Sir, - I have two major concerns regarding the recent spate of random re zoning in Co. Kildare. One concerns local democracy, and the second the absence of strategy.
In theory we are a democratic people - empowerment is presumed to come from the people local councillors are elected and are at risk of rejection at the next election. How then is it that these elected people, charged with the responsibility of representing their electors, blatantly act in a manner contrary to the wishes of the vast majority of those electors, and apparently get away with it? It can only be that there is a tacit collusion between the bigger parties, and that consequently there is no real democratic choice at all.
I cannot but support the concept of "subsidiarity" - that decisions are made at the lowest relevant level in the democratic structure. It is therefore devastating to see the only real power remaining with local representative - that of planning - abused in a way that can only undermine the credibility of all planning.
The obvious inference of the recent random rezonings in Kildare is that there exists at present no imperative strategy for the greater Dublin area. That it is urgently needed must be equally obvious. The following, in my view, are essential requirements:
a) That the strategy should encompass the greater Dublin area - Dublin and those parts of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath which are interdependently linked.
b) That certain basic principles should be agreed and enshrined in a structure that cannot be easily e.g. by Act of the Dail. These principles might include, for example: That there is an absolute stop to the edge of the city; that further development be achieved by consolidating the centre city and existing suburbs, or by designating growth areas as integral parts of existing settlements at some distance from the city and connected to it by frequent and efficient express commuting services.
I cannot see that these objectives can be achieved without the existence of a regional authority with real power. It is unlikely that they will be achieved in the present structure where the regional authority is only a co ordinating body attempting to reconcile the demands of a group of competing "counties". And where, moreover, it encompasses only the area of old County Dublin, excluding those arenas beyond which have an intimate inter relation with the Dublin heartland. Yours, etc.,
President, An Taisce
The National Trust of Ireland,
The Tailor's Hall,
Back Lane,
Dublin 8.