Ireland

Rape counselling centre refused permission in Killarney over concern for bat habitat

Lesser horseshoe bat’s commuting and foraging could be affected by lighting at the site, Department of Heritage said

Lesser horseshoe bats have declined and in some cases gone extinct across Europe, making the Irish population important

Anne Lucey
Fri Jul 5 2024 - 12:09

Permission for a counselling centre for rape and sexual abuse victims on in Killarney’s has again been refused because of the effect of artificial lighting on the lifestyle of the lesser horseshoe bat.

Kerry County Council had refused permission for the two-storey building at Reen on Ross Road intended to have four counselling rooms, not only because of concern for the protected bat and also due to fact the area is a flood plain of the nearby Lough Leane.

The Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre appealed this decision to An Bórd Pleanála. It said such a service was vital at a regional and local level and the site alongside the Killarney National Park at would afford a quiet location with privacy for victims and their families.

It questioned how other developments had been allowed and said there was “a lack of consistency” in the council’s planning approach. The centre was “vital”, the directors said in their appeal.

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The Department of Heritage had said it is “absolutely vital the quality and efficiency of this edge of Reen as a commuting corridor and frequently used foraging area (for the lesser horseshoe bat) is not compromised”.

An Bórd Pleanála refused permission in line with its inspector’s recommendation and the decision of Kerry County Council.

The board said it was not satisfied in relation to the adequacy of the mitigation measures proposed to ensure the proposed development, in particular the proposed lighting scheme, would not adversely affect the bat.

It said it was also concerned about flood risk, as the site was in an area prone to flooding.

A number of developments have been turned down in recent years in Killarney because of concern for the effects of artificial lighting on the bat.

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