An Taisce
Encyclopedia
An Taisce also known as the National Trust for Ireland, was established in 1948 with a similar mission to that of the National Trust
in England
, Wales
and Northern Ireland
. It is not a state organisation although it receives a modest annual government
grant — less than €6,000 out of a total annual income in the region of €440,000, derived from member fees, bequests and donations. In August 2010 there were calls for an investigation into the organisation's finances following relevations that it received €30,000 corporate donations from incinerator company, Indaver, and supermarket giant Tesco Ireland
, while at the same time, An Taisce were opposing some of the two companies' developments.
The Planning Acts provide for An Taisce and about 20 other prescribed bodies to be informed of all planning applications in areas of scenic beauty or high amenity significance; where architectural, archaeological or environmental issues need to be considered. Local Authorities are obliged to consult An Taisce on a vast array of development proposals. Therefore its range of expertise extends across Ireland's natural, built, and social heritage. It seeks to educate, inform, and lead public opinion on the environment; to advocate and influence policy; and manage heritage properties. It has recently taken a strong stand against the government and Royal Dutch Shell
's plans to build an inland natural gas
refinery
in Erris
(see Corrib gas project).
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is not a state organisation although it receives a modest annual government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
grant — less than €6,000 out of a total annual income in the region of €440,000, derived from member fees, bequests and donations. In August 2010 there were calls for an investigation into the organisation's finances following relevations that it received €30,000 corporate donations from incinerator company, Indaver, and supermarket giant Tesco Ireland
Tesco Ireland
Tesco Ireland is the Irish arm of supermarket group Tesco. It was formed in Tesco plc's 1997 takeover of the Irish retailing operations of Associated British Foods, namely Powers' Supermarkets Limited and its subsidiaries, trading as Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices.Tesco operates supermarkets under...
, while at the same time, An Taisce were opposing some of the two companies' developments.
The Planning Acts provide for An Taisce and about 20 other prescribed bodies to be informed of all planning applications in areas of scenic beauty or high amenity significance; where architectural, archaeological or environmental issues need to be considered. Local Authorities are obliged to consult An Taisce on a vast array of development proposals. Therefore its range of expertise extends across Ireland's natural, built, and social heritage. It seeks to educate, inform, and lead public opinion on the environment; to advocate and influence policy; and manage heritage properties. It has recently taken a strong stand against the government and Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
's plans to build an inland natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
in Erris
Erris
Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over , much of which is mountainous blanket bog. It has extensive sea coasts along its west and north boundaries. The main towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris. The name Erris derives from the Irish 'Iar Ros' meaning 'western...
(see Corrib gas project).
Operations
The organisation is split into four operational divisions:- Projects Unit operates nationwide programmes on behalf of the Irish government's Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Dublin Transportation OfficeDublin Transportation OfficeThe Dublin Transportation Office was a government agency, formed in 1996, which provides transport and land use advice to organisations operating in the Greater Dublin Area. It had relatively limited powers and is not a full transport authority...
and the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, such as the Blue FlagBlue Flag beachThe Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
waterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
quality accreditation programme and Green Schools Programme that aims to promote higher environmental standards in schools.
- The Planning Office which monitors roughly 5% of all planning (local authority development consent) applications made annually making submissions on a small number of those received and appealing about 300 applications a year to An Bord PleanálaAn Bord PleanálaAn Bord Pleanála is an independent statutory administrative tribunal that decides on appeals from planning decisions made by local authorities in the Republic of Ireland. As of 2007 The Planning Board directly decides major strategic infrastructural projects under the provisions of the Planning...
, the statutory planning appeals board.
- Natural Environment Office which monitors environmental standards and co-ordinates policy formation from the elected advocacy committees amongst the membership.
- Property Custody takes ownership of and looks after properties that have either historical significance or are environmentally sensitive. The properties listed below are taken care of by both professional staff and volunteers who are involved with the day to day management of income generating properties such as Tailors Hall (also available for private hire for weddings) and the restoration of important resources such as the Boyne NavigationBoyne NavigationThe Boyne Navigation is a series of canals running 31 km roughly parallel to the River Boyne from Oldbridge to Navan in County Meath, in Ireland. The navigation was once used by horse drawn boats travelling between Navan, Slane and the port of Drogheda; however is now derelict...
.
Structure
The organisation comprises over 5,000 members; annual individual membership is €45. They are organised into 15 local organisations and these report to a 50-person Ruling Council. The Council elects a board of management and other policy committees, including:- Natural Environment Committee
- Built Environment Committee
- Heritage Gardens and Designed Landscapes Sub-Committee
- Transport Committee
- Waste Committee
- Economics Committee
Key Personnel
- President: Professor John Sweeney
- Chairman: Charles Stanley-Smith
- Hon Secretaries: Jeff Young
Staff
- Ian Lumley: Heritage Officer
- Binah Shah: Planning Administrator
- Anja Murray: Natural Environment Officer
- Camilla Keane: NAtural Environment Casework Officer
- Elizabeth Muldowney: Energy Officer
- Carol O'Connor: Office Manager
- Abby McSherry Public affairs/volunteers officer
- John Ducie: Property and conservation officer
Properties
- Tailor's Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8 (headquarters employing 17 staff)
- Kanturk CastleKanturk-Transport:*Kanturk railway station opened on 1 April 1889, closed for passenger traffic on 27 January 1947 and finally closed altogether on 4 February 1963. Kanturk is however served by the nearby Banteer railway station.-People:...
, County CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county... - BooterstownBooterstownBooterstown,, is a coastal townland and civil parish, situated in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area of the former County Dublin, about south of the city of Dublin in Ireland.-Location and access:...
Marsh Nature Reserve, Dublin - Boyne NavigationBoyne NavigationThe Boyne Navigation is a series of canals running 31 km roughly parallel to the River Boyne from Oldbridge to Navan in County Meath, in Ireland. The navigation was once used by horse drawn boats travelling between Navan, Slane and the port of Drogheda; however is now derelict...
and Towpath, County MeathCounty MeathCounty Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county... - Old Courthouse, HowthHowthHowth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
, County DublinCounty DublinCounty Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the... - The Crane, GortGortGort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the...
Weigh House, County GalwayCounty GalwayCounty Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county... - Crocknafarragh, County DonegalCounty DonegalCounty Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
- The Grove, Morehampton Road Wildlife Sanctuary, Dublin 4
- The Gull Islands and Rough Island, Mulroy BayMulroy BayMulroy Bay is a relatively small bay / sea loch on the north coast of County Donegal, Ireland.Mulroy Bay is the most convoluted of the marine inlets in north-west Ireland. It is approximately 12 km long in a north-south direction. The entrance to the bay is a narrow embayment leading to a winding...
, Co. Donegal - Mongan Bog, County OffalyCounty OffalyCounty Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
- Mullaghmore, County ClareCounty Clare-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
- Oweninny Bog, County MayoCounty MayoCounty Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
See also
- List of National Trust properties in Northern Ireland
- National TrustNational TrustNational Trust most commonly refers to an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural or environmental treasures of a particular geographic region. They generally operate as private non-profit organizations, although some receive considerable support from their national government...
, with a listing of National Trusts worldwide