Toonagh

Toonagh

Location and Context

Toonagh is a small village which comprises a school, crèche, shop, a small housing scheme and, a linear development of housing on the eastern side of the R476. Its proximity to Ennis makes it an attractive place to live.

Growth in the village will be carefully monitored and managed. It is not intended to ‘complete’ the development of all lands within the boundary of the village within a short time frame, but rather a long term time frame for its completion is considered more appropriate. The goal is to ensure that Toonagh maintains existing population levels and services and that future growth is incremental and small scale in nature, relative and appropriate to its scale, size and character.

In terms of infrastructure, water is supplied by Toonagh-Dysart Group Water Supply, a private group scheme with a water source in Ballycullinan Lake. One housing estate in the village has a small on-site secondary treatment plant. Any future residential development, commercial or employment generating development will require private treatment subject to suitable site specific conditions. The EPA Code of Practice for Wastewater Treatment Systems will be strictly adhered to in order to ensure protection of and achievement of at least ‘good status’ in the Shallee River as per the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.

Given the presence of Toonagh SAC, which is designated for the protection of the Lesser Horsehoe bat, all future developments within and surrounding Toonagh village should adhere to ‘Bats and Appropriate Assessment Guidelines’ (Bat Conservation Ireland, 2012). The existing tree line, hedgerow and mature trees located within the vicinity of the settlement should be retained as suitable foraging and commuting routes for bats. Any proposals for the redevelopment and/or refurbishment of old or derelict buildings may be subject to detailed bat surveys as appropriate.

Bus Eireann provides a convenient and valuable transport service with a drop off/collection point at Toonagh Stores on the Ennis to Kilkee route.

General Objectives

• To promote small-scale development in the village in order to maintain and increase the population in the local community and to support the existing services available to the community in the village and the surrounding area; • To ensure that existing population levels and services are maintained and to encourage new residents to the village; • To ensure that future growth in Toonagh is incremental and small scale in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the existing village; and

• To facilitate the provision of infrastructure to allow for future growth in the village.

Employment and Enterprise

Agriculture remains an important part of the local economy in the smaller settlements near Ennis. In order to support economic development the Council will facilitate and encourage farm enterprise and agri-tourism in Toonagh. The Council will also support home based economic activity where feasible. Suitably-scaled and appropriate commercial or employment generating development will be encouraged.

Strategy for Growth and Sustainable Communities

The strategy for the sustainable growth of the village and its community is through consolidation and regeneration that promotes compact sequential growth and supports and strengthens a sustainable village community and its rural hinterland. This will be achieved by encouraging small scale growth in areas which make a positive contribution to the overall enhancement of the village and sustains it into the future. In line with this approach and to promote vibrant rural villages, village growth areas have been identified which provide opportunities and choice for development, including small scale commercial, enterprise, community, services/facilities as well as small scale cluster housing, all of which offers a viable and attractive option for rural living within a village community and setting.

The beauty of the surrounding countryside and proximity of Toonagh to Ennis makes it an attractive place to live. In order to ensure that Toonagh maintains existing population levels and services, a number of sites are identified to allow for village growth.

The delivery of any new development in Toonagh will be encouraged by adopting a combined approach of sequential compact growth and the re-use and redevelopment of vacant or derelict sites and buildings within the village.

The areas identified for village growth allow for the sustainable compact growth of settlements, providing opportunities for small scale cluster type housing, as well as for other uses appropriate to the function, size and scale of the settlement.

Any development is highly dependent on the suitability of the land to accommodate on-site treatment plants.

Flooding and Flood Risk

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment in Volume 10(c) of this Plan advises that drainage impact assessment will be required to manage surface water in the village. Risk of groundwater flooding will also need to be appraised, although this will be limited to within the settlement boundary.

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