Gura míle maith agat as seans a thabhairt dom an cheist seo a ardú anocht. Ag an am céanna tá súil agam go mbeidh biseach go luath ar an Aire de Valera agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit Ó Cuív anseo.
The legally unprotected nature of the Glen of the Downs has shown up many deficiencies, not only in legislation relating to the preservation of the environment, but also in the Government's thinking on environmental issues, sustainability, and biodiversity. The concerns expressed in the courts on this issue still have to be taken on board by Wicklow County Council. A presentation by an expert hydrogeologist to several Dáil Deputies and local councillors on 14 January was accompanied by a proposed work programme aimed at resolving "apparent flaws and uncertainties in the proposed road design". This works document was deemed, by none other than Fianna Fáil Deputy, Dick Roche, as "a clear and lucid one, worthy of detailed examination". I thank Deputy Roche for a great deal of what I am saying in this debate. He said it also contained proposals which "seem to be modest, low cost, and capable of implementation without causing any further undue delays". Those are the words of the Minister of State's party colleague, Deputy Roche.
In a written reply to me yesterday, the Minister stated that "the High Court was satisfied that the issues relating to hydrology were properly addressed in the environmental impact assessment". That, however, was hydrology, the study of the movement of water on the surface, not hydrogeology which is the study of the movement of water underground through soils and rocks. Hydrogeology still has not been properly addressed, which is the reason I have sought this debate on the Adjournment. These environmental issues have not been resolved. Instead we have seen a midnight raid on the Glen of the Downs by more than 100 gardaí to counter a handful of protesters, and felling of trees with no clear boundaries set as to where the felling can begin and end. We have seen dangerous felling of trees with recognised safety guidelines, which require a clearing zone of at least twice the height of the trees, being flouted. One of the trees that was felled landed within three feet of a bystander. In addition, there was no hoist to assist in the safe removal of tree occupants.
Is the Minister aware that trees outside the area owned by Wicklow County Council in the Glen of the Downs, on Dúchas lands, have been felled in the past week? There are reliable eye witness accounts that chainsaws were taken to trees while people were still in them. Despite these destructive actions and the felling of the glen in part, there is still time to stop further environmental damage. I encourage the Minister to step in now to ensure that this damage is halted.
At the end of the hydrogeologist's presentation, as reported by Deputy Roche, four recommendations were strongly made to Wicklow County Council. A systematic examination of the water table issues is needed, but this has not been carried out. He suggested the adoption of a low cost and rapid approach. The impact of its design for sub-surface drainage could be re-examined. An alternative approach could be considered to the proposals for a raised embankment at the northern end of the glen. The council could, for example, consider an alternative design for this section, perhaps a road constructed on an enraised structure which would not interfere with the groundwater. The fourth suggestion was to carry out further investigation of the impact of the proposed "soil nailing", as it is called, on the west side of the glen and the geological composition of the slopes where this work is to be carried out.
I would like the Minister to respond to these observations and to use her influence with Wicklow County Council to ensure the new owners of the nature reserve resolve these deficiencies noted by the hydrogeologist. Specifically, given the concerns that were expressed by expert witnesses in the High Court in March 1999, and that in the Minister's written reply to me on 1 February, she stated that Wicklow County Council "would take account of all concerns raised", will the Minister provide the House with details of any submissions by Wicklow County Council to her Department that describe the results of scientific studies or site investigation works carried out since March last year to assess the concerns raised in the High Court, or any modifications or revisions to the proposed road design that take into account the concerns raised?
I am grateful that, in the Minister's written reply to my question on 1 February, she assured the House her Department "will continue to monitor the scheme during the construction phase and will liaise with Wicklow County Council to ensure construction impacts are minimised". Given this response, will she also give an assurance that her Department will seek advice and assistance in specialist groundwater matters in order to adequately assess and monitor the proposed construction and, hence, ensure that the long-term damage to the glen will be minimised?
