12 licenses for telecommunication masts granted by county council
By Mary Dennehy
SOUTH Dublin County Council has granted 12 licenses for telecommunication masts in 2019 and 2020, according to figures released this week.
The issue of telecommunication masts was high on the agenda of this week’s Tallaght Area Committee meeting, with three motions and two questions lodged by councillors.
Gardai were called to a resident’s protest in Kingswood last November over the installation of a mast in the middle of the estate
In recent months, residents in Kingswood and Tymon North have both questioned how licenses can be granted and telecommunication masts installed in communities with no prior consultation with those living in the area – or with locally elected representatives.
Applicants no longer need to apply for planning permission to erect overground electronic communications infrastructure, which are exempted developments that can be carried out under license.
The amended Section 254 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 enables a license application for overground electronic communications infrastructure and any associated physical infrastructure to be lodged as licenses.
According to figures released by the council in response to a question by Fianna Fail councillor Teresa Costello, county planners received 16 license applications in 2019 and 2020 – 12 of which were permitted under Section 254, two refused, one withdrawn, and one pending decision.
The licenses granted in 2019 were for locations in Old Court in Ballycullen, Orwell Road in Templeogue, Knocklyon Road, Griffeen Avenue (R136 Junction) in Lucan, Sylvan Drive in Kingswood, Bawnogue Shopping Centre in Clondalkin, Tymon North, junction of Templeogue Road and Cypress Road Grove and Deansrath, Clondalkin.
The licenses granted for 2020 are for Neilstown Road in Clondalkin, Cheeverstown in Fettercairn and Ballyowen Road.
Two applications for St Peter’s Road in Greenhills (2019) and Westbourne Lodge, Ballyboden (2020), were refused.
One license application is currently pending decision for Ballycullen Avenue in Firhouse, a decision on which is due by April 4.
The decision to grant a license for a 15-metre high telecommunications mast on a public green space, beside the community tennis courts on Sylvan Drive in Kingswood has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
The council also confirmed that a complaint was received by its planning enforcement department in relation to the Sylvan Drive mast.
The file has been referred to the council’s planning inspector and management team for decision on further action.
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