Dublin TD Tom Kitt’s Wexford Gaff

There we were thinking Tom Kitt was living in the Dublin South constituency that he has represented for the last 22 years – yet it turns out he’s just got permission for a massive one-off gaff in Co. Wexford on the basis that ‘in 1996 Mr Kitt and his wife “began living in… Ballymoney, where they have resided ever since”‘.

Gaff by name, gaff by nature – once again one of our purported leaders makes a mockery of the planning system by use of a blatantly disingenuous ruse :rolleyes:

I’ve lived in Wexford for 10 years – Dublin TD

By Kevin Doyle

Monday March 23 2009

DUBLIN TD Tom Kitt has defended a wish to build his “dream home” on the Wexford coastline, saying his planning permission is totally legitimate.

A letter supplied to Wexford County Council as part of a planning application stated that Mr Kitt has lived in the area for more than a decade.

The news will come as a surprise to the people of Dublin South, whom Mr Kitt has represented in Leinster House for the past 22 years.

However, speaking to the Herald today, Mr Kitt said that he divides his time almost 50/50 between Dublin and Wexford.

The Wexford countryside where the TD hopes to build is viewed by planning authorities as an exclusive area that is reserved for locals with “housing needs”.

The issue of who is allowed to build where has been a massive bone of contention as locals have in the past opposed the building of large holiday homes.

But Mr Kitt was granted permission to build a 3,150sq ft property in the scenic area close to Ballymoney and Courtown.

In a letter it is stated that in 1996 Mr Kitt and his wife “began living in the Sandycove area of Ballymoney, where they have resided ever since”.

Today Mr Kitt confirmed that he does own a holiday home in the area and noted that he has ties there going back to the 1970s.

“This has been a dream plan for us all our lives,” he said, adding: “We spend an awful lot of time down there.”

Although permission has been granted, Mr Kitt is still negotiating to buy the land and noted that this could be affected by the recession.

“We don’t own the site and it’s all depended on other stuff being sold so we don’t even know if we’re going to be in a position to build,” he said.

In a letter from an architect to Wexford Co Council, it is stated that the “work commitment” of Mr Kitt provides “a genuine need to live in the area”.

It noted that he and his wife “are already established residents in the Ballymoney area”.

For the purpose of his Oireachtas work, Mr Kitt has declared his official address as being in Rathfarnham, while he also has a constituency office in Dundrum.

It is not necessary to note ownership of a personal holiday home on the declaration of interests for the Dail.

kdoyle@herald.ie

– Kevin Doyle

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/ive-lived-in–wexford-for-10-years–dublin-td-1682777.html