The following is an extract from a report by Monaghan County Council's chief planning officer, Mr Noel MacCann, on the controversial housing scheme proposed for Concra Wood:

"Further to the meeting in the County Manager's office on Monday, 2nd September 1996, I wish to place on record my serious reservations in relation to this development in principle and to this application in particular.

"There are a number of very serious issues affecting this proposed development which have not been addressed in the application and, in my opinion, there has been a deliberate attempt to ignore them.

"The issue of the visual impact of this development on the landscape of Lough Muckno has not been addressed. "The proposal involves the development of 88 `Log Cabins', some of which are nine to 10 metres high, in an undeveloped area zoned as a High Amenity Landscape in the County Monaghan Development Plan. "The developers have made no attempt to address this issue or to make any realistic assessment of the implications.

"I refer also to the report of the Chief Fire Officer which details major concerns in relation to fire hazard".