In a recent press statement from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, T.D., announced new measures and explained how the establishment of a special task force will protect Dublin Bay.
The Minister issued plans to significantly extend wildlife protection areas in the Bay area.
In the statement Minister Gormley said, "the new task force is being asked to look at a range of issues impacting on the Bay area in the short, medium and long term, including climate change, flooding, amenity areas, and the future of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ports."
Dublin Regional Authority have been mandated by the minister to start the task force and to subsequently report to him every three months.
"The work of the Dublin Bay Task Force will be immensely important for the future of the Bay. It will have members from all of the relevant interested bodies, including local elected representatives, environmental groups, the port authorities and Dublin development authorities," said Mr Gormley.
"Dublin Bay is the greatest resource this city has. The task force is being asked to come up with a comprehensive vision to ensure a sustainable future for Dublin Bay."
In his statement Minister Gormley stated that he wrote to the chairwoman of the Dublin Regional Authority, Councillor Bronwen Maher, asking her to establish the task force.
The task force will be subject to the following terms of reference, according to Minister Gormley's statement:
Ireland has certain duties under the EU Birds Directive, the Minister has decided to create three new "Special Protective Areas" (SPAs) similar to the Bird reserve in Booterstown. The three new locations are South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary; Howth Head Coast; and North Bull Island which will be extended beyond the current areas of protection that are currently provided. An added protections will mean that anybody needing to carry out works in the vicinity of these new SPAs must get prior consent from the Minister.
Approximately 3,500 landowners, businesses, marine users and residents will be contacted directly by the Ministers department to notify them of these new plans. Each person contacted will receive a pack containing information outlining the Ministers reasons and benefits for designating these three locations. They will also receive schedule of works for which the Minister's consent is required.
Finally Minister Gormley said, "It is important that the very rich and diverse bird life on the doorstep of our Nation's capital city be provided with the protection that it requires. These measures will ensure that development proposals within or impacting upon these Special Protection Areas can only be considered while taking full account of their impact on this aspect of the environment. It will also provide developers with clarity on their responsibilities in this regard."
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