As the demolition of Dún Laoghaire’s historic Carlisle Pier continues local TD Ciarán Cuffe has referred the issue to An Bord Pleanála. The demolition started in early September, and from the start the Green Party TD appealed in writing to both the Harbour Company and the Council to cease demolition as no planning permission had been obtained for the works.

 At that time Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council claimed that the “works are exempt” and did not require Planning Permission. However it has now stated that “neither interpretation is clear cut and … there is a significant element of ambiguity.”

 The Council failed to respond to Deputy Cuffe’s formal request to adjudicate on whether Planning Permission was required within the statutory four week period and Deputy Cuffe has now referred the matter to An Bord Pleanála for decision. In a bizarre turn of events the Council itself has also made a similar request to the Board.

 Green Party TD for Dún Laoghaire Ciarán Cuffe stated:
 

“Our built heritage is under threat from the body that was set up to protect it. I specifically asked the Council to ensure that the demolition works cease on the 1st September last. Now as the dust is settling the Council has decided that it is unsure whether Permission is required for the demolition.
 
“Under Planning Regulations introduced last year by my colleague the Minister for the Environment Planning Permission is required for the demolition of this historic complex of buildings.

“It was heart-breaking to watch diggers remove the original hundred and fifty year old railway station on the Pier. I can’t believe that this kind of thing can happen in 2009. It goes against the grain of every advance in protecting our heritage over the last thirty years. This is the building that Michael Collins left from to negotiate the Treaty. It is the building that witnessed the departure of millions of the Irish Diaspora over the years. My only hope is that the Company that is demolishing the building is storing the salvaged items so that the building can be rebuilt if the Board decides that the demolition was illegal."