COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
MOTION NO. 14
MOTION: Councillor S. O'Hara
That this Area Committee commends the Council for pursuing a protocol with the Department of Agriculture regarding the protection of hedgerows supporting County Development Plan objectives which have particular importance for Rathcoole and seeks an update at each area committee meeting until a protocol is agreed upon and implemented.
REPORT:
Following concern over hedgerow / tree felling in Rathcoole which was brought to the attention of the Planning Department contact was made with the Department of Agriculture seeking a protocol on 14th October 2024.
The email from the Council noted that the Agriculture (EIA) Regulations require screening for a nature area, defined in the Regulations as including ‘a place, site or feature of ecological interest, the preservation, conservation or protection of which is an objective of a development plan or local area plan (within the meaning of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2010), draft development plan or draft local area plan, or proposed variation of a development plan, for the area in which the development is proposed’.
In this regard, a number of objectives in the County Development Plan 2022-2028 were referenced as having relevance to the definition of ‘nature area’
As the responsibility for implementation of the regulations is the responsibility of the Department, the email sought the setting up of a protocol between the Department and South Dublin County Council which would ensure that the objectives of the County Development Plan are taken account of in the consideration of any screening or relevant enforcement process.
The Department responded by email on 31st October 2024 acknowledging the email and advising that the correspondence had been brought to the attention of their Section Manager who in turn will bring it to the attention of the relevant officials within the Forestry Division (in relation to trees). It was also indicated that the email would be forwarded to the Environmental Impact Assessment section of the Department (in relation to hedgerows). This latter was forwarded to their EIA section on 1 November 2024 with SDCC included on the email.
No further correspondence has been received. The Council will initiate further contact with the Department’s EIA section in relation to progressing a protocol.
As this is dependent on the Department’s responsiveness, it is suggested that an update at each area committee could be an inefficient use of the meeting’s time and that as soon as correspondence is received the area committee will be notified. To ensure that this does not fall off the agenda, a commitment can be given to update the area committee in January if no correspondence has been received before that time.