COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

MOTION NO. 12

MOTION: Councillor Peter Kavanagh

Cathaoirleach's Business

"This Area Committee agrees that the areas in Clondalkin being managed for biodiversity be increased, and ask that a report be compiled with suitable areas not currently being managed for biodiversity marked out for consideration."

REPORT:

There are 22 locations in the Clondalkin LEA where the grass cutting regime has been adapted to enhance biodiversity having regard to the National Pollinator Plan. There are approximately 23 hectares set aside of which Corkagh Park accounts for the largest number of sites (8 No @ 8.72 ha) followed by Rathcoole Park (6 No @ 4.31 ha). The site adjacent to the Grand Canal in Bawnogue is approximately 8 hectares.

In 2019 a new site was added in Clondalkin Park following agreement with Clondalkin Tidy Towns and additional sites were added in Corkagh Park. The management of these sites requires a change to mowing practices where the intensive regular mowing is reduced to an annual cut. The lower intensity cutting can reduce costs (and emissions) associated with more frequent maintenance, however there is still a financial outlay required to cut, gather and remove the very long grass after it is cut. This process requires specialised machinery which the Council do not own, and the Council have therefore engaged a contractor in the past to undertake this works. Not all sites are currently managed this way, and in some locations, the grass is not collected after cutting. This is counterproductive and needs to be resolved.

At this stage it is not proposed to increase the number of managed sites in the County. Some areas may not be suitable for growing meadows due to high fertility and we need to learn from this before expanding further. It is planned to survey existing sites and learn from what is happening. In addition, the current maintenance practice is under review with the intention of developing a comprehensive management system to look after all existing sites.