COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

MOTION NO. 245

MOTION: Councillor Peter Kavanagh

To include the following as strategic direction for the plan: Natural Heritage and Biodiversity · To expand the areas managed for biodiversity in public parks and in green areas throughout the county

REPORT:

A Green Infrastructure Strategy is being prepared for the Draft Plan which will inform the delivery of an integrated green network throughout the County.  This strategy will identify areas which are critical as green corridors and which have biodiversity, social, environmental and economic value.  

In parallel to this, a Parks and Open Space Strategy is being prepared by the Public Realm section of the Council. This Strategy will be subject to its own public consultation and will examine the requirements for the different elements of public parks including biodiversity. 

The objective proposed by the motion 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 several CE Recommendations. 

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’; 

‘Informed by the Green Infrastructure and Parks and Open Space Strategies, recognise the diverse and key roles that parks and open spaces have for sustainable communities and healthy placemaking’; and Develop policies and objectives within the Draft Plan that reflect the objectives of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021, or subsequent plans’.