A Dublin-based Senator has objected to a 46 unit housing development in Waterford because of concerns for the Irish speaking community in the area.
The development application to build the development in the Mweelnahorna , Ring in Gaeltacht na nDéise was refused planning permission earlier this week.
The Fianna Fail Senator wrote in her objection letter, seen by Dublin Live, that she has a "special interest" in the area because she has family members from the area.
It read: "Although I am living in Dublin, I am part of the Gaeltacht na nDéise diaspora. My grandparents and their young family left Gaeltacht na nDéise in 1955.
"Therefore, I have a special interest in the area and my family still have strong connections with the area.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously there are "“too many people on too many councils across the country objecting to too many housing projects”.
And, Senator Clifford-Lee acknowledged that there was a housing need in the area in her letter.
The Fianna Fail Senator went on to argue that Waterford City and County Council has a "statutory duty" to protect the language in the Gaeltacht.
She wrote: "According to the latest census of 2016, Gaeltacht na nDéise is the only Gaeltacht in the country that has seen an increase in the number of daily Irish language speakers between 2011-2016".
"It is certain that a housing development of this size will have a negative impact on the number of daily Irish speakers in the area."
It added: "Although there is a housing need in the area, I do not believe that this development satisfies requirements of the local community".
The Senator wrote that there is no way of "assessing the language competency" of people moving into the new homes and argued the houses may be used as holiday homes.
"There is no system in place to access the language competency of the householders. We have no way of knowing whether these houses will be used as holiday homes or as primary living residences in the future".
The Senator told Independent.ie that it had “always been Fianna Fáil’s position to preserve the living language of the people” and said Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien was working on a framework to deal specifically with housing and planning in Gaeltacht areas.
“We have an obligation and a legal obligation to protect Gaeltacht areas,” she added.
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