COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

MOTION NO. 25

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

Cathaoirleach's Business

That this Committee discuss the Liffey Valley SAAO Management and in so doing consider its terms of reference, the fact that it has not been convened during the lifetime of the current Council and that relevant recommendations, if any, be forwarded to the OP&F committee for action.

REPORT:

The Liffey Valley Special Amenity Area Order (SAAO) was confirmed on the 8^th March 1990 by the Minister for the Environment.   The land which is the subject of the Order runs from Lucan Bridge eastwards to Palmerston.   It was the first SAAO to be confirmed in the State under the 1963 Planning and Development Act (as amended, but now repealed).   The Liffey Valley’s designation as an SAAO was based on the area’s outstanding natural beauty and special recreational value, as well as the need for nature conservation.

A Management Plan was produced by the then Dublin County Council in 1993 to establish priorities for the development and enhancement of the area for amenity and recreational use, by way of agreements with landowners, direct works and other statutory procedures.   Four project areas were identified in the plan as follows:

1. Liffey Valley Parklands and Ancillary Facilities
2. Recreational Facilities
3. Amenity
4. Public Awareness

In 1995 a Joint Management Committee involving both Elected Members and non councilor representatives from the area was set up, “To monitor and advise on the implementation of the Management Plan for the Liffey Valley”   This committee has met approximately seven times since then.   The role of the committee is to monitor and advise on the implementation of the Management Plan for the Liffey Valley S.A.A.O.

The first meeting of the Liffey Valley Joint Management Advisory Committee was held on 1st March, 1995 with subsequent meetings held on 9th January, 1996, 21st June, 1996, 6th June 2001, 22nd January 2002 and 31st March, 2003.  The most recent meeting was held on and 3rd February 2010.  The representation currently comprises the Mayor ( previously Cathaoirleach ) of each Council, the elected representatives from Lucan and Clondalkin electoral areas in South Dublin, the Castleknock and Mulhuddart electoral areas in Fingal and 3 non-councilor nominees from each Council area

This management plan has since expired, and therefore it may be unclear what is the role of the committee set up to monitor and advise on the implementation of the Management Plan.

A review and update the Management Plan of 1993 was commenced in 2002.   This was the responsibility now of the two Local Authorities within which the S.A.A.O. lies, namely South Dublin County Council and Fingal County Council.  

The review initially identified the main obstacle to the implementation of most projects contained in the 1993 Management Plan was the lack of committed funding.  Other obstacles include:

• the difficulty in establishing rights of way with private landowners. Gaining public access to the river is the most significant measure which would enable the public to enjoy the special amenity qualities of the valley. The acquisition to date by the local authorities of some of the valley lands is significant. However, the creation of public pathways along the entire length of the river will not succeed without the full co-operation of all relevant landowners.
• the difficulty in creating agreements on conservation measures with landowners in the area.   This relates to both Protected Structures (as identified in the Development Plans) and environmental features such as trees/woodlands and other flora & fauna.
• the fragmented land ownership pattern along the Liffey has resulted in a difficulty in opening up and establishing networks of pedestrian/ cycle routes.
• lack of committed resources in implementing many of the projects and plans of the County Councils.
• the Liffey Valley S.A.AO. being located within two local Authority jurisdictions makes the coordinated implementation of one Management Plan for the entire area challenging.

The 2002 review was not however completed.

In 2005, the Office of Public Works initiated a Study for a Liffey Valley Park.   Four planning authorities participated; Dublin City Council South Dublin, Fingal and Kildare County Councils.  In October 2006, a Final Report was published “Towards a Liffey Valley Park”.  The Study area extended from Chapelizod to the Blessington Lakes.   This report was a strategy document, containing an inventory of the material resources/assets of the river valley, objectives regarding natural resources, cultural heritage, recreational amenity and nature and heritage conservation, and proposed a methodology to achieve strategic objectives.  There has been no further progress in respect of this strategy document.