OPW to expand use of its buildings for phone masts

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has said it expects "dozens" of its mobile phone masts on Garda stations to be upgraded in coming months, with up to 12 transmitters being put on each mast. It said it was anxious to "make some money for the State" by extending its deal with the telecommunications companies.

About 60 sites are utilised under a deal with telecoms company O2 to establish mobile communications masts on Garda stations. But the OPW says it has about 400 sites available.

The increase in activity comes as communications companies seek to take advantage of a special provision in the Planning and Development Act 2000 which ensures mobile phone antennae on OPW masts are exempt from planning permission.

OPW commissioner David Byers yesterday told the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment that the OPW had 200 available Garda stations across the State and another 200 buildings which it was anxious to utilise.

The committee had sought an undertaking from Mr Byers that he would suspend work on the erection of 12 transmitters proposed for a mast at Shankill Garda station in south Dublin. It wanted Mr Byers to order work to halt, pending clarification of planning issues and an inter-departmental report on the health implications and safety of such masts.

Mr Byers refused. He said the OPW had a letter from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council acknowledging that the work was exempt from planning permission. But he added that the OPW would take legal advice and "if we are required [ to suspend work] then I will. If not, then I won't."

Mr Byers said a licence agreement had been worked out between telecoms companies, the original participant O2 which set up the masts, and the OPW, which has ownership of the masts once they are in place. This licence allowed for payments to O2 by other telecom firms to join the mast users, but also to the OPW. The State is making about €1.5 million a year out of 60 locations, he said, "but that will rise".

Mr Byers said there were "200 Garda stations and 200 [ other] buildings" which could be used to host telecoms masts. In relation to locations where the number of masts would be expanded, he said: "There is probably going to be dozens of these in the next couple of months."

Mr Byers said the scientific information he had was that the 12 transmitters being fitted at Shankill would not adversely affect the health of school children in three schools within 500m of the mast. He told committee members he did not think putting planning-type notices on masts or notifying local communities was a realistic idea.

The OPW was trying to be "timely" about proceeding with development which was "going to happen anyway", and it was better that transmitters co-locate rather than set up separately on many different buildings.

"This is legally regulated technology. If they operate within the terms of regulations, they are safe" he said. However, Labour TD Éamon Gilmore told Mr Byers further protests were planned in Shankill, and "where the State agencies tend to force issues it almost always ends in grief". Last night hundreds of locals protested against the mast being erected on Shankill Garda station. Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe said there had been no consultation with residents about erecting a mast in the area.