We're surrounded by empty houses - so why did council give go-ahead for even more homes?
RESIDENTS in an area of north Dublin awash with empty homes are objecting to plans to build even more new properties.
Homeowners in Brackenwood, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, say there is no need for a new development of 18 units, since they are already flanked by empty homes in surrounding estates.
The developers, Parkway Partnership, were last week granted planning permission for the units, which will be located adjacent to Brackenwood, after they modified their original application.
CRAMMED
But local resident Rose Allen said: "We don't need any more houses. Who has the money to buy houses now?
"Now we have a developer coming in who wants to build 18 houses and it's the only green that we have in our estate. They're all going to be crammed in because the site is no bigger than a football pitch.
"It's in our own green area. We've no field, no trees in the whole estate, this is the only green we have.
"And they're planning to build a by-road as well which would bring a lot of traffic into the estate."
Another resident Siobhan Curtis pointed out that there are already idle units in Brackenwood, and a new development would be ludicrous.
"I really feel strongly against this. There are houses empty around us and I really don't want this to go ahead. I don't understand it. "There are idle apartments in Brackenwood.
"We don't need more houses, ideally we need a playground there or something like that.
"In the estate behind us, we can actually see houses behind it that are idle, and the houses haven't been finished either."
However, a spokesperson for Parkway Partnership said that he believed there would be a market for the new housing development which, he added, would be sympathetic to the surrounding area.
"We got the planning permission a couple of years ago, and we're just varying it now. We're actually putting in a much more sympathetic plan with less housing units, lower density and lower height.
"We already had permission for 44 duplex apartments on that site, and we're now looking for 18 houses so it's a lot more sympathetic. The open space there will be better and the existing road will be better maintained."
Fingal County Council declined to comment on the issue yesterday.
A spokesperson said: "Fingal County Council does not comment on any individual planning applications... the decision for this application may be appealed to An Bord Pleanala within a four-week period from the date of the decision granted."
I'm too famous for a social life, moans 'Minister for Fun' Leo
He's the youngest member of the Cabinet and the Government's 'Minister for Fun' -- but Leo Varadkar has complained he has no social life.
The 32-year-old Minister for Tourism and Sport has revealed that his life outside work leaves a lot to be desired.
Mr Varadkar admitted he could not even go out to the pub without getting recognised and has to leave Ireland in order to get some rest and relaxation.
When grilled about his personal life, single Leo said: "It's totally dead. It's awful, actually. It's really awful. It's actually very hard to go out because I'm just too feckin' well known. So you can kinda go to a restaurant, you'll probably be left alone. But pubs, nightclubs are desperate, especially people with a bit of drink on them.
"They want to talk to you and introduce you to their friends. It's a nightmare. I've to leave the country to get peace."
QUEEN
But our politicians are no stranger to sacrificing their social lives for their work, with Green Party leader John Gormley famously comparing being in Government during the economic crisis to being in an asylum.
Mr Varadkar said that he was delighted with the Queen's upcoming visit and the subsequent boost for tourism which is expected to follow.
"I'm delighted she's doing it," he said. "I think it's of huge significance. I think what's probably of more significance is her going to the two war memorial parks in Islandbridge, recognising our hidden history of hundreds of thousands of people fighting for the British Crown and then the other side of our history of revolution and kicking the Brits out.
"But I'm delighted she's going to Croke Park and delighted she is going to the Guinness Hops Store. I'm not sure if she'll sip a pint."
Mr Varadkar revealed that he would keep the controversial travel tax in place if Aer Lingus and Ryanair do not open more routes, saying they could both do a lot for Irish tourism.
He explained that he was making good progress with Aer Lingus, but Ryanair "want it all their own way".
And Mr Varadkar revealed that he would happily "take on" Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary if necessary.
So close... but Dubs fans lifted by goal-den effort
SCUFFLE: Players' half-time fight caught on cameras.
AGONISINGLY close -- and we let it slip away. Dublin's 18-year silverware gap continues today -- but fans believe the Dublin team show hope for this summer's All-Ireland championship.
While most Blues fans were muted leaving Croke Park yesterday afternoon, fans told the Herald that their team's performance in this year's Allianz League Division 1 showed much promise for the summer.
There was no hiding the disappointment of the tens of thousands of Dublin fans who had made their way to Croke Park only to see their team lose to All-Ireland champions Cork in the final minutes of the game.
The Rebels second-half rally appeared to shock the boys in blue -- whose surrender then seemed assured as soon as Bernard Brogan left the pitch injured.
A scuffle between opposing players in the tunnel at half-time added to the controversy of the match.
TV footage captured how tensions between the players spilled over as they went off at half-time.
Cork full-back Michael Shields and Dublin corner-back Philip McMahon could find themselves in hot water with the GAA's disciplinary authorities after RTE cameras caught the pair clashing in the tunnel.
The Central Competitions Control Committee is now likely to review TV footage to see if action against Shields and McMahon will be taken.
However, fans leaving Croke Park yesterday afternoon made no mention of the dispute -- only concerning themselves with the action they saw on the pitch.
"It was very disappointing. We were eight points ahead at one stage but as soon as Bernard Brogan went off injured in the second half, that was it," said Dublin fan Pat Halpin, who attended the match with daughters Amy and Zoe, and Amy's friend Kelsey Murray.
"They just fell apart after Brogan left the field -- it's like Steven Gerrard for Liverpool," Patrick added.
Friends Lorna Colgan, Rachel Dwyer, Meghan Kiely and Kate Murray, who all play football for St Margaret's in North Dublin, shared similar sentiments.
"They were doing well but then they ran out of steam," Kate told the Herald.
Dublin minor footballer Graham Heavey, from Rathfarnham, was there with Laura Hayden to cheer on the lads.
Graham, who is currently injured, played for Dublin minors last year. He said he was disappointed for the team but is hopeful they will get a good run during the summer.
doubtful
However, some fans are doubtful whether the boys in blue can bring home the silverware this summer.
"It's the same old story," said Sutton man Shane Harte.
"You can't expect to win a match if you only score four points from play, which I think is what they did in the second half."
Ian Brogan, a cousin of Dublin's Brogan brothers, has more hope for the Dubs this summer. "It was disappointing but hopefully we'll put it up again for the championship," he said. Stephen Callaghan, from Rathfarnham, believes Dublin's loss against the All-Ireland champions will take some of the pressure off.
"Some of the pressure will be off the lads now but I am disappointed in today's game."
Delighted Cork fans were gracious in victory -- with many pointing to Bernard Brogan's injury as a turning point in the game.
Liam Spriggs, from Cobh, who was attending the match with his wife Pauline and son Niall, said they were absolutely delighted to see the All-Ireland champs do the double.
"We had three or four players out injured so we're delighted to have won today.
"In fairness Dublin were very good -- but they missed Bernard Brogan. They channeled a lot his way and after he went off injured, it changed."
Some 36,000 fans attended yesterday's match.