Health objection to restaurant

Planning permission for an 85-seat drive-through McDonalds restaurant in Ennis has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála because of the possible health effects on local children.

The appeal was lodged by Cllr Brian Meaney (Green Party), who has called on the board to order an environmental impact statement on the proposed restaurant.

He said the company spent a vast amount in targeting children in its advertising campaigns, yet there was a dearth of information on the impact McDonalds and other fast-food outlets had on the diets of children.

Cllr Meaney said this was against the background of growing anxiety over obesity levels in children.

"I believe that planning permission should be turned down in the absence of information on the health impacts on local children," he said. "This is a perfect opportunity for the public to be informed on the health impacts of McDonalds restaurants and it can be used as a template when assessing the merits of other fast-food outlets across the country."

The onus must be on the applicant to determine the impact the operation would have on the public health of children living locally, especially as the outlet was close to residential housing.