COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

MOTION NO. 248

MOTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

Natural Heritage and Biodiversity: That this Council puts measures in place to support and protect the riparian verges which run alongside our rivers, and which allow the migration of species along the river corridors. This is where the bugs live which feed the fish, birds and mammals which make up the ecosystem of the river. Protecting the riparian verges can increase flora and fauna which in turn, increases biodiversity and biomass. These measures may also attract red listed species like kingfishers and otters.

REPORT:

The South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2022-2028 will continue to support, promote and protect the green infrastructure network within the County, including riparian strips.  A Green Infrastructure Strategy is being prepared for the Draft Plan which will inform the delivery of an integrated green network.  This strategy will include the examination of the different land cover types in the county, identifying areas which are critical as green corridors and which have biodiversity, social, environmental and economic value.  It will review the riparian corridor objectives in the current Development Plan and include for revised objectives where necessary. 

This type of objective is too detailed at this strategic stage of the plan process, but could be considered as part of the draft plan preparation on foot of the strategic direction provided under the CE Recommendations:  

Prepare a Green Infrastructure Strategy as an integral part of the draft Plan preparation, to ensure that the ecological, economic, and social benefits to the County can be integrated into relevant policy and objectives through natural solutions’ and ‘Develop policies and objectives within the Draft Plan that reflect the objectives of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021, or subsequent plans’. 

Recommendation: It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment to recognise that this type of objective is overly detailed for this strategic stage but could be considered as part of the draft plan preparation on foot of the strategic direction provided under the CE Recommendations:  

‘Prepare a Green Infrastructure Strategy as an integral part of the draft Plan preparation, to ensure that the ecological, economic, and social benefits to the County can be integrated into relevant policy and objectives through natural solutions’  

and  

‘Develop policies and objectives within the Draft Plan that reflect the objectives of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021, or subsequent plans’