Kevin Baker
@kevinwbaker.bsky.social
Interested in transport, mobility and liveable cities. Software Engineer @HubSpot. He/him 🇮🇪🏳️🌈
It’s such an odd article that buried the vital info. It leads with objections, then it’s 3km north west of Limerick City so no where near Shannon, then ends with the wind farm is proposed beside a vital aviation radar station. Well that seems like a reasonable concern
November 18, 2025 at 5:22 PM
It’s such an odd article that buried the vital info. It leads with objections, then it’s 3km north west of Limerick City so no where near Shannon, then ends with the wind farm is proposed beside a vital aviation radar station. Well that seems like a reasonable concern
I hope there was a more detailed report with that presentation. Is this 9 reports of 100e unreported or one person with 800e and multiple tiny transactions? What was the sampling rate? It’s like they know they need to audit but then it’s just vague we should investigate improving policies etc
November 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I hope there was a more detailed report with that presentation. Is this 9 reports of 100e unreported or one person with 800e and multiple tiny transactions? What was the sampling rate? It’s like they know they need to audit but then it’s just vague we should investigate improving policies etc
It’s an odd piece. The first half about using machine learning and image processing to help with environmental monitoring has nothing to do with the second half about generative AI and its hungry power demands.
Image processing, even with additional machine learning, has extremely low power usage.
Image processing, even with additional machine learning, has extremely low power usage.
November 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
It’s an odd piece. The first half about using machine learning and image processing to help with environmental monitoring has nothing to do with the second half about generative AI and its hungry power demands.
Image processing, even with additional machine learning, has extremely low power usage.
Image processing, even with additional machine learning, has extremely low power usage.
My outsider perspective is that everyone is playing their part and playing it well and yet we struggle to get good projects through the overly complex process.
Either we need a simpler process or better tools for creating/analysing various application types to avoid human error.
/rant2
Either we need a simpler process or better tools for creating/analysing various application types to avoid human error.
/rant2
November 13, 2025 at 10:07 AM
My outsider perspective is that everyone is playing their part and playing it well and yet we struggle to get good projects through the overly complex process.
Either we need a simpler process or better tools for creating/analysing various application types to avoid human error.
/rant2
Either we need a simpler process or better tools for creating/analysing various application types to avoid human error.
/rant2
Also don’t want to just dunk on this article - it’s pretty misleading use of stats may have triggered me.
There have been many articles like this from applicants, planners, legal professionals about the merits and ills of JRs that are all so siloed in their viewpoint.
There have been many articles like this from applicants, planners, legal professionals about the merits and ills of JRs that are all so siloed in their viewpoint.
November 13, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Also don’t want to just dunk on this article - it’s pretty misleading use of stats may have triggered me.
There have been many articles like this from applicants, planners, legal professionals about the merits and ills of JRs that are all so siloed in their viewpoint.
There have been many articles like this from applicants, planners, legal professionals about the merits and ills of JRs that are all so siloed in their viewpoint.
But we must also discuss that:
* JRs take too long. Under resourced courts?
* when issues are identified we go back to the start of the multi-year process far too frequently. Can we have more checkpoints?
* simplify the planning processes to make them easier to follow?
/rant
* JRs take too long. Under resourced courts?
* when issues are identified we go back to the start of the multi-year process far too frequently. Can we have more checkpoints?
* simplify the planning processes to make them easier to follow?
/rant
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
But we must also discuss that:
* JRs take too long. Under resourced courts?
* when issues are identified we go back to the start of the multi-year process far too frequently. Can we have more checkpoints?
* simplify the planning processes to make them easier to follow?
/rant
* JRs take too long. Under resourced courts?
* when issues are identified we go back to the start of the multi-year process far too frequently. Can we have more checkpoints?
* simplify the planning processes to make them easier to follow?
/rant
Yes I want the law followed. Yes JRs are a vital part of democracy and protecting legal rights.
I hate how the government is trying to close off JRs by limiting access to justice or changing the costs of taking JRs.
It’s anti-democratic.
I hate how the government is trying to close off JRs by limiting access to justice or changing the costs of taking JRs.
It’s anti-democratic.
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Yes I want the law followed. Yes JRs are a vital part of democracy and protecting legal rights.
I hate how the government is trying to close off JRs by limiting access to justice or changing the costs of taking JRs.
It’s anti-democratic.
I hate how the government is trying to close off JRs by limiting access to justice or changing the costs of taking JRs.
It’s anti-democratic.
Greater Dublin Drainage, now on its second J.R., almost ten years later is vital infrastructure. We need to build it.
The first JR succeeded because ABP didn’t ask the EPA about the treated water discharge. Turns out EPA were fine with it – see the second application process now subject to a new JR
The first JR succeeded because ABP didn’t ask the EPA about the treated water discharge. Turns out EPA were fine with it – see the second application process now subject to a new JR
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Greater Dublin Drainage, now on its second J.R., almost ten years later is vital infrastructure. We need to build it.
The first JR succeeded because ABP didn’t ask the EPA about the treated water discharge. Turns out EPA were fine with it – see the second application process now subject to a new JR
The first JR succeeded because ABP didn’t ask the EPA about the treated water discharge. Turns out EPA were fine with it – see the second application process now subject to a new JR
Anyone who thinks projects this complex, with a highly qualified applicant team and inspector team isn’t going to make some procedural mistake in the three year deliberation process is conning themselves.
The process is complex. We keep making it more complex. Humans do make mistakes.
The process is complex. We keep making it more complex. Humans do make mistakes.
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Anyone who thinks projects this complex, with a highly qualified applicant team and inspector team isn’t going to make some procedural mistake in the three year deliberation process is conning themselves.
The process is complex. We keep making it more complex. Humans do make mistakes.
The process is complex. We keep making it more complex. Humans do make mistakes.
… railway order applications in the last decade. The planning rules are constantly changing both nationally and at the EU level.
They weren’t both super confident on what needs to go into the Railway Order decision document as there have been so few.
They weren’t both super confident on what needs to go into the Railway Order decision document as there have been so few.
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
… railway order applications in the last decade. The planning rules are constantly changing both nationally and at the EU level.
They weren’t both super confident on what needs to go into the Railway Order decision document as there have been so few.
They weren’t both super confident on what needs to go into the Railway Order decision document as there have been so few.
One the first day of the MetroLink oral hearings TII, the applicant, and the ABP inspector, both discussed how they had both created their own consolidated version of the various acts related to granting railway orders. They then shared notes with each other. This is because there have been so few…
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
One the first day of the MetroLink oral hearings TII, the applicant, and the ABP inspector, both discussed how they had both created their own consolidated version of the various acts related to granting railway orders. They then shared notes with each other. This is because there have been so few…
Particularly when we have planning decisions in complex cases with hundreds of submissions, thousands of pages of submitted documentation.
Particularly for non-housing infra where the planning process is rare, it’s not surprising to find small procedural issues.
Particularly for non-housing infra where the planning process is rare, it’s not surprising to find small procedural issues.
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Particularly when we have planning decisions in complex cases with hundreds of submissions, thousands of pages of submitted documentation.
Particularly for non-housing infra where the planning process is rare, it’s not surprising to find small procedural issues.
Particularly for non-housing infra where the planning process is rare, it’s not surprising to find small procedural issues.
But let’s for a second not believe that all JRs are taken on potentially meritous grounds.
There are definitely JRs out there were the objectors want the project delayed or scrapped – no matter what. The legal team identify a small procedural issue that objectors didn’t care about to take the case
There are definitely JRs out there were the objectors want the project delayed or scrapped – no matter what. The legal team identify a small procedural issue that objectors didn’t care about to take the case
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
But let’s for a second not believe that all JRs are taken on potentially meritous grounds.
There are definitely JRs out there were the objectors want the project delayed or scrapped – no matter what. The legal team identify a small procedural issue that objectors didn’t care about to take the case
There are definitely JRs out there were the objectors want the project delayed or scrapped – no matter what. The legal team identify a small procedural issue that objectors didn’t care about to take the case
As an NGO though we were also conflicted about delaying at a minimum, and blocking if we won, 700 housing units from potentially being built during a housing crisis.
Judicial reviews take about a year, much longer if the decision is appealed
Given SHDs are gone was this win worth it? Not sure tbh
Judicial reviews take about a year, much longer if the decision is appealed
Given SHDs are gone was this win worth it? Not sure tbh
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
As an NGO though we were also conflicted about delaying at a minimum, and blocking if we won, 700 housing units from potentially being built during a housing crisis.
Judicial reviews take about a year, much longer if the decision is appealed
Given SHDs are gone was this win worth it? Not sure tbh
Judicial reviews take about a year, much longer if the decision is appealed
Given SHDs are gone was this win worth it? Not sure tbh
Following this JR decision we saw ABP, as it was then, more stringently analyse car parking in SHDs applications specifically referencing this case.
Ensuring greater compliance with local development plan requirements on maximum parking allowances.
Ensuring greater compliance with local development plan requirements on maximum parking allowances.
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Following this JR decision we saw ABP, as it was then, more stringently analyse car parking in SHDs applications specifically referencing this case.
Ensuring greater compliance with local development plan requirements on maximum parking allowances.
Ensuring greater compliance with local development plan requirements on maximum parking allowances.
We directly queried the parking to ABP in our planning submission, calling out the dodgy legal opinion from a senior counsel attached to the planning application. It was accepted without argument by ABPs inspector.
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
We directly queried the parking to ABP in our planning submission, calling out the dodgy legal opinion from a senior counsel attached to the planning application. It was accepted without argument by ABPs inspector.
I say this as someone who pushed an NGO I was involved in to take a judicial review against a development of over 700 housing units because of its illegal approach to bundling non-housing car parking into an SHD application.
www.dublincycling.com/cycling/lega...
www.dublincycling.com/cycling/lega...
Legal Action
www.dublincycling.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
I say this as someone who pushed an NGO I was involved in to take a judicial review against a development of over 700 housing units because of its illegal approach to bundling non-housing car parking into an SHD application.
www.dublincycling.com/cycling/lega...
www.dublincycling.com/cycling/lega...
I will quickly criticise certain organisations for soaking up funding and the limelight while doing nothing. But this is small grass root volunteer led stuff.
September 28, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I will quickly criticise certain organisations for soaking up funding and the limelight while doing nothing. But this is small grass root volunteer led stuff.
Being volunteer is a marathon not a sprint. It can be an isolating and draining slog. It can lead to magic moments and breakthroughs.
There’s one thing I have never found help motivate or reward volunteers who are pushing for change more than critiquing them for not delivering enough impact.
There’s one thing I have never found help motivate or reward volunteers who are pushing for change more than critiquing them for not delivering enough impact.
September 28, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Being volunteer is a marathon not a sprint. It can be an isolating and draining slog. It can lead to magic moments and breakthroughs.
There’s one thing I have never found help motivate or reward volunteers who are pushing for change more than critiquing them for not delivering enough impact.
There’s one thing I have never found help motivate or reward volunteers who are pushing for change more than critiquing them for not delivering enough impact.
You can’t *just* armchair give out about things. At a certain point you need to actually create some value, some change, some impact. Instead of just shouting we are all terrible all of the time.
Looking forward to seeing you out on streets pushing for change rather than just writing about it.
Looking forward to seeing you out on streets pushing for change rather than just writing about it.
September 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
You can’t *just* armchair give out about things. At a certain point you need to actually create some value, some change, some impact. Instead of just shouting we are all terrible all of the time.
Looking forward to seeing you out on streets pushing for change rather than just writing about it.
Looking forward to seeing you out on streets pushing for change rather than just writing about it.
Oh come on.
Is there a need for institutional powers to honestly assess their lack of ambition and impact. HELL YES!
Should there be space for folks criticising volunteer-led projects. No.
Is there a need for institutional powers to honestly assess their lack of ambition and impact. HELL YES!
Should there be space for folks criticising volunteer-led projects. No.
September 28, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Oh come on.
Is there a need for institutional powers to honestly assess their lack of ambition and impact. HELL YES!
Should there be space for folks criticising volunteer-led projects. No.
Is there a need for institutional powers to honestly assess their lack of ambition and impact. HELL YES!
Should there be space for folks criticising volunteer-led projects. No.
“It was never our intention to criticise the work of volunteers” then you directly follow it with a reply critiquing the methodology and impact of a volunteer-led project. Seriously re-read what you’ve posted.
September 28, 2025 at 1:43 PM
“It was never our intention to criticise the work of volunteers” then you directly follow it with a reply critiquing the methodology and impact of a volunteer-led project. Seriously re-read what you’ve posted.