Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 5

Written Answers. - Liffey Valley (Dublin) Special Amenity Area.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

90 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will introduce legislative proposals for the establishment of a Liffey Valley authority composed of local councillors and representatives of amenity and environmental interests, charged with preserving and promoting the amenity value of the whole of the Liffey Valley and, in particular, charged with the planning functions for that area currently vested in the Fingal and South Dublin County Councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

The Liffey Valley Special Amenity Area Order, which came into operation in March 1990, provides for the preservation and enhancement of the character and special features of the area and for the regulation of development there. While the reorganisation of local government in Dublin has divided the area covered by the order between South Dublin and Fingal County Council, this should not affect the operation of the order. Each of these councils is now responsible for implementation of the order in respect of that portion of the area located within its functional area. In addition, the co-ordination provisions of the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1993 place a duty on the councils to consult with each other and to have regard to the overall interests of their combined areas, and this will facilitate the proper management of the Liffey Valley special amenity area as a whole.

In these circumstances, I do not consider the establishment of a Liffey Valley Authority to be necessary and I have no proposals for legislation on the matter.