COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, March 12, 2018
QUESTION NO.13
QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney
To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the Dublin Mountains Visitor Project, and to make a statement on the matter.
REPLY:
The proposed Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre is a joint development by South Dublin County Council, Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership to create a new “gateway” to the Dublin Mountains located at the combined Massy’s Wood /Estate and Montpelier Hill incorporating the Hell Fire Club site.
Folowing extensive public engagment on the project with the elected members, the public and relevant stakeholders, an Application and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report in relation to this project were submitted on South Dublin County Council’s behalf to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) on Monday 31st July 2017 (Ref: JA0040).
In October 2017, ABP requested further additional information from the Council in relation to: Appropriate Assessment of the site; Red Squirrels; Pine Martens; Bats; and miscellaneous matters. A comprehensive response addressing all the matters raised was submitted on the Council’s behalf to ABP on Thursday, 30th November 2017 including: a Further Information Response Document; a Revised Operational Management Plan; and a Red Squirrel Management Plan. Subsequently, ABP requested that South Dublin County Council give notice that further information containing significant additional data had been furnished to ABP in relation to the application. A public notice advertisment was placed in national media and the further information was available for inspection until the 8th January 2018.
On 23rd January 2018, South Dublin County Council was requested by ABP to reissue the notice given to the public on the 30th November 2017 that the Council submitted significant further information requested by ABP in relation to the application for the proposed Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre Development. The Council was advised that this notice was being reissued having regard to the timeframe prescribed in Article 6(7) of Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by EU Directive 2014/52/EU on the effect of certain public and private projects on the environment (EIA Directive). The further information which was submitted to ABP in respect of the application, could be inspected by the public for a further period of 30 days from the 31st January 2018 to the 1st March 2018.
To date 115 submissions have been received by ABP in relation to the application. South Dublin County Council is currently awaiting notification from ABP if any further submissions were made during the period from the 31st January 2018 to the 1st March 2018. ABP have advised that any previous submissions/observations already made regarding the application will be taken into account.
On the 7th February 2018, ABP wrote to South Dublin County Council requesting a bird survey of the area which is the subject of the application. The Council’s agents wrote to ABP seeking clarification on this matter and a reply was issued on the 7th March 2018 advising that having regard to the nesting season during April and the summer an extension of time until 30th September 2018 has been granted for receipt of the additional information requested. The requirement to carry out this survey will further extend the period of the application process.
ABP have also advised that they intend to hold an oral hearing into the proposed development, the date of which will be notified in due course.