12/06/07
De Burca opposes rezoning of Burnaby Greystones
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, yesterday voted against a proposed Variation to the Greystones Local Area Plan which proposed changing part of the zoning of the Burnaby from R3 to RE.

12/06/07
De Burca welcomes taking in charge of estates across the county
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca welcomed Wicklow County Council’s recent decision to take a number of estates in the county in charge. The taking in charge of an estate means that the council assumes legal responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of roads, footpaths and, in many cases, public open spaces.

12/06/07
Council is failing to properly provide for educational needs of Greystones says de Burca
At a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council at which the re-location of St Brigid’s School, Greystones was discussed, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca claimed that the council is failing to meet the educational needs of this growing town.

30/05/07
De Burca proposes that environmentally friendly cement be used in all council contracts
Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has proposed that Wicklow County Council require the use of environmentally cement in all of the contracts that it puts out to tender.

30/05/07
New TDs for Wicklow must address major issues in County Wicklow says de Burca
Following last week’s General Election, Green Party Councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has congratulated the county’s newly-elected TDs, especially those who were elected for the first time. However, she has called on those TDs who will form part of any new Government to prioritise the major issues in County Wicklow.

15/05/07
Council should administer Waiver Scheme for Waste Collection says de Burca
Green Party General Election candidate, Deirdre de Burca, strongly rejected a recent proposal by Wicklow County Council that voluntary groups should administer a Waste Waiver Scheme in the county.She described the proposal as “unworkable” and “unfair”.

11/05/07
Greens accuse Electoral Opponents of Scaremongering
Speaking in Bray the Green Party candidate Deirdre de Burca accused her electoral opponents of deliberately misrepresenting her Party’s policy in relation to the roads programme. 'They would have you believe that if the Greens get their feet under the Cabinet Table the road building programme will grind to a halt. Nothing could be further from the truth'.

11/05/07
Greens pledge to improve quality of life for older people
The Green Party today pledged to help the older members of society who have not benefited from the economic development they helped to create.

11/05/07
Greens demand ABA teaching for autistic children
Green Party General Election candidate for Wicklow, Cllr Deirdre de Burca has said that in Government the Green Party will review special educational needs provision at primary and second level using recommendations made by Irish Autism Action.

04/05/07
Green manifesto pledges to deliver better services
The Green Party launched its general election manifesto today promising that, in government, it will deliver better services, tackle climate change and clean up politics.

25/04/07
FF's death-bed conversion to Green Policies is highly dubious – De Burca
The Irish environment needs protection from Dick Roche, not more empty promises

The Green Party has questioned Fianna Fáil's death-bed conversion to green issues, and responded with scepticism to the government party's environment policy, which was launched today.

20/04/07
Greens welcome third grant of planning permission to Florentine Centre by an Bord Pleanala
Green Party councillors on Bray Town Council have welcomed the recent decision of an Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for the third time for the development of the Florentine Centre, off Bray Main Street.

17/04/07
De Burca calls on Minister Roche to 'clean up his own backyard'
At a recent Green Party national press conference on Water Quality, Green Party councillor and Wicklow General Election candidate, Deirdre de Burca, called on Minister Dick Roche to ensure acceptable standards of drinking water in his own constituency of Wicklow.

16/04/07
Greens criticise Bord Pleanala for overturning Inspector’s decision on Herbert Rd development
Green Party councillors on Bray Town Council have criticised the recent decision of An Bord Pleanala to overturn its inspector’s recommendation on the Suntec development on Herbert Rd.

11/04/07
“An Bord Pleanala’s decision to refuse Pizarro development was no surprise” say Green Party Councillors
Green Party Councillors on Bray Town Council reacted to yesterday’s decision by an Bord Pleanala to over-turn the planning permission granted to Pizarro Developments Ltd for a massive 2 billion development on Bray Golf Club Lands by claiming that the decision was “no surprise”.

03/04/07
Green Party sets the agenda in education
-As Party launches ‘50 Steps to a Better Education System’
The Green Party launched its education policy today with the stark message: ‘If people want to see real improvements in our education system they will need to vote Green in the next election’.

03/04/07
New Climate Change Strategy far too little too late
The Green Party has described the launch of the Government's revised Climate Change Strategy as 'far too little, too late'.

29/03/07
Greens welcome significant progress on Bray swimming pool
The Green Party councillors on Bray Town Council have welcomed what they have described as “significant progress” in relation to the delivery of the Bray swimming pool.

23/03/07
De Burca condemns High Court ruling on O'Cuanachain case
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, who was at the Four Courts today supporting the Barnacoyle parents had the following to say ; “The anger and disappointment of parents today when they heard the Judge’s ruling was palpable. Parents of children with autism now feel very desperate as the State is refusing to provide suitable educational services for their children”

14/03/07
De Burca welcomes speed limit review for Bray/Greystones Electoral Area
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed the Draft Speed Limit Review for the Bray/Greystones Electoral Area published by Wicklow County Council. Local councillors were recently circulated with information about the proposed changes in speed limits and were asked to comment on them by mid April.

14/03/07
De Burca calls on council to implement Derelict Sites Act on developer of La Touche Hotel
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has strongly condemned the deteriorating condition of the old La Touche Hotel site in Greystones and has called on Wicklow County Council to implement the Derelict Sites Act in relation to the old hotel.

05/03/07
De Burca claims Wicklow County Council is continuing to ‘dump’ on West Wicklow
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has claimed that Wicklow County Council is continuing to ‘dump’ on West Wicklow in relation to the kind of planning decisions it is making for that part of the county.

02/03/07
Greens surprised at council opinion that mast on Bray Garda station does not require planning permission
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has expressed her surprise at the recent opinion of Bray Town Council planning staff that the new mast on Bray Garda station does not require planning permission.

28/02/07
Greens claim revised Herbert Rd planning application is an improvement on previous application
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has claimed that the recent revised planning application submitted by Suntec Developments Ltd in place of its original application for 81 apartments on the Herbert Rd in Bray represents an ‘improvement’.

28/02/07
De Burca welcomes An Bord Pleanála announcement of date for re-opening of Oral Hearing into Greystones Harbour
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed an Bord Pleanala’s announcement of a date for the reopening of the Oral Hearing into the controversial development for Greystones Harbour and North Beach.

21/02/07
De Burca welcomes news on new planning application for Arklow Sewage Treatment plant
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has welcomed news of a planning application that has recently been made to Wicklow County Council by a private individual for a Sewage Treatment Plant at Ballyraine Lower, Arklow. The planning application was advertised in a national newspaper and specified that the proposed plant would cater for a population equivalent of 45,000 people.

06/02/07
The Green Party has welcomed Wicklow County Council’s recent decision to allow the Special Amenity Area Order (SAAO) for Bray Head to proceed to the next stage.
Councillors on Wicklow County Council recently voted to allow Bray Town Council to make the Order. The order will then have to be referred to an Bord Pleanala and go out for public consultation.

06/02/07
De Burca questions location of new Enniskerry water resevoir next to local dumps
At a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca questioned the proposed location of a new water resevoir for Enniskerry at Killegar which contains several local dumps, some of them illegal.

06/02/07
De Burca welcomes decision to provide web-casts of future council meetings
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed the recent decision of Wicklow County Councillors to allow for the web-casting of future council meetings. “This will mean that members of the public will be able to access recordings of council meetings on the Wicklow County Council’s website” says de Burca.

04/02/07
New mast on Bray Garda station was not subject to consultation say Greens
Green Party councillors on Bray Town Council have criticised the way in which a new mast has been erected on Bray Garda station without any consultation with the local authority or its planners.

03/02/07
More school planning needed in new Wicklow Town Development Plan says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has said that she is extremely concerned about the lack of planning for the provision of primary schools in the Wicklow Town area.

03/02/07
De Burca welcomes advertisement of media consultancy services for Wicklow County Council
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed Wicklow County Council’s advertisement for the provision of Media/Communication Consultancy services to the local authority.

31/01/07
Relocation of St Brigid’s School Greystones is bad planning says de Burca
Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has supported the protests of parents of St Brigid’s School, Greystones following the news that the school is to relocate to Charlesland, by describing the move as “bad planning”.

23/01/07
Green Party critical of new National Development Plan
The Green Party has claimed that the cost of today's NDP announcements are grossly underestimated in economic, environmental and social terms and that the taxpayer, who will be footing a substantial part of this multi-billion euro bill, deserves better.

16/01/07
Labour Party's refusal to support a fair rent for use of seafront in 2007 is a disgrace say Greens
Green Party councillors on Bray Town Council have been extremely critical of Labour Party councillors on Bray Town Council after they refused to support a proposal to charge a fair rent to commercial operators for the use of Bray seafront during the Bray Summerfest.

15/01/07
Public Transport must receive priority in council’s Transportation Programmes over the coming years says de Burca
Following a recent Special Meeting of Wicklow County Council at which its Roads and Transportation Programme 2007 was presented to public representatives, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called for a much greater level of investment in public transport in County Wicklow.

13/01/07
Greens call for fair rent for use of seafront to be included in Bray Town Council's 2007 Budget
Green Party councillors on Bray Town Council have called for a “fair rent” for the use of Bray Seafront to be included in the council’s 2007 Budget. The Budget is likely to be adopted by councillors at Tuesday night’s meeting of Bray Town Council.

11/01/07
Roche's claim of phenomenal success on waste is laughable says Green Party
The Green Party has accused the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, of ducking the issue when it comes to managing the country's waste problem. A new report launched by the Environmental Protection Agency today shows that the amount of waste produced and sent to landfill remains persistently high, despite recent recycling successes.

09/01/07
De Burca calls for full transparency in sale of council land to elected representatives
At a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca called for full transparency to apply to the sale of council-owned land to elected representatives connected to the council.

09/01/07
Council’s “revisions” to Greystones project do not respond to an Bord Pleanala’s requests says de Burca
Following a recent presentation to Wicklow County Councillors by the Special Projects Officer, Mr Sean Quirke, on revisions to the Harbour project submitted to an Bord Pleanala, Green councillor, Deirdre de Burca has claimed that these revisions do not properly respond to the Request for Further Information made by an Bord Pleanala.

03/01/07
Be wary of 'cowboy' waste companies, Cllr warns
Green Party Urban Development spokesperson and General Election candidate for Co Wicklow Deirdre de Burca today warned householders not to give their post-Christmas waste to cowboy waste disposal companies.

20/12/06
De Burca appointed as Chair of new Bray Joint Policing Committee
Green party councillor Deirdre de Burca was recently appointed as Chairperson of the new Bray Town Council Joint Policing Committee. Recent legislation introduced by the Government placed such committees on a statutory footing.

18/12/06
Wicklow County Council 2007 budget contains no surprises says de Burca
Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca says that the 2007 budget agreed last Monday by Wicklow County Councillors contained “no surprises”. She says the biggest change made by councillors to the Manager’s proposed budget was the reduction of the commercial rate in the county from 5.9% to 4.9%.

07/12/06
Council must take prompt enforcement action on Ballylusk quarry says de Burca
Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has called on Wicklow County Council’s planning section to take prompt enforcement action following the recent ruling by the High Court that quarrying activities at Ballylusk quarry, on the outskirts of Ashford village, are unauthorised

07/12/06
De Burca says rezoning at Charlesland another bad planning decision for Greystones
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has claimed that the recent decision of Wicklow County Council to rezone 80 acres next to Charlesland in Greystones for a large out-of-town shopping centre and residential development was “another very bad planning decision for Greystones”.

06/12/06
Green Party's response to Budget 2007
Green Party General Election candidate, Deirdre de Burca said: "This is not a Green budget. Excluding the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, less than €300m of new money has been allocated to environmental measures, and over 90 per cent of this will go on buying carbon credits. The Government is allocating €270 million on carbon purchases in the years leading up to 2013. They are clearly intent on buying their way out of the problem. It would be better to invest in renewable energy, in improving the building standards for new homes and funding improvements in public transport”.

24/11/06
De Burca reacts to Mildred Fox's decision not to stand for election again in Wicklow
Green Party councillor and General Election candidate for Wicklow Deirdre de Burca was surprised by news today that Mildred Fox TD has decided not to stand as a candidate for election to the Dáil in 2007.

23/11/06
Govt pedalling dishonest myth that more roads will help solve gridlock and climate change
Green Party General Election candidate, Deirdre de Burca said today: "The traffic gridlock that Wicklow commuters experienced on the N11 on Wednesday is absolutely unacceptable with constituents reporting to me that they spent anything from one hour to seven hours getting back to Wicklow from Dublin. At the same time, the Government is pedalling a dishonest myth that building more roads is one of the best options for tackling climate change.

22/11/06
De Burca calls for County Wicklow to become a GM-free zone
Following a recent public meeting in the Tinahely Courthouse Centre organised by the campaign group ‘GM-free Ireland’, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has called for County Wicklow to be declared a GM-free zone.

22/11/06
Greens question why allocated funding was not spent on Southern Cross Road
Green Party councillors have questioned why the 20,000 euros that were allocated by Wicklow County Council in its 2006 budget for enhancement works on the Southern Cross Road have not been spent. Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, closely questioned council officials at a recent meeting of the Bray councillors on Wicklow County Council.

22/11/06
Road collapses as Wicklow Town Council fails to take estate in charge
Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has expressed her concern at the collapse of a road in the Church Gate estate, next to the County Buildings in Wicklow Town. De Burca says that the residents of Church Gate are now in a very difficult situation. The entry road to their estate has now collapsed and the estate has not yet been taken in charge by the council.

16/11/06
Greens question the amalgamation of Florentine Properties and Pizarro Developments ltd
Green Party councillors have questioned the recent announcement by Ballymore Homes, developers of the proposed Florentine Centre on Bray Main St, which they are to “amalgamate” with the developers of the Golf Club lands in order to develop a “complementary retail strategy”.

16/11/06
Government must stop dangerous nuclear shipment – De Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca called on the Government today to prevent a lethal shipment of plutonium from entering the Irish Sea.

16/11/06
De Burca concerned about limits of BIDS scheme for Bray
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has expressed her concerns about the limits of the Business Investment Districts Scheme (BIDS) as an instrument for revitalising the town of Bray.

09/11/06
De Burca queries proposed road works at junction of Dunbur Road in Wicklow Town
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has queried Wicklow Town Council’s plans to implement road works at the junction where the Dunbur Rd ends outside Flannery’s Shop at the south end of Wicklow Town.

07/11/06
De Burca calls on council to protect old La Touche Hotel building in Greystones
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called on Wicklow County Council to intervene to protect the old La Touche Hotel building in Greystones which she points out is a listed building.

03/11/06
Water contamination in Arklow borders on criminal says de Burca
Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has described the contamination of water in Arklow at present as “bordering on the criminal” following numerous complaints made to her by angry Arklow residents.

31/10/06
De Burca calls on Roche to intervene in bad planning decisions in County Wicklow
Following recent reports in the national media that the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, used Ministerial power to intervene in the County Laois Development Plan, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has called on Roche to intervene in bad planning decisions in his own County Wicklow. 2005.

26/10/06
Flooded Arklow residents let down by FF's broken promises - de Burca
"People in Arklow today see the aftermath of another serious flood in their town. They must be asking themselves what has happened to the flood protection measures that their Fianna Fail representatives promised them.

11/10/06
Council's failure to hand Harbour Shed over to Boxing Club is a disgrace says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has bitterly criticised the failure of Bray Town Council officials to hand over the Harbour Shed to the Bray Boxing Club. De Burca points out that the councillors on Bray Town Council voted to hand the public building over to the Boxing Club in June 2005.

11/10/06
De Burca calls for council to retain Blessington site for Elderly Day Care Centre
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called on Wicklow County Council to retain the old library and county council offices site in Blessington for an Elderly Day Care Centre. Cllr de Burca made her call having seen correspondence from a senior council official, Mr Joe Lane, announcing that Wicklow County Council proposes to sell off the old Library and old County Council offices located on the green at Rockypool Villas, Blessington.

03/10/06
De Burca queries council's employment of PR consultant without putting post out to tender
During a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council at which the council’s policy on advertising was discussed, senior council officials revealed that they have employed a PR consultant on a month-by-month contract over the past three years. Under questioning the council officials revealed that the post had not been put out to public tender.

29/09/06
De Burca condemns Roadstone's breaches of EPA Waste Licence for illegal dumps at Blessington
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has condemned the Roadstone company for the recent breaches of its EPA Waste Licence for the treatment and remediation of illegal dumps on its lands at Blessington, West Wicklow.

26/09/06
De Burca calls for County Wicklow to become a GMO-free zone
Following a recent meeting of the Water and Environmental Strategic Policy Committee of Wicklow County Council, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called on the council to declare County Wicklow a GMO-free zone. De Burca made her comments after a presentation was made to the Committee by a spokesman for the GM-free Ireland Network.

26/09/06
De Burca welcomes new Water and Waste Water schemes for Wicklow
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has welcomed recent news of progress with the development of water and wastewater schemes within County Wicklow. The Green Party councillor made her comments following a recent meeting of the council’s Water and Environmental Services Strategic Policy Committee, of which she is a member.

22/09/06
De Burca welcomes EPA decision to refuse landfill application by Brownfield Restoration at Whitestown
In a response to the EPA’s recent decision to refuse Brownfield Restoration Ltd’s application for a landfill at the site of one of the largest illegal dumps found at Whitestown in West Wicklow, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca said:“This decision represents a victory for the local community of Whitestown and Donard"

20/09/06
Government inaction on environment will cost taxpayers millions – de Burca
The Green Party called for significant changes in Government policies following the publication today of the Environmental Protection Agency's four-yearly report on the state of the environment in Ireland. The Party stated that Kyoto fines alone will cost Irish tax-payers €50m per year from 2008, and that it is time for changes in environmental, energy and transport policy.

19/09/06
PD transport planning a lethal combination of arrogance and incompetence – De Burca
"An utter failure in transport and planning has been one of the defining characteristics of this Fianna Fail/ PD Government. Their spectacular incompetence has been laced with a lethal twist of arrogance which seems to define the Progressive Democrat administration. In answer to the question posed by Minister McDowell yesterday, the answer is No - the Greens will not be going into Government looking to implement Progressive Democrat and Fianna Fail transport policies. Instead, our every effort between now and the next election will be to get them out of office before they do any further damage to this country.

14/09/06
Developer’s interests should not decide the future of the Luas line says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has recently expressed her concern that the interests of developers rather than those of the wider public are deciding the future location of the Luas line.

11/09/06
Green Party calls for Luas extension to Bray Town Centre
Green Party General Election candidate for Wicklow, Councillor Deirdre de Burca said none of the three route options in the Luas study adequately serve the people of Bray and Wicklow and called for a Luas line that would extend to the existing Bray railway station. She also criticised the North Bray and Environs LUTS study, describing it as a 'developer's charter' for the rezoning and development of agricultural and high amenity lands between Bray, Shankill and Enniskerry.

03/09/06
Councillor's proposal for massive out-of-town shopping centre at Charlesland is bad planning says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has criticised a proposal by Greystones councillors to rezone a large site at Charlesland for a massive out of town shopping centre of 20,000 sq metres, retail warehousing of 16,000 sq metres and retail and car showrooms. The proposal also included 210 residential units with floor areas of up to 220sq metres. The rezoning motion was proposed by Cllr George Jones (FG), seconded by Cllr Kathleen Kelleher (FF) and supported by a majority of councillors present at the meeting.

03/09/06
Extra rezoning should be avoided in Greystones Local Area Plan says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called on her fellow councillors to avoid rezoning additional lands when voting on the Draft Greystones Local Area plan at next Monday’s meeting of the council. De Burca points out that while councillors have been targeted with new rezoning proposals by local landowners and developers, that sufficient land has already been zoned in the Draft Plan to meet the population target for Greystones up to 2012.

31/08/06
Council must act quickly to save Arklow Rock says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called for Wicklow County Council to act quickly to save what is remaining of Arklow Rock. The Green Party councillor made her call after attending a public meeting in the Arklow Bay Hotel last Monday night where local people informed her that Roadstone has resumed its quarrying activities at the Rock.

18/08/06
Renewable Energy launch masks Government failure says Green Party
Green Party Energy councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called today's renewable energy launch by Minister Noel Dempsey TD 'a stopgap exercise to detract from his ongoing failure to deliver the new Green Paper on the Energy policy.'

18/08/06
Greystones South Beach now targeted by developers says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, says that while the controversy rages about the very large-scale development proposed for the Harbour and North Beach area in Greystones, the South Beach is now being targeted by potential developers.

11/08/06
Private waste companies responsible for low county recycling rate says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, responded to recent media reports that County Wicklow has the lowest recorded levels of recycling in the country by claiming that these figures relate only to the waste collected by private waste companies.

23/07/06
Planning files must be made available to people in West Wicklow says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca claims that the people of West Wicklow are not being given acceptable access to the planning files of Wicklow County Council.

23/07/06
De Burca calls on council to resolve access problem at Blainroe beach
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called for the problem of public access to the beach at Blainroe to be resolved by Wicklow County Council. “The beach in question, which is only accessible through Blainroe Golf Club, has been used for years by families with small children” says de Burca. “There is ramp access all the way down to the beach and it is a small safe beach for families”.

22/07/06
Green Party Calls for Radical New Energy Policy In Light of 34% Increase in Gas Prices

Following today's announcement by Bord Gais of a 34% increase in the price of gas, Green Party councillor, Deirdre deBurca said:

"The Government must react to this shocking rise in gas prices with a radical new energy programme that will promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

13/07/06
Council's proposal to rezone 50 acre site at Rathdrum must be questioned says de Burca
Following last Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council at which councillors proposed rezoning an additional 50 acre site that was not included in the Draft Rathdrum Development Plan, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca questioned the decision.

13/07/06
Tinahely should not be categorised as 'urban' in new County Settlement Strategy says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, opposed recent calls at a Wicklow County Council meeting to have Tinahely moved from the ‘Rural’ to the ‘Urban’ section of the new County Settlement Strategy. This proposal was made by local Tinahely councillor, Vincent Blake (FG) who argued that its rural designation placed too many ‘restrictions’ on it.

09/07/06
De Burca calls for urgent review of school bus catchment boundaries
Six Census surveys have now been carried out since last review says Green Party

Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called on the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin and her Department officials to undertake a nationwide review of the catchment boundaries for school bus routes. The Green Party councillor says that widespread social and demographic changes had taken place since the last review and will be further reflected in the 2006 Census.

06/07/06
New Wicklow Settlement Strategy is essential for proper planning in the county says de Burca
Wicklow County Councillors will be asked to adopt a new Settlement Strategy for County Wicklow at next Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council. Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called on her fellow councillors to support the proposed strategy, without trying to “water it down”.

06/07/06
Boathouse and Harbour Shed Leases must offer security of tenure says de Burca
Following a recent meeting of Bray Town Council at which the Draft Leases for the Boathouses and Harbour Shed were discussed by councillors, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called for the leases to offer ‘security of tenure’ to the Queen of Peace Adventure Club and the Boxing Club. De Burca claims that without this guarantee, the clubs will find it impossible to attract National Lottery or other such funding.

18/06/06
Green Energy Fair was great success says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, claims that Sunday’s Green Energy Fair hosted by the Green Party was a “resounding success”.

13/06/06
Wicklow water-metering project will pave the way for privatisation says de Burca
Following a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council at which the issue of water-metering for non-domestic customers was discussed, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has claimed that the system being installed is unfair and will inevitably lead to privatisation of the service.

13/06/06
Councillors claim County Manager is misleading an Bord Pleanala on Greystones Harbour development
At a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca and Labour Party councillor Tom Fortune accused the County Manager of misleading an Bord Pleanala in relation to the Greystones Harbour development.

08/06/06
De Burca condemns illegal dumping on Magheramore beach
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has condemned the illegal dumping that has been taking place on Magheramore Beach and the surrounding headland which are situated outside of Wicklow Town.

06/06/06
Green Party calls for clarity over Planning Permission for solar panels
The Green Party has called on the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche TD to issue clear guidance on Planning Permission for solar panels. The Party says that homeowners who wish to install panels are being given conflicting advice from different Planning Authorities around the country.

31/05/06
De Burca claims water crisis developing in North Wicklow
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has recently claimed that a serious water crisis is developing in North County Wicklow. Cllr de Burca made her comments following the recent disruption to water supplies that occurred in both Enniskerry village and Rocky Valley, Kilmacanogue.

31/05/06
Council should provide pubic toilet for Aughrim village says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called on Wicklow County Council to provide a public toilet for the village of Aughrim.

12/05/06
De Burca calls on Minister to officially recognise Blessington Gaelscoil
Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has called on the Minister for Education to grant official recognition to the Gaelscoil in Blesington. Cllr De Burca says that the Gaelscoil has received several 'unofficial' communications from the Department which indicate that official recognition will not be given at present.

08/05/06
De Burca succeeds in having higher energy efficiency standards adopted in new Marlton Area Plan
At a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca was successful in having an amendment adopted which agreed much higher energy efficiency standards for the new Development Plan relating to the Marlton Area outside Wicklow Town.

02/05/06
Roche must face responsibility for electoral register fiasco says Green Party
The Green Party has repeated its call for the establishment of an Electoral Register Commission to take responsibility for the collation and maintenance of the national electoral register. The Party expressed its deep concern at the opportunity for voter fraud that the electoral register currently presents.

28/04/06
De Burca calls on local traders to defend their market rights
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has recently drawn public attention to the fact that all traditional Market Rights that have been unused around County Wicklow in the last ten years stand to be extinguished if they are not exercised by the end of April 2006.

27/04/06
De Burca welcomes Moriarty Tribunal investigation into sale of Glen Ding lands
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed the recent announcement of the Moriarty Tribunal that it is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sale of State lands at Glen Ding, West Wicklow to the Roadstone company.

13/04/06
De Burca calls for new Wicklow Waste Strategy to include policy on illegal dumps
Green party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called for Wicklow County Council to include a clear policy on illegal dumps as part of the new Replacement Waste Plan that is being drawn up at the moment.

13/04/06
Greens call for new Luas line to extend to Bray Golf Club Lands
Green Party councillor on Bray Town Council, Deirdre de Burca, has called on Pizarro, the developers of the Bray Golf Club Lands, to insist on the extension of the new Luas line to the golf club lands.

07/04/06
Green Party welcomes proposed decision to allow clean up of the illegal waste site at Whitestown
The Green Party has welcomed today's proposed decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to grant a restricted licence to Brownfield Restoration Ireland Limited to allow the clean up and remediation of the illegal waste site at Whitestown in Co. Wicklow.

Green Party councillor on Wicklow County Council, Deirdre de Burca said that today's proposed decision represented "a growing consistency and compliance with EU Waste Directives in the official decisions being made in Ireland concerning illegal dump sites".

04/04/06
De Burca makes submission to Oral Hearing on Greystones Marina
At the oral hearing into the proposed marina development for Greystones Harbour held at the Royal Hotel in Bray, Green Party Councillor Deirdre de Burca made a detailed submission opposing the proposed development. The full text of this submission may be read by clicking on the link above.

04/04/06
De Burca urges public to make submissions on Draft Settlement Strategy for County Wicklow
Following Monday's meeting of Wicklow County Council at which a Draft Settlement Strategy for County Wicklow was adopted by councillors, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called on members of the public to make submissions on the strategy.

21/03/06
De Burca welcomes positive announcement for Barnacoyle preschool for Autistic Children
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has welcomed the news that sanction will be forthcoming to fund existing places at the Barnacoyle preschool for autistic children run by St Catherine's Special needs services at Killoughter, Ashford, Co Wicklow.

21/03/06
Decision to locate Blessington drinking water next to illegal dumps a disgrace says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has been very critical of the recent decision by Wicklow County Council to approve the location of a water reservoir for Blessington on Roadstone's land next to the illegal dumps that were discovered there.

10/03/06
Regional Superdump at Donard likely to get green light says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has claimed that a Regional Superdump at Donard is West Wicklow is likely to get the green light from the Environmental Protection Agency.

01/03/06
Government's lack of interest in children with special needs is a disgrace says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, recently stated that this Government's lack of interest in children with special needs is "disgraceful". Cllr de Burca made her comments following the controversy that surrounds the current threat to the pre-school service for children with autism provided by Barnacoyle School, in Co Wicklow.

20/02/06
Water charges are another drain on under-funded schools says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, raised the issue of water charges for schools at a recent meeting of the Water and Environmental Services committee of Wicklow County Council.

20/02/06
Replacement Wicklow Waste Management Plan is a charter for private waste sector says de Burca
Following a presentation of the Replacement Wicklow Waste Management Plan to the council's Water and Environment Services committee this week, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has called the Plan a "charter for the private waste sector".

16/02/06
Green Party says Strategic Infrastucture Bill an attack on local democracy
The Green Party has accused the Government of undermining local democracy with today's publication of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006. According to Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, The Bill will do little to speed up major projects, but will instead dramatically curtail the public's participation in the planning process.

10/02/06
Green Party welcomes EPA decision to refuse illegal Wicklow dump
The Green Party has welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) refusal to grant a licence for the construction of a dump on the Roadstone site in Blessington Co. Wicklow where up to 110,000 tonnes of illegal waste is buried in a 600-acre site.

09/02/06
Green councillor is shocked over quarry blasting decision
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has declared herself shocked over a recent decision in which the quarry operator of a site in Ballylusk Ashford won an appeal in relation to the issue of the Gardai accompanying dynamite to the controversial quarry site.

09/02/06
De Burca welcomes new Local Area Plan for Marlton Rd, Wicklow Town
Green Party councillor on Wicklow County Council, Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed the new Draft Local Area plan for the Marlton Rd, Wicklow Town. The Draft plan will be discussed and amended by councillors at their meeting on Monday 13^th February and will then go out on public display in March.

06/02/06
Council's plans to buy Glen Ding site from Roadstone for reservoir is a scandal says de Burca
At a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council at which a proposal to locate a council reservoir on Roadstone's land at Glen Ding, Blessington was discussed by councillors, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca stated that the proposal was a "scandal".

02/02/06
Public opposition to Greystones Harbour development is growing says de Burca
Following a recent packed public meeting in Greystones about the proposed harbour development, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, claims that public opposition to the proposed development is growing.

02/02/06
De Burca welcomes relocation of travellers from illegal encampment at Hollybrook
Green Party councillor and Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council welcomed this week's relocation of the travellers who have been living at the illegal encampment at Hollybrook, Bray.

30/01/06
De Burca welcomes new funding for non-national roads in Wicklow
Green Party councillor and Chairperson of Bray Town Council, Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed the recent allocation by the Department of the Environment of almost 18 million euros to County Wicklow for non-national roads.

23/01/06
Bray- Greystones Cliff Walk needs ongoing maintenance and repair work says de Burca
The Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council and Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has said that the Bray- Greystones Cliff Walk is in need of ongoing maintenance and repair works.

16/01/06
Greens welcome council's refusal of planning for Herbert Rd development
Green Party councillors on Bray Town Council have welcomed the council's recent decision to refuse a planning application by Suntec Developments Ltd for the demolition of three dormer bungalows and the construction of 86 apartments on the Herbert Rd, Bray.

11/01/06
Greens welcome progress on recycling but Ireland still bottom of European League
The Green Party has welcomed the publication by the Environmental Protection Agency of National Waste Report 2004. Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca said "we need more options than bury it or burn waste. We need to focus on two areas; reduction in the levels of waste we produce and development of an Irish recycling sector".

11/01/06
Greens slam Roche as Bray Draft Budget is criticised
The Bray Draft Budget came in for widespread criticism from all political parties at the first meeting of Bray Town Council after the Christmas break. Green Party councillors reserved most of their criticism for Minister Dick Roche who, they claimed, had only provided a 5% increase in the Local Government Fund for Bray Town Council.

10/01/06
New Draft Development Plan for Arklow Environs is not strong enough on flood protection says de Burca
At a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council at which the Draft Development Plan for Arklow Environs was discussed by councillors, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca claimed that the plan was not strong enough in relation to flood protection.

10/01/06
Councillors not officials must decide where travellers halting sites are located says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, rejected a recent recommendation from Wicklow County Council's Housing Strategic Policy Committee that the selection of sites for traveller's halting bays in the north of the county should be a matter for the council officials.

7/01/06
Objections to Greystones Harbour Development must be with an Bord Pleanala by February 15th says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called on residents of Greystones to submit any objections or proposed changes to the proposed harbour development to an Bord Pleanala by February 15th.

15/12/05
Council gives planning for Bray Recycling Centre
Bray Town Councillors have given planning permission for a Recycling Centre for Bray. The new Recycling Centre will be located at the former Ecolabs site, Beechwood Close, off the Boghall Rd.

9/11/05
Developers must complete housing estates properly, says de Burca
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called on Wicklow County Council to oblige developers to properly complete new housing estates being built in the county.

09/11/05
County Manager’s decisions increasingly questioned by external bodies, says de Burca
Following a recent decision by an Bord Pleanála to overturn planning permission granted by Wicklow’s County Manager to Roadstone for an extension to its quarrying operation at Blessington, Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has publicly expressed her alarm.

17/10/05
De Burca welcomes site for Wicklow third level college but calls for proper business plan
Deirdre de Burca has welcomed the proposed purchase by Wicklow County Council of a site for a third level college, but calls for proper business plan.

07/10/05
ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL IS GOOD BUSINESS SAY GREENS
Following an “Accessibility for All Conference” held by the Bray Partnership, Cllr. de Burca has called on Bray business to make their premises as accessible as possible to all members of the public.


Previous Press Releases:

Releases from 2005

Releases from 2004

Releases from 2003

Releases from 2002

Releases from 2001

Releases from 2000

See Also:

National Green Party News & Press Releases