COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

MOTION NO. 6

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

That this Area Committee requests that the Chief Executive look at ways in which we could introduce an apiary into the Lucan area. Local honey has become a demand in the area and an apiary for the Lucan area would be of great benefit to the area and beneficial for educational purposes.

REPORT:

The nearest apiary to Lucan on public lands is in Mill Lane, Palmerstown. The apiary was initially established on a small area of the allotment site in March 2017, however due to the proximity of the adjacent allotment plots it was considered unsuitable. The apiary was relocated to its existing site in April 2018.

Apart from the financial cost to develop an apiary there are two essential requirements which need to be in place before the matter can be considered. The first requirement is a willing beekeeper. This individual needs to be able to travel and access the apiary wherever it is located. Visits during the winter period can be infrequent but this increases during the summer months when the colony is active.  

The second requirement is the site. The main concern here is safety. This includes the safety of members of the public and the security of the hives from vandalism. The first site chosen in Mill Lane was safe from a vandalism perspective however the allotment users were exposed to occasional bee stings. As a result, the hives were relocated.

At this stage there are no plans to introduce an apiary in the Lucan area. The matter will be reconsidered if an application is received from a beekeeper for one subject to the identification of a suitable site.