Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 7

Written Answers. - Wicklow-Dublin Mountains.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

103 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment , given that the planning Acts, 1963 to 1983, exempt (a) many agricultural activities such as turf cutting and forestry plantations and (b) local authority-State developments from planning control and are, therefore, outside the competence of the local authorities and, given that the aforementioned activities are having a detrimental effect on the Wicklow-Dublin Mountains, whether there is a need for a Wicklow Mountain Management Group to co-ordinate public sector policy for and develop the Wick-low-Dublin Mountains in a sensitive way; and if he will encourage Wicklow and Dublin County Councils to set up a Wicklow Mountain Management Group which could be a forum where the aforementioned matters may be resolved as suggested by the Wicklow Mountain Environment Group.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

By virtue of the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989, and the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1990, many agricultural activities, including peat extraction and initial afforestation, which exceed certain threshold criteria require the preparation of an environmental impact statement and come within the scope of the planning system. Local authority and State developments which are comprehended by the same regulations require the preparation of an environmental impact statement and certification by the competent authority before commencement of the development.

The proper planning and development of their areas is devolved on the relevant planning authority under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963-1983 in the context of the local development plan and accordingly, any necessary steps for the management, development and control of the Dublin-Wicklow Mountains would be a matter for those authorities. I understand that the Wicklow Mountains Environmental Group have had discussions with Dublin and Wicklow County Councils.