Éamon Ó Cuív TD has called for greater balance in dealing with EU habitat directives when planning much-needed infrastructure projects such as the N59 in Connemara.

The Galway West TD says that despite the cautious approach towards such works, this state has never been fined for breaching the habitat directive.

He argues too much weight is being given to environmental concerns at the expense of vital infrastructure projects essential to social and economic development.

The N59 in west Galway has stalled four years after upgrade works were first announced, and the deputy says the government are being far too cautious.

“The very fact that we’ve never been fined despite the fact that day after day we hear of the threat of fines as if they were imminent shows that we probably are erring too far on the side of caution,” Deputy Ó Cuív said.

“What I’m particularly talking about is when you’re balancing human need, human safety, and the need for basic infrastructure against protecting the environment.

“We need to ensure that there is a proper balance there and that the human requirements are also taken into account in a fair and balanced way,” he added.

Planning permission has been granted to a housing development in Knocknacarra.

The new development, to be built at Barna Road by Highgate Properties Limited, was given the go-ahead by the city council this week.

This will see the construction of 8 two-storey detached homes, including landscaping, a greenway and a new entrance at the site, known as Ashwood.

The development has been approved with 23 conditions.

Some of the conditions relate to boundary walls, where planners have placed restrictions on the height, type and finish of the walls.

The exact finish for the greenway is yet to be agreed, however this will be done before construction begins.

119 thousand euro will be given by the developer to public services in the area, as part of another condition attached to the granting of permission.

A woman in her 20’s has been airlifted to University Hospital Galway following a serious accident on Inis Mor.

The woman was attending the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series when the incident occurred.

Rescue 115 of Valentia Coastguard responded to reports of a serious incident shortly after 11 yesterday morning.

The woman, who is understood to have sustained critical injuries, was then taken to UHG by helicopter around lunchtime.

The Red Bull Cliff Diving event sees competitors jump from a 27m platform into ‘the Serpent’s Lair’ – the famous natural rectangular pool south of Dun Aengus.