COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 08, 2026

QUESTION NO. 18

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive how SDCC works to protect protected species such as swans, what role the Council has in this area, and how members of the public can report any concerns.

REPLY:

The South Dublin County Development Plan seeks to ensure the protection of protected species through numerous policies/objectives aligning with NPO 59 to ‘Enhance the conservation status and improve the management of protected areas and protected species’ of the National Planning Framework and RPO 7.16 ‘Support the implementation of the Habitats Directives in achieving an improvement in the conservation status of protected species and habitats in the Region and to ensure alignment between the core objectives of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and local authority development plans’ of the Regional and Spatial Economic Strategy.

Such measures are detailed in various chapters of the plan with a particular emphasis under NCBH 3 Natura 2000 Sites where it is a policy to ‘Conserve and protect Natura 2000 sites and achieve and maintain favourable conservation status for habitats and species that are considered to be at risk through the protection of the Natura 2000 network from any plans or projects that are likely to have a significant effect on their coherence or integrity’.

Through the development management process, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Habitats Directive assessments and Ecological Impact Assessments may be required for certain development types / locations with relevant policies and objectives of the County Development Plan such as NCBH4 Objective 2, NCBH5 Objectives 2, NCBH9 Objectives 4 & 7, SM2 Objective 14, SM3 Objective 10, SM4 Objective 8 seeking to ensure the protection of such species.

Specifically relating to swans; SDCC protects listed species such as swans by managing and preserving habitats in parks and waterways like the River Dodder and Tymon Park, ensuring safe nesting and feeding areas. It enforces the Wildlife Acts through planning controls and monitors illegal dumping and pollution to maintain water quality. The Council regulates human activity by applying dog control by-laws and providing signage to prevent disturbance or harmful feeding.

Through its Biodiversity Action Plan, SDCC monitors wildlife and enhances habitats with measures like wetland protection and reduced pesticide use and promotes public awareness through education and community involvement, helping to ensure the long-term protection of swans.

Also, the many ponds and lakes in SDCC’s public parks support a significant population of swans across the county of Dublin. In recent years, support has been contributed under the County Heritage Plan to a voluntary group to ring-tag new cygnets in public ponds and lakes. This project has helped to build a picture of the importance of the Council’s parks in the support and growth of these urban swan populations.

Swans, like all wild bird species, are protected under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 | National Parks & Wildlife Service.  This Act provides for the imposition of fines for contraventions of the Act, and to allow for the imposition of prison sentences, where appropriate. 

The Parks and Open Space Bye-Laws (2011) also contain objectives to protect wildlife, including bird species, in public parks.  Section 4.2(a) of these Bye-laws specifically refers to birds: “No person shall take from the Park or destroy or injure or otherwise interfere with any bird, bird's nest or bird's eggs in the Park, or ill-treat or worry any bird population.”

Section 8.5. of the Bye-laws address contraventions of the Bye-laws: ‘’A person who contravenes a provision of these Bye-Laws is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding € 2,500.00.’’

Where park users have any concerns regarding disturbance to wildlife in public parks they may report these concerns using the general Council contact number (01 414 9000) with calls directed to the relevant Parks Ranger.  Where urgent situations arise with animal welfare issues, reports can also be made directly to the DSPCA, or to voluntary animal welfare response agencies such as the Kildare Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.