Concern that the Irish language and the quality of rural life could be under threat in the Ring Gaeltacht in Co Waterford has prompted an official review of how the area should be developed.
Alarm bells were initially rung earlier this year when the Maoil a Choirne area of the Gaeltacht was earmarked for "high-density" development.
That proposal, in a draft county development plan, has since been dropped. But some residents fear that the final plan, as now adopted, could still allow for developments of up to four or five houses an acre.
Others in the community have come out in favour of such development, and a debate is currently being facilitated by Ring's community council, Comhairle Pobail na Rinne, which has organised a number of public meetings on the issue.
A local Labour county councillor, Fiachra O Ceilleachair, said people were concerned that large-scale development would threaten the status of the Irish language and "Ring's composition as a Gaeltacht community".
"Inevitably four to five houses an acre would be four- and five-bedroom houses and they would cost in the region of £200,000," he said. There was already concern that local young people were unable to afford sites in Ring. This problem was also raised at last week's meeting of Waterford County Council by a Fine Gael member, Mr John Deasy.
It is also claimed the area does not have the infrastructure to cater for rapid expansion.
Mr O Ceilleachair stressed, however, that people in Ring were not against development. "It's very important to make the point that nobody in Ring is saying we don't want people coming in. Nobody in Ring is saying that you can't sell land, buy land or use land," he said. "A lot of the new people who have come into the parish over the last 20 or 30 years have done most, for example, for the Irish language."
Mr Micheal O Faolain, chairman of Comhairle Pobail na Rinne, said meetings had already been held with people proposing to sell land in the area. Land-owners were prepared "to sit down and discuss any problems the local people have. It's a step in the right direction."
Comhairle Pobail, he stressed, was not taking sides. Some people were fearful there would be an influx of holiday homes, but following meetings with county council planners those fears were receding. Others were in favour of organised development.
One suggestion is that Udaras na Gaeltachta should buy land in the area and redistribute it as affordable housing to people interested in supporting the Irish language. "They could be people from within the parish or from outside it," said Mr O Faolain. "We're not trying to keep outsiders out."
Mr O Ceilleachair said that while some argued that relatively large-scale development would bring people and investment to the area, all sides, including Waterford County Council, were agreed that the county development plan did not on its own address the area's overall needs.
"What people are saying is that they're concerned about the future planning of the area and that the rural character, the infrastructural deficiencies and the language question should be factored into whatever kind of development the council would permit," he said.
Two separate studies are now under way to address the issue. Waterford County Council is drawing up an area action plan, to complement its county development plan, which would take into account issues such as the impact of development on Ring's status as a Gaeltacht.
In addition, Comhairle Pobail na Rinne and its counterpart in the neighbouring Old Parish, Coiste Forbatha Sean Phobail, are working with Udaras na Gaeltachta on producing a more long-term, wide-ranging plan for the area, which will take in economic, social and environmental considerations.
Mr O Ceilleachair said the debate so far had been a healthy one. "I think people are appreciative of the fact that public meetings have been held and that people are discussing how their community and how their area should develop." The biggest challenge facing the community was to ensure that such development was balanced.
