COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

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

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive, in relation to the Rathcoole Woodlands, to show them where the protected habitats are in terms of location and area and say where the protected habitat 91EO alluvial Woodland starts and finishes in Rathcoole and the council to set out and demonstrate what measures the Council have in place for the protection of the protected habitats and what management plans are in place for events such as the recent orienteering event that utilised , protected areas and re-wilded areas and what criteria were applied to ensure protection of the protected habitats was in place before giving approval.

REPLY:

The map at Fig. 1 attached indicates the Development Plan Land-Use Zoning and Objectives while the map at Fig. 2 below indicates the Preferred Land-Use and Movement Concept for the land beside the woodlands. Fig. 2 includes the locations and extents of the protected habitats, including Hay Meadow, Immature Woodland and Orchid Rich Grassland. The extent of these habitats was presented and debated during the process of making the SDCC Development Plan 2022-2028 and informed the Development Plan zoning decisions which included a reduction in the area zoned for residential development. The subsequent Preferred Land-Use and Movement Concept was presented to Council in May 2023 and the Housing Department is now progressing a design with a view to a future planning proposal.

There is no formal management of the area by the Council at the moment. However, during preparation of the Preferred Land-Use and Movement Concept (presented to Council in May 2023), it was ensured that the proposed land use and movement concept largely avoided the general woodland area and the protected habitats and it was also proposed to include a mature planted boundary to the woodland to act as a buffer, giving the woodland area further protection (see Fig. 2 attached).