asked the Minister for Finance the action, if any, he intends taking to ensure the preservation of Booterstown Marshes, Booterstown, County Dublin against incursions of proposed highways or otherwise.
Written Answers. - Booterstown (Dublin) Marsh Protection.
101.
Booterstown Marsh, County Dublin, is in private ownership. I have no immediate plans to afford the marsh protection under the Wildlife Act, 1976.
The marsh is the habit of a rare plant Puccinellia Fasciculata (Torr) Bicknell (Tufted Salt Marsh Grass) which is protected under the Flora Protection Order, 1987 (S.I. No. 274 of 1987) made under the Wildlife Act. Under section 21 of the Wildlife Act 1976 it is an offence to pick, cut, uproot or take specimens of protected flora or to wilfully alter, damage, destroy or interfere with the habitat of protected flora except under licence from my Department.
The Minister for the Environment announced last June that an environmental impact assessment would be made in relation to any road development on the lands at St. Helen's in Booterstown. I understand that Dun Laoghaire Corporation has commissioned a feasibility study and an environmental impact study on possible road developments in this area. The reports on the studies will be available shortly and will be considered by the local authority and by my Department.