| © Irish Independent | Date: Tuesday April 20th 2004 | Treacy Hogan |
DODGY quarrying operations all over the country, which until now could legally flout planning laws, are being targeted in a new Government drive.
From next week, all quarries will have to be registered with local authorities.
Such registration will bring them under the control of the planning system.
In addition to this, the local authorities will in future have to consult with local communities about the operation of any quarry registered with them.
Until now, hundreds of quarries - many of them causing environmental damage - could not be touched because they were in operation before 1964 and were, therefore, exempt from local authority planning controls.
The vast majority of quarries have been in operation since before the planning system came into operation.
All of these operations will come under the planing system and may have to seek planning permission or clean up their act.
The new changes, which take effect on April 28, were announced yesterday by Environment Minister Martin Cullen.
Under the Planning and Development Act, there will be a once-off system of registration for all quarries, except those granted planning permission in the past five years.
Quarry owners will be obliged to supply full details of their operations to the planning authority.
Such details will include a description of the material being extracted, hours of operation, traffic, noise and dust generated.
This information must be supplied within the next 12 months, to satisfy planning requirements.
For quarries given planning permission in the past five years, the local authorities can modify or add to the conditions.
Minister Cullen also announced the publication of guidelines to planning authorities on quarries and related activities.
These aim to provide comprehensive guidance which can be used when planning decisions are being decided.
Mr Cullen said: "This legislation will help local authorities to ensure that both new and existing quarries are operated to the highest standards.
"I recognise the need for quarries as they supply the raw material for Ireland's ongoing development."
"However they must operate to the proper standards," he added.
There are 2 problems with this legislation:-
1. We Irish are great at legislating but very poor at enforcing that legislation.
2. The councils are the biggest customers of most quarries, as they build and maintain the roads - so a conflict of interest will arise.
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