Ireland round-up: Urban regeneration legislation makes statute book; ‘Quiet Man’ cottage awarded protection

Key urban regeneration legislation makes the statute book

Ireland’s Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015 has been passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas and is now on the statute book.

The Planner

Underground line for Grid West to cost twice as much as pylons

Building an underground power line to add capacity to the electricity network in the north-west of the country will cost almost €480 million – double the cost of constructing an overhead power line on pylons, says transmission company EirGrid.

Independent

Dublin’s tree canopy study

University College Dublin is undertaking a research study of the tree canopy of County Dublin on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities and the Office of Public Works.

Dublin City Council

Protection of hen harriers costs farmers €22m a year

More than €22m a year will be required to compensate farmers whose land has been designated as a special protection area for hen harriers, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Independent

Galway local authorities launch economic baseline study

Galway City Council and Galway County Council have launched an economic baseline study that will help plot the future direction for economic development in County Galway while aiding the preparation of local economic and community plans.

Galway City Council

‘Quiet Man’ cottage is made a protected building

A dilapidated cottage made famous by movie The Quiet Man has been granted protected status by Galway County Council.

Independent

Ministers Kelly and Coffey announce further investment in social housing delivery

The government has announced further investment in social housing delivery with funding approved for nearly 1,200 new units across the country.

Environment, Community and Local Government

Lack of new homes is a threat to job creation, says think tank

The lack of new homes coming on stream is damaging Ireland's competitiveness and threatening job creation, a government think tank has warned.

Independent