COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 17, 2021

MOTION NO. 121

MOTION: Councillor Patrick Pearse Holohan

Chapter 3: New objective NCBH 8 objective 6 To explore the feasibility in harnessing the energy from the Dodder river

REPORT:

This motion is exploring the potential of using the Dodder River in harnessing hydro-electric power. The Draft County Development Plan includes policy and objective in relation to harnessing energy within Chapter 10, Section 10.2.9 Small Scaled Hydro-Electricity Projects.

Energy Policy E10 states: ‘To support the development of small-scaled hydroelectricity schemes in the County’.

E10 Objective 1 states: ‘To support the roll out of small-scaled hydro-electric projects on the rivers, watercourses, freshwater dams and weirs across the County, where projects do not impact negatively on freshwater species, biodiversity and natural or built heritage features’.

It is considered that the broader ranging objective outlined above captures the overall aim of the proposed motion and therefore it is considered that the Motion can be adopted with amendment whereby the existing objective E10 Objective 1 appropriately reflects the intent of the motion.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment to reflect that the existing objective E10 Objective 1 as currently set out in the CE Draft Plan is sufficient to provide for the intent of the motion:

E10 Objective 1: ‘To support the roll out of small-scaled hydro-electric projects on the rivers, watercourses, freshwater dams and weirs across the County, where projects do not impact negatively on freshwater species, biodiversity and natural or built heritage features’.