COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

MOTION NO. 162

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

That on page 137 that a new policy “Policy  EC 6: Hydro-Electricity” be added (with a consequent renumbering) and that the wording thereof should be taken from the Co Wicklow plan – 6.4.2 – page 76 and that the draft county development plan is amended accordingly.

REPORT:

Below is the extract from the current Wicklow County Development Plan

'6.4.2 – HYDROELECTRICITY

The Council will encourage the development of small-scale hydroelectric projects where they do not interfere with heritage items nor interfere with residential amenities nor views or prospects of special amenity value and where possible should not interfere with public rights of way and routes of access. The re-use of old mill sites will be particularly encouraged.'

The capacity for small scale hydro electricity is more limited in this County due to topography , furthermore there are environmental concerns as to the effect of these small scale hydro-electric installations.

In realtion to the SEA it must be noted that serious environmental concerns are raised in repect of the motion, in particular that the use of such systems could affect biodiversity on rivers, such as the Dodder, Liffey and tributaries.

Recommendation

That the motion should not be adopted.