Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A JUDICIAL REVIEW of planning permission granted for a visitors’ centre and cable car at Dursey Island in Co Cork has been announced, following concerns from Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE).
The planning permission, which would have seen a new visitor centre established as well as a new cable car operation to replace the existing system, was originally granted to Cork County Council and Fáilte Ireland in November 2021.
The project was set to cost €10 million.
The old cable car system – built in 1969 and upgraded twice – was to be replaced with a two-cars desynchronised reversible cable car capable of carrying 650 people an hour, while the new visitor centre would have a gift shop and an 84-person cafe and parking for 80 cars and buses.
Due to damage it sustained during Storm Barra, the cable car is set to close to undergo maintenance and will not reopen until November 2022.
The judicial review was granted by High Court Justice Humphries following concerns raised by multiple organisations.
FIE, alongside An Taisce and Birdwatch Ireland, had previously raised concerns about the project in 2019, calling it “undesirable on multiple grounds”, saying the island was ecologically sensitive.
The concerns were over the protection of the “Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area for birds”, particularly for choughs.
The reports were based on an island on the coast of Brittany in France where choughs live.
The An Bord Pleanala Inspector, who visited the site twice, found that the plans set out by the developer “could not be relied on for a number of reasons”, including concerns around visiting capacity on the island.
The inspector recommended refusing the development, but An Bord Pleanala accepted the proposal, saying that capping the number of visitors on the island and other mitigation measures would solve the concerns.
The Journal has contacted Cork County Council for comment on the judicial review, but none has been received at the time of publication.
Closed for maintenance
It comes as Cork County Council announced today that the cable car would be closed until 1 April for essential maintenance,
The council said that a structural review of the cable car was carried out, and that essential works were highlighted to allow for the cable car to remain in service.
In a statement, the council said that the works relate to the cable car towers, and that due to their age, condition and likely future exposure to high winds, they must be either reinforced or replaced.
“Regrettably, it will not be possible for the cable car to continue in service while these structural works are carried out. As a result, it will be necessary to pause the cable car service from 1 April 2022 in order to facilitate the essential works,” said Cork County Council.
“The cable car service is expected to resume in November 2022 following completion of the works and the renewal of consents from the Commission for Railways Regulation to operate the cable car.”
Still better than half the dumps on daft in Dublin city.
At about the same price and all.
Did ya give her a good wash ?
1500 a month is not bad when you include WiFi, Cable tv and a cleaner/butler. Gym included. This is what our city’s need. They look pretty cool IMO
Swankier and bigger than my first bedsit! lol
I like the way a cleaner comes in once a week as standard.
Was expecting worse, can only imagine what they’ll be like in 20years time
Could do with these in dublin 500 would be snapped up in hours..
Well its official the future will in fact be like The 5th Element…
Exactly what came to mind, haha.
I’d take it if it comes with a Lelu in the shower…
So rich people’s homes are getting bigger and the ordinary everyday person’s home gets smaller and smaller and some people are OK with that? The problem is not with people building them, it’s with people buying them. I hope that if anything like this gets built in Dublin that people don’t buy them. They only serve to maximise profits for the developer and nothing else.
Currently living in NYC and paying $1000 to live with 4 other people in an apartment with no living room and a shared bathroom. I’d 100% be up for living in one of these.
Adly needed in dublin they would be snapped up in hours… look nice for a micro apartment
roof over the head. all the essentials, heat, water, toilet, kitchen, electriciy etc what more do you u need. id be happy out living there. close to work/college etc. this is the way its going to have to go. 7 billion people on this planet and increasing. 5th element is imminent :-)
Great idea, with all that space down by the Dublin docklands these would be ideal for students and those entering the workforce, they would hold there value and always be in demand…
A much better use of space that what you have in the surrounding areas of the city centre, large houses with front and back gardens, usually only 1 elderly person living in them in a lot of the most expensive houses..
You could go a little stir crazy if you did much more than sleep in such a micro apartment.
That’s a burglar in pic 1.
A single’s pad for someone with very little possessions, very few books, no need to entertain visitors and able to manage lean living.
Could be OK if you were just to use it as second residence for the working week or something though?
Jenga with caravans.
Kitchen ‘slash’ bathroom
Bigger than some apts in Seoul
What does Alan Kelly think of these spacious accommodations? That’s the lad to chop off a few metres.
Minister Kelly was genuinely dismissive of these rabbit hutches.
He said that he could do smaller by taking plans of prison cells in Mountjoy and doing a variation on these. He is considering contracting this out to DO B
Minister Kelly explained that the more separate households the more households to pay water charges.
“large windows that slide open on to a false balcony” – sounds dangerous- open door on to what I think is a balcony and put my foot out into open air and fall 10 storeys?
If you were on your own you wouldn’t want anything bigger. It’s only birds that want gaffs so big there’s rooms you don’t even go in to and you spend half of one of your days the weekend cleaning the kip
I have a bigger caravan
In New York?
Yes I pulled in there on top of the trump tower last week. I be selling a few gate tomorrow if your interested sir
1500 is a great price for NYC
Nice.
It’s in Kips Bay :)
City living for singles or first time renters of the future
Now try bringing this concept to Ireland, and everyone loses their minds…
First dates would be most efficient. From popcorn and soda, to making bacon at the switch of a button…
I need to go the toilet
have your say