COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 10, 2025

QUESTION NO. 20

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

To ask the Chief Executive if any measures are undertaken to enhance habitat for kingfishers and otters along the banks of the rivers of the county?

REPLY:

A Kingfisher box is being placed on the Poddle Flood Alleviation scheme and the council will look at possible future locations downstream when works commence in that area.  The scheme will also include the installation of an artificial otter holt in an area in Tymon North Park. This location has yet to be decided and it will require that there is no access to it for dogs. Once installed a trail camera will also be installed on it to determine the level of activity there. 

On the Whitechurch Flood Alleviation Scheme the Council has also installed an artificial otter holt in St Enda's Park with a further one to be installed upstream during the summer months.  On both schemes and as part of the overall flood alleviation scheme plans the Council will be naturalising river banks and areas of the rivers where possible to promote the safety and encouragement of habitats. 

There is a range of objectives in the County Development Plan to protect general habitats and species.  Species like otter and kingfisher are also protected under the Habitats and the Birds Directives, and these are also included within the broad remit of the CDP ecological objectives. The Green Infrastructure objective GI3 Objective 3 is frequently referred to in the Planning Development process to ensure proposed development gives at least a 10m setback from watercourses. The intention of this objective is to protect species like otter and kingfisher. Where relevant in applications for development, the Planning Development process will request ecological mitigation measures to be implemented relating to protected species, including the installation of artificial holts, setts, or nesting boxes. While otter and kingfisher are protected under EU Directives, their breeding sites, in particular, are given significant protection.  Disturbance of these locations is a prosecutable offence.