COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 09, 2019

QUESTION NO. 30

QUESTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan

To ask the Chief Executive to outline what steps, if any, have been taken to involve and consult with community groups and residents associations in the County's approach to protecting biodiversity in order to maximise public support for this initiative and if he will make a statement on the matter. 

REPLY:

Many objectives for biodiversity protection in South Dublin County are listed in the County Development Plan 2016-2022 and in the County Heritage Plan.  The County Heritage Officer regularly engages with individuals, community groups and Local Tidy Towns Groups in relation to biodiversty issues while also advising across Council departments on biodiversity matters in Council's own plans and projects.

A specific South Dublin County Biodiversity Action Plan is also currently in preparation. At the outset of this process, a period of public consultation occurred and a County Biodiversity Forum was established to assist the Heritage Officer with the preparation of the draft Plan.

At its establishment, the County Biodiversity Forum included a community representative elected from the Public Participation Network, as well as three other community-based individuals, three Elected Members, five Council staff members, and one government agency representative.  Currently, due to changes in these appointed representatives, a revised Forum is being established which will continue to reflect the input of community representation.

In conjunction with the revised Forum, it is planned to have the draft ready for public consultation by November, at which time further community participation in the process will be encouraged and welcomed.