asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a special amenity area order for the Liffey Valley due to its outstanding natural beauty, its special recreation value and the encroachment of the dump.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Liffey (Dublin) Valley.
10.
The making of a special amenity area order is a matter for consideration in the first instance by the elected members of the planning authority and their advisers having regard to the provisions of the Planning Acts. I understand that Dublin County Council have been engaged for some time in a detailed study of the Liffey Valley with a view to developing a plan for the protection and enhancement of its amenity and for its utilisation by the public. As part of the study an assessment is being made of whether it would be appropriate to make a special amenity area order for all or part of the valley. I understand that a report on the study will be available during the coming summer. It will then be a matter for the elected members of the council to decide whether a special amenity area order should be made. In these circumstances, I do not propose to intervene in relation to the matter.
Would the Minister agree that Dublin County Council have been considering an order of this kind for the past couple of years and that it would seem that they are deliberately dragging their feet on the issue? Would the Minister agree also that the Liffey Valley is of outstanding natural beauty? It is situated in the midst of 250,000 people, and 6,000 canoeists use the area every week but the valley is being destroyed by dumping that takes place with the permission of the county council.
As I have indicated, the Minister has no power to make a special amenity area order. However, he can direct the planning authority to make such an order but since a report on the matter is expected this summer it would be unreasonable to issue such a direction. This is a case in which the local authority concerned have engaged in the studies that are required to be undertaken before a special amenity area order could be made. My advice is that we wait for the outcome of those studies. I am confident that having regard to the area in question and to the population it serves the elected representatives will do what is right. There are times when we should direct local authorities but as far as possible, particularly where local authorities are making the effort, they should be left to proceed to do what they think right for their area. It is not in the best interests of local democracy to have Ministers stepping in and out.
Is the Minister aware that Dublin County Council promised a study for last summer and have now promised it for this summer? The local community spent £7,500 preparing a report which is before the Minister. In view of the urgency of the problem and the history of the county council in relation to dumping, would the Minister not agree that it is essential that he should use his powers to intervene and direct the county council in the interests of a quarter of a million local people and of the population of Dublin? This is the only waterway going into west County Dublin. Given that this is the Year of the Environment, would the Minister step in, as a matter of urgency, seeing that the local authorities have dragged their feet for the past few years? In the meantime——
The Deputy should conclude the question; he may not go on.
That is all I wanted to ask. The valley is being destroyed.
The making of a special amenity area involves a strict legal procedure and the Planning Acts enable the planning authority to make an order in respect of areas considered to be of outstanding natural beauty, special recreational value and where there is a need for nature conservation. As I have indicated, the council have assured me that they are examining this matter and will have proposals for the coming summer. Then it will be a matter for the elected members of that local authority. Given the assurance that something will happen, we should leave it to the elected representatives to do the running thereafter, rather than having Ministers stepping in, doing their big brother act and pointing the finger. If nothing is happening in the summer months, perhaps the Deputy might raise the subject again and I can then take it up.
Will the Minister re-examine the proposals?
If the Department continuously tell local authorities what they should be doing, those authorities will back away from taking responsibility. The more responsibility we can give local authorities, the more responsible they will be.
If the local authority concerned request the Minister to issue a special amenity order, will the Minister accede to that request?
That is a hypothetical question which cannot be answered.
Would the Minister look favourably upon it?
I would look favourably on anything that would enhance the beauty of our countryside. If the local authority believe that this area is worth a special amenity order, certainly one would be rather blind not to give their recommendation more than sympathetic consideration.