islandmore – on the Donegal / Derry border. The owner of Islandmore was refused planning permission 19 years ago. He was later served with an injunction, restraining him from quarrying there.
Even though there’s still no authorisation for quarrying, a dredging crew was filmed excavating at various points along the river.
Reporter Barry O’Kelly spoke with the owner of the site, who said that he sought both a judicial review of the court injunction taken out against him by Donegal County Council and a decision by An Bord Pleanala to refuse him planning permission. While those cases have yet to be heard, quarrying here continues. The owner claims he is protecting the island against floods and enhancing the river.
A Donegal Council report noted there is a “potential risk of contamination of groundwater” arising from this dredging. Dr Pat Moran, an ecologist said: “They are operating in a Natura 2000 site which is protected by domestic and European legislation. So that is going to be impacting on a lot of the flora and fauna. It’s got no planning permission, there is no monitoring, there is no mitigation measures.”
Tongiht’s programme will explore how Donegal County Council is dealing with a legacy of 30 unauthorised quarries.
Across Ireland, 151 out of 1,100 active quarries are deemed to be unauthorised by the planning authorities.
Tags:
