COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

QUESTION NO.14

QUESTION: Councillor S. O'Hara

To ask the Chief Executive, now that SDCC in the Development plan have agreed that Rathcoole Woodlands be designated as Rural and that a defined portion of the Woodland will be retained in SDCC ownership for future generation to enjoy, could the manager clarify the legal situation regarding long-established' rights of way' through the woodlands from Rathcoole to Saggart, as to whether the public can continue to use these 'rights of way' can they be designated as such under the current 'rights of way' mapping exercise. Also, could the manager clarify when this area of woodland will formally be taken in charge and incorporated into the responsibilities of the Parks Dept?'

REPLY:

There are no formal Public Rights of Way identified through the Woodlands currently. The process of identifying existing and established Public Rights of Way across the County was carried out as part of the review of the County Development Plan and only one established public right of way was identified. There is an objective in the County Development Plan for the Council to carry out a further review of Public Rights of Way and where possible to identify and establish new routes and the Rathcoole Woodlands could be considered as part of that review.

Taking in Charge is reserved for vehicular roads, footpaths, cycle paths, underground drainage, public water supplies and green open spaces which are not owned by the Council in the first instance and which are directly connected with a particular estate for the amenity purposes of that estate.  For those lands owned by the Council identified as RU and referred to as the Rathcoole Woodlands, a Taking in Charge process is not required.