COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor S. Holland

"To ask the Chief Executive to please outline the restrictions on making additions to mobile phone masts and outline what reviews are taken to ensure that no additions are made to masts outside of the conditions imposed - with particular emphasis on that directly beside Scoil Mhuire in Whitechurch?"

REPLY:

Policy on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures is set out in Section 2.5.8 of the County Development 2010 – 2016 as follows:

In the consideration of proposals for telecommunications antennae and support structures the Council will, as a minimum standard, have regard to the Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures Guidelines for Planning Authorities (1996) and to such other publications and material as may be relevant in the circumstances. The Guidelines deal with telecommunications installations related to the provision of public cellular mobile telephone systems. They also deal with the antennae required for receiving and transmitting telephony signals, the support structures for these antennae, the associated buildings and radio equipment containers, ancillary equipment such as poles and cables and with access roads to base stations.

When evaluating planning applications for the provision of such telecommunications installations, the Council will be concerned to ensure the protection of public health and the preservation of residential and visual amenity. Regard will be had to the Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures Guidelines for Planning Authorities (1996) and to any other matters considered relevant to the achievement of these objectives.

In particular, the Council will discourage the location of antennae in residential areas and near primary and secondary schools and childcare facilities, and will set down and review standards in this regard from time to time. In doing so, South Dublin County Council wishes to provide the maximum protection for the health and well being of its citizens, and to strike a fair balance between the rights of individual citizens and the general good.

A minimum distance of approximately 100 metres shall be provided between mobile communication masts/antennae and residential areas/ primary and secondary schools/ childcare facilities/hospitals. This requirement shall not apply in the case of planning applications relating to sites where planning permission for such development has previously been granted.

The Council will discourage a proliferation of these masts in the County. To achieve this, the Council will promote cooperation between relevant agencies/operators, the sharing of space on telecommunications masts, and careful site selection. Where new facilities are proposed applicants will be required to satisfy the Council that they have made a reasonable effort to share facilities or to locate facilities in clusters.

Planning permissions for telecommunications antennae and support structures shall be for a temporary period of not more than five years.

In the consideration of proposals for telecommunications antennae and support structures, applications will be required to demonstrate the following:

• Compliance with the Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures Guidelines for Planning Authorities (1996) and to other publications and material as may be relevant in the circumstances;
• On a map the location of all existing telecommunications structures within a 1km radius of the proposed site, stating reasons why (if not proposed) it is not feasible to share existing facilities bearing in mind the Code of Practice on Sharing of Radio Sites (2003);
• To what degree the proposal will impact on the amenities of occupiers of nearby properties, or the amenities of the area (e.g. visibility issues regarding free-standing masts and associated equipment cabinets, and security fencing treatment) with potential for mitigating visual impacts, for example such as by low and mid-level landscape screening to be explored where appropriate, and any access arrangements explored including impact on any existing public Right of Way;
• That the beam of greatest intensity from a base station does not fall on any part of the grounds or buildings of a primary or secondary school or childcare facility, without agreement from the management of the school/facility and the parents of children attending the school/facility. Where an operator submits an application for planning permission for the installation, alteration or replacement of a mobile phone base station, whether at or near a primary or secondary school or childcare facility, the operator must provide evidence that they have consulted with the relevant body of the school or childcare facility; and
• A statement from operators of compliance with the Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (1998), in order to reduce genuine public health and safety concerns.

 Revisions to the ‘Telecommunications Guidelines 1996’ were introduced in October 2012 by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government by way of ‘Circular Letter PL 07/12 - Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structure Guidelines’. This circular states, inter alia 

• Temporary Permissions

‘Only in exceptional circumstances where particular site or environmental conditions apply, should a permission issue with conditions limiting their life’.

Scoil Mhuire

Additions to masts outside of the permissions and conditions imposed would come to the Councils attention from notification by members of the public and from the Area Planner.

With regard to masts in the vicinity of Scoil Mhuire in Whitechurch, permission was granted for a period of five years by An Bord Pleanala on 22/04/13 to Vodafone Ireland under SD12A/0193 (PL 06S.241424) for:

Retention permission for existing 20 metres high telecommunications support structure, with associated antennae and link dishes, associated equipment cabinets, security fence, associated site development works, (previous planning register reference number SD06A/0360). The development continues to form part of Vodafone Ireland’s existing GSM and 3G Broadband Telecommunications Network, all at Palmer Park/Pearse Brothers Park, Ballyboden, Dublin.