COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

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

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

To ask the Chief Executive if any progress has been made on the creation of green corridors along the waterways of the LEA as mapped out in the Green Infrastructure Strategy in Chapter 4 of the CDP?

REPLY: 

Progress continues on the implementation of policies and objectives in relation to Green Infrastructure in the County Development Plan and the review of the current county development plan will report on that process. In many cases the Green Infrastructure Strategy maps Core Green Infrastructure Corridors along existing watercourses and waterways in the LEA; such as the Camac River, upper stretches of the Griffeen and the Grand Canal. At many locations a significant green corridor already exists and the Strategy seeks to maintain the green corridor in those cases. Where the corridor can be improved, the strategy seeks to do this where the opportunity arises. Some of the locations have additonal designations, such as the Grand Canal pNHA and several riparian species such as otter and kingfisher are also protected under EU Directives, and their breeding sites, in particular, are given significant protection. Public Realm advise the Planning Department on proposed development applications within areas outlined as Green Infrastructure Corridors in line with the policies and objectives in the County Development Plan. 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 improve the riparian corridor from both a water quality, flood risk and ecological habitat perspective. Planning applications are required to survey and protect listed Protected Species. Where relevant in applications for development, the Planning Development process will request ecological mitigation measures to be implemented relating to the green infrastructure strategy, protected species and / or flood risk; including the provision of set backs, protection of habitats and species, appropriate planting (including the retention of existing vegetation), installation of artificial holts, setts, or nesting boxes etc. The Green Space Factor (also included in the County Development Plan) is a key tool in relation to the retention and improvement of green corridors as it allows developers to assess their sites; examining the existing green infrastructure strengths on the site and measures how it can be retained and improved.