COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 12, 2008

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager to give an update on the Council's role in relation to the Greater Dublin Strategic Study, any review of the study and if there are plans to review this study at Council level?

REPLY:

The Greater DublinStrategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) was commissioned in 2001 by the seven Local Authorities in the Greater Dublin area viz. Dublin City, Fingal,South Dublin, Dunlaoghaire Rathdown and the adjacent catchments of Counties Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

The purpose of the Study was to carry out a strategic analysis of the existing foul and surface water systems in the Local Authority areas concerned and to prepare a drainage strategy for future waste water loads in the Greater Dublin Area up to 2031. 

Fingal County Council is the lead Authority for the Study.  South Dublin County Council is represented on the Steering Group by the Director of Environmental Services and by a Senior Engineer. The final Strategy report was completed in April 2005and was presented at the meeting of the Council’s Environment Strategic Policy Committee in September 2005.  

Following completion of the study, certain of its recommendations have been advanced such as policies for practices in key areas eg. new developments, environmental management, inflow/infiltration etc.

In November 2006, it was decided to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Strategy. The purpose of the SEA was to identify the likely significant effects of the GDSDS Strategy and to recommend amendments as required. Fingal County Council commissioned the SEA with the agreement of the other Local Authorities involved. South Dublin County Council made a written submission to the SEA at the consultation phase.

The final Environmental Report for the SEA of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study Strategy has now been prepared. The report is being presented to a joint meeting of the Environment SPCs of the Local Authorities involved on the 7th May next and will also be presented at a forthcoming meeting of this Council.