COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Monday, April 20, 2009

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

Chapter 1 - Strategy

That the Council directs the Manager to insert as an addendum to the second paragraph in the section "Infrastructure-Environmental Services: Recommended Policy Approach" the statement: "In the event that the Government has not published a national climate change adaptation by the time the draft County Development Plan is nearing completion, the Council will formulate its own adaptation strategy, based on best practice in the matter by other local and regional government organisations."

REPORT:

The National Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2012 states that ‘as part of a comprehensive policy position on climate change, the Government is committed to developing a national adaptation strategy over the next two years. This strategy will provide a framework for the integration of adaptation issues into decision-making at national and local level.’  In accordance with the identified time frame such an adaptation strategy is due during the course of 2009.  If this motion is passed by the Council correspondence will be issued to the Minister as suggested.

South Dublin County Council is currently awaiting the publication of the national policy on adaptation measures to ensure that any potential future adaptation measures taken by the Council will be consistent with national policy.  It should be noted however that this Council has produced it’s climate change strategy to prevent the need for adaptation, through the taking of mitigation and prevention measures.  While the strategy concentrates on mitigation and prevention it must be recognised that adaptation measures may still be required, and it is proposed that such issues will be considered further on receipt of the national policy on the matter.

Recommendation.

That the Draft Development Plan include relevant policies responding to climate change