Planners rule 20% of Galway scheme be reserved for Irish speakers

One in five homes at a new 111-unit residential scheme outside Baile Chláir (Claregalway) in Co Galway must be reserved for Irish speakers, An Bord Pleanála has ruled.

The site of the planned development is located within the Galway Gaeltacht, around 10km north-east of Galway city. The appeals board included the condition restricting the ownership of 22 homes in the Lakeview scheme following a recommendation from Galway County Council to do so.

The scheme comprises 73 houses and 38 apartments in two blocks.

The council had recommended that a minimum of 20 per cent of the homes be ring-fenced for those who can demonstrate the ability to preserve and protect the language and culture of the Gaeltacht for a period of 15 years.

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The Galway County Development Plan states that any development that would have a significant negative impact on the Irish language and An Ghaeltacht, will not be permitted.

The board has ordered that details of the standard of Irish to be achieved by home owners and the method of evaluating that standard shall be agreed in writing with the planning authority.

A linguistic statement lodged by applicants, K King Construction Ltd, with the strategic housing development application said reserving 22 homes for Irish speakers “will help strengthen the language in the village and that this is in addition to any further Irish speakers that may occupy the 89 remaining proposed units”.

Separately, the appeals board has granted planning permission for a 130-unit scheme by Heronvale Developments Ltd for lands at Shaldon Grange, off Enniskerry Road, Kilternan in Dublin 18. The scheme involves 75 apartments and 55 homes.