COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2020

QUESTION NO. 16

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to detail actions he is taking in respect of Climate Change and will he make a statement?

REPLY:

The Climate Change Action Plan was formally adopted by South Dublin County Council in September 2019. The CCAP 2019-2024 identifies 130 actions under 6 areas to be monitored and addressed over the term of the plan in order to achieve and surpass our 4 key targets.

In parallel to our CCAP, SDCC has committed to meeting the challenges outlined in the Governments Climate Action Plan 2019 through the Local Authority Climate Action Charter.

The key actions outline in these plans are;

SDCC CCAP

1. A 33% improvement in the Council’s energy efficiency by 2020
2. A 40% reduction in the Council’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
3. Make Dublin a climate resilient region by reducing the impacts of future climate change-related events
4. Actively engage and inform our citizens on climate change

Local Authority Climate Action Charter

Deliver a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 (2009 baseline)

Each of the 130 actions identified in the CCAP will be delivered over the 5 year term of the CCAP. Some of 130 actions have rolling objectives that will extend beyond the current plan and require annual reporting.

SDCC produce an annual implementation plan to identify and track selected key actions to be undertaken in the current year. The 2020 implementation plan presents 42 actions being progressed in 2020 and a further 43 actions for ongoing monitoring/reporting.

Energy and Buildings the key actions progressing in 2020 are;

• Progress Heatnet project. Heatnet is the Tallaght District Heating Project. A management company (Heatworks) has been established to oversee the contract and discussions with potential new customers are underway. By using the excess heat generated by data centres, SDCC anticipates significant savings on municipal heating bills. By further eliminating the reliance on fossil fuels to heat our buildings we can expect to make substantial headway towards achieving our 2030 targets on Energy Efficiency improvements and CO₂ emissions.
• Energy efficient upgrades to public lighting. Upgrading our public lighting stock to new, more efficient LEDs has been one of the key actions in improving our Energy Efficiency to date. Our 2018 Energy Review identifies that public lighting accounts for 46% of the energy consumed by SDCC. The report also indicates that the energy consumed by public lighting reduced by over 6.5% from 2017 and 2018. The current programme of public lighting upgrades will continue through the term of the CCAP.
• Energy efficient upgrades to lighting in County Council public buildings. Upgrades to the indoor lighting is also underway. The programme to replace existing office lighting with more energy efficient LED is approximately 40% complete.
• Insulation upgrades to Council’s housing stock. SDCC continues to carry out energy efficiency upgrades to our housing stock. Insulation and ventilation upgrades were completed on 174 houses in Neilstown, Dunawley, Glenshane & Quarry Drive. Additional properties have been surveyed and works are expected to proceed later in 2020. Energy upgrades will improve BER ratings from and average of D-E to C1-B3.

Transport the key actions progressing in 2020 are;

The Council will undertake an assessment of the number of existing and potential future Electric Vehicle Charge points in its jurisdiction. SDCC, in cooperation with the other Dublin LAs has commissioned a report to assess the future requirement of Electric Vehicle charging points across the Dublin region. The report which is expected to be published later in the year will present strategy for the installation of EV charging points around the county on a projected needs basis. SDCC is also taking the opportunity to make provision for future EV needs as we develop our sites and properties. Our Climate Innovation Fund supported the installation of EV charging infrastructure at Kiltipper Park.

Programme of the development of cycle/pedestrian greenways.

SDCC, NTA and URDF Funded Projects

Dodder Greenway – Cycle route from Bohernabreena through to Tallaght Grand Canal Dock, DCC – 10Km – Under Construction.

N81 Jobstown, Cycling, Walking and Bus Facilities - Includes junctions with Killinarden and Fortunestown Roads – 2Km – Detailed Design and Tender.

Monastery Road Walking and Cycling Scheme - Connectivity from Luas Red Cow to Clondalkin Village – 0.4km – Under construction.

Green Schools Walkability Audits Infrastructure – Preliminary Design.

Grange Road Cycle Route - Improve ped, cycle and bus facilities – 1km –Detailed Design and Tender.

Wellington Lane Walking and Cycling Route - Improve ped, cycle and public realm connectivity from N81 Spawell to Kimmage Road West, DCC – 3km –Preliminary Design.

Tallaght to Liffey Valley Cycle Route - Improve and a create cycle commuter route from Lucan to LV to Clondalkin to Tallaght – 9.2km – Option Selection.

Light Segregation Pilot - Pilot Project - Install low cost barriers to protect cyclists on existing cycling routes – Option Selection.

N81 Transport and Planning Strategy - Review transport function, landscaping schemes, future plans for N81, including ped and cycling requirements – 7km - Option Selection.

SDCC Funded Projects

Belgard Square North to Cookstown Link Road - Includes cycling facilities – 0.3km - Under Construction .

Celbridge Link Road - Includes cycling facilities – 2.2km - Detailed Design and Tender.

Airton Road Extension - Includes cycling facilities – 0.35km – Preliminary Design.

Flood Resilience the key actions progressing in 2020 are;

• Works are progressing on 3 Flood Alleviation Schemes, the Poddle FAS has been submitted to An Bord Pleanala, an extended public consultation has been completed and we now await the decision from ABP, but this is not expected until early in 2012. The Whitechurch Stream FAS is due to be submitted to ABP in July with a period of public consultation running into the Autumn and a decision from ABP in early 2021. The Camac FAS is being lead by Dublin City Council with SDCC staff on the Steering and working Commitees for this project. This is at an early stage in the assessment of the scheme.
• Establish a working group to deal with the issue of pluvial flood risk, this shall include; How to manage Urban Creep and the increase in impermeable surfaces; Promotion of SuDS early in design process; development of pluvial flood forecasting through use of point rainfall forecasting. A working group has been established to develop systems to manage pluvial flood risk. Further to this, a set of tender documents has been prepared to develop a set of SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) guidelines and associated training for staff and potential clients.
• Develop template to capture impacts, responses and costs (including ecosystem services/natural capital costs) for all major climate events. SDCC used traditional methods of data capture system to record significant climate change weather events. Events were logged on GIS systems. We are currently trialling a new app WIRE (Weather Impacts Register) developed to improve capture, analysis and reporting of Climate Change related events.

Nature Based Solutions the key actions progressing in 2020 are; 

• Deliver a Biodiversity Action Plan. The draft Biodiversity Action Plan has been prepared and is out on Public Consultation until 10th August.
• Develop Green Infrastructure Strategy that identifies areas and priorities for green infrastructure and investment. Tenders have been received for the Green Infrastructure Strategy.
• Develop urban woodland management strategy and action plan. SDCC Tree Management Policy ‘Living With Trees’ is currently under review.
• Deliver Green Roof on Civic Buildings. Green roofs can mitigate against the hard surfaces and footprints associated with buildings. Incorporating pollinator friendly species assists with biodiversity. Green roofs can also benefit water attenuation, storing up to 40 litres per m². SDCC have incorporated green roofs into the design of several of their facilities including pavilions at Griffeen Park and Dodder Park.

Resource Management Actions Progressing in 2020

• Examine the potential of Arthurstown Landfill for development of green energy uses. This site has been identified as potential site for a sustainable energy project. Proposals are currently under review. A report is pending.
• Identify pilot locations for water access points (Single-use plastic elimination). In 2019, 9 public water fountains were procured to help eliminate SUPs (Single Use Plastics). The water fountains have proven to be successful having dispensed over 20,000 litres of water to date and reduced SUPs by 885kg. SDCC propose to expand the project with an additional 8 water stations to be procured in 2020

Citizen Engagement

• South Dublin County Council engaged a Climate and Environmental Awareness Officer in April
• Climate Action workshops commenced in South Dublin earlier this year and three of the five planned had accured prior to Covid 19. We will complete this programme and are planning other climate events for 2020.