A 15M TELECOMMUNICATIONS STRUCTURE will be built close to Doolin Cave in order to provide enhanced broadband to Inisheer and Inishmaan, should a planning application by the NBI to Clare County Council be approved.
Galway planning consultants Entrust have made an application to the planning department for the structure as well as a sizeable adjoining development.
The development is planned to occur in the townland of Ballinalacken, straddling Doolin and Lisdoonvarna.
The full application made to the local authority calls for “The installation of broadband infrastructure comprising of a 15m telecommunications structure supporting 4 no. receiving dishes, single bay cabinet on concrete foundation, palisade fence with access gate, access track, concrete plinth, fibre chamber, white stone compound ground finish, and all ancillary development”.
Entrust propose that the development is necessary for the islands to “connect to the NBI national fibre network, as part of the government’s national broadband plan to provide high speed broadband to all parts of the country that are not available commercially, including the Islands, at the same data speed”.
As the potential development is slated for a picturesque area of County Clare, a number of assessments have been carried out in order to reduce any potential impact on the locality.
Inisheer and Inishmaan are located approximately 11km and 16km away to the west of the site.
The land surrounding the proposed site is mainly agricultural in use with landowner Mr. Colin O’Callaghan giving his consent for the project to go ahead on his land.
A visual assessment carried out by Entrust found that “the design of the structure allows for the assimilation of same into the surrounding landscape with, the lattice design, colour scheme and landscape characteristics ensure the proposal is not an overbearing feature on the landscape”.
The report continues that “No Significant landscape and visual impacts will occur as a result of the proposed development”.
The application notes that the proposed development is in line with the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 and quotes section 8.2 of the plan.
This clause pledges to “encourage growth and arrest the decline of rural areas through supporting the sustainable development of these areas by facilitating innovative rural enterprises and the diversification of the rural economy into new sectors and services including ICT based industries and those addressing climate change and sustainability”.
The Dublin-based international construction firm Obelisk will handle the development should the application be successful.
The firm has issued several timescales in relation to the project, including machinery requirements on site. Obelisk envisage a 6-ton excavator and 3-ton site dumper will be required for 10 days and 5 days respectively.
The planning department is due to make a decision on the potential development by the 12th of July. Submissions to Clare County Council can be made up until June 21st.
