COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

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

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

QUESTION NO.8

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive would he ensure that an ecological assessment is undertaken of all lands at Rathcoole subject to CS10 SLO1 including Rathcoole Woodlands to determine the presence and extent of a fourth protected habitat, Hydrophilous Tall-Herb Swamp 6430. ?

REPLY:

A comprehensive suite of ecological survey work involving multiple site visits has been carried out on the subject lands between September 2018 and April 2021. This has included preliminary survey work on habitats followed by detailed specialist survey work and mapping of flora, fauna and habitats including those listed under the EU Habitats Directive.

A multi-disciplinary design team will be required to progress any project at the Rathcoole lands. A new multi-disciplinary design team will review the existing survey work and consider any additional habitat survey work on the subject lands. Also, the longevity of existing survey data may be reviewed from time to time.