MAYNOOTH'S population is set to double over the next decade as a result of land rezoning decisions made by Kildare county councillors, against official advice.
As one councillor, Ms Catherine Murphy (Democratic Left), pointed out. "This is twice the rate of growth experienced in the last 10 years and twice the rate recommended by the council's own planners."
At its March meeting, the council voted to rezone 280 acres of land around Maynooth for residential development sufficient to cater for an extra 7,500 people.
Given that 120 acres are already zoned for housing but not yet developed, the total increase could be as high as 10,700, compared with an existing population of 9,300.
One of the most controversial decisions taken by 18 votes to four, with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in favour and Labour and Democratic Left opposing would rezone both sides of the tree lined avenue which links the main street with Carton House.
Instead of a green belt, there would be 47 acres for housing and 24 acres for industry. In doing so, the council was overriding the recommendations of its Maynooth Area Committee.
If confirmed, houses and factories could be built just 50 metres from the edges of Carton Avenue, which was given to Maynooth as a public amenity.
According to the Labour Party, it would ruin the link with Carton forever in much the same way as Co Kildare's other great house, Castletown, suffered when a housing estate was built along its avenue on foot of a permission granted in his "belted earls" days by the then Minister for Local Government, Mr Kevin Boland.
For the landowners, rezoning represents a windfall, increasing the value of the two parcels of land along Carton Avenue from £360,000 to £5 million, according to the Labour Party's estimate.
Democratic Left has calculated that the aggregate value of all the land rezoned in and around Maynooth would jump from £1.4 million to £14 million.
The biggest single parcel, 158 acres along the Celbridge road, could accommodate 1,200 houses. The councillors who favour its rezoning have suggested that 10 acres would be set aside for football pitches.