19/08/2010
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
This statement is in response in particular to a letter from Mr A Thomas published in the Tallaght Echo dated 19th August, but also in respect of a succession of correspondence relating to planning in Tallaght from Mr Thomas.
?In the first instance, I would draw attention to the attached letter dated 4th March 2008 from this Council to Mr Thomas setting out the position in relation to planning policy and expressing strong concern at the personal nature and content of his correspondence. Many of the projects in progress at the time are now complete and operational, e.g. RuaRed Arts Centre, The County Library etc. The letter is very specific in relation to public consultation and process and how the Tallaght Plan was adopted by the members.
I also attach copy of the statistics referred to by Mr Colin Ryan, Senior Planner, in his discussions with a Tallaght Echo reporter, referred to by Mr Thomas in his letter of the 19th to the Echo. I do not need to comment further other than to re-iterate that the factual position as reported by NUIM support Mr Ryans comments.
Finally, as stated below : ?no level of righteous indignation or disaffection gives anyone the right to publish repeated, highly personalised, offensive and one-sided invective and inaccurate statements against named Council management, Councillors and staff.? This Authority is committed to engaging with the public in meaningful discussion on policy development, adoption and implementation and will respond as speedily and as accurately as possible to all reasonable comments and queries. Despite attempting to deal with Mr Thomas in this manner the tone of his correspondence remains highly personalised and refuses to deal with the reasoned Council responses over the years, (as stated in 2008 : ?Despite previous Council replies to specific matters you have raised in numerous e-mails, you choose to ignore the response and raise the same points continuously?.)
Accordingly, this statement is intended to re-state and clarify the Council position in regard to this stream of correspondence.
Yours Sincerely,
Frank Nevin,
Director of Land Use, Economic & Transport Planning
South Dublin County Council