COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Monday, May 26, 2008

HEADED ITEM NO. 9

 

Dublin Mountains Partnership

Traditionally the recreational use of the Dublin Mountains was primarily for activities such as walking, road cycling, dog exercising, picnicking etc, which capitalised upon the scenic qualities of the Mountains and the panoramic vistas over Dublin.   Today there is a wider range of recreational pursuits taking place in the Mountains.   These now include mountain biking, orienteering, mountain running, shooting, pony-trekking, aero-modelling etc.   In addition, whilst tours of the roads of the Dublin Mountains on motorbikes, and organised off road motor bike trials are an established use; a growth in unregulated and un-consented off-road motorised sports participation such as motor bike scrambling and 4 x 4 vehicles has brought particular management, environmental protection and user behavioural issues.   Widespread illegal dumping of household waste has also adversely impacted upon both the perception and in particular areas the amenity, of the Dublin Mountains as a location of natural beauty.

South Dublin County Council is anxious to secure increased access and recreational usage of the Coillte forest lands in the Dublin Mountains for its residents, particularly as new and proposed growth areas such as Saggart and West Tallaght, along with the established areas of Old Bawn, Firhouse, Knocklyon, Rathfarnham and Ballyboden are located close to such lands.   To address these issues, Council staff, in conjunction with staff from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (which have joint administrative responsibility for the Dublin Mountains), The National Parks and Wildlife Service and representatives from user groups entered into discussions with Coillte on the matter in 2006.   The response from Coillte was very positive in line with their recreation policy Healthy Forests, Healthy Nation and it was agreed to take an overview of the recreation issues on the public lands in the mountain area.   A proposal for funding was submitted to the Forest Service to assist with a study of the forest lands and their recreational use.   It was agreed in 2006, to establish a steering group, also including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to examine recreation in this area from a strategic perspective and in an integrated manner.

Many areas of Coillte’s forests have reached the harvesting stage and recent clear-felling activity - although a constituent part of the company’s obligations under the Forestry Act (1988) - has prompted opposition from people who believe that recreational use should take precedence over commercial forest objectives.   This led to the formation of the Dublin Mountains Initiative (DMI) who were invited to join the steering group representing recreational users. The DMI has five constituent member bodies, Mountaineering Council of Ireland, Scouting Ireland, Irish Mountain Running Association, Mountain Biking Ireland and Irish Orienteering Association.

This steering group subsequently agreed a brief to commission a report on a strategic plan for the development of outdoor recreation in the Dublin Mountains.   The overall objective was to develop an integrated outdoor recreation plan for the study area, linking existing and potential outdoor recreation components – in particular forests and other public or state owned lands with recreational potential, and including access routes.   The ultimate aim was to improve the recreational experience for users of the Dublin Mountains.   This was to be achieved whilst recognising the objectives and constraints of the various landowners.

Scott Wilson, in association with Judith A. Annett, Countryside Consultancy, were appointed in 2007 to undertake the study and recommend a strategic plan.

The steering group oversaw the development of the study area strategy and the steps taken were as follows: -

The ‘Strategic Plan for the Development of Outdoor Recreation 2007 – 2017 Vision Document and Summary Report’ as circulated, outlines the strategic plan.

The Strategic Plan is consistent with the long-standing recreational and amenity policies and objectives of the Council contained in the County Development Plan 2004 - 2010 relating to the Dublin Mountains.

A key conclusion of the Consultants Report was that public owned land with recreational potential in the Dublin Mountains study study area needs to be managed as an integrated entity and would, therefore, require a representative management structure with shared commitment.   To address this important issue, the report recommended the establishment of a Dublin Mountains Partnership for the study area.   The Steering Group in considering the implications of this recommendation and options for its implementation recommended that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be agreed amongst the organisations involved.   The MOU has recently been agreed and signed by all parties. 

In line with the Strategic Plan, the proposed programme for this year includes;

  1. Setting up a management partnership called the Dublin Mountains Partnership by Memorandum of Understanding
  2. Upgrade stretches of the Wicklow Way within the Dublin Mountains and initiate as study to develop an east-west route, the ‘Dublin Mountains Way, through the mountains linking to the Wicklow Way -
  3. Upgrade trails across Tibradden Mountain (in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown) and in Cruagh Wood (in South Dublin)
  4. Provide signage and information at all main access points
  5. Develop a new looped walking trail from Marlay Park around Kilmashogue Mountain (in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown) and prepare a plan for a Slí na Sláinte route in Cruagh Wood (in South Dublin)
  6. Site investigation for a dedicated off-road vehicle facility.
  7. Appointment of a Recreation Manager
  8. Setting up a volunteer Ranger Service
  9. Development of a website, logo and users map of the area
  10. Adoption of the ‘Leave No Trace’ ethic and publicise it

South Dublin County Council and Dun Laoghaire County Council have each agreed to part fund the project to the value of €100,000 annually, initially for the next three years.   Coillte have agreed to act as Managing Agent for the Dublin Mountains Partnership.   Coillte have already secured €450,000 in grants for the partnership for capital projects for this year within the study area.