Does the Minister of the Environment support own departments funded policy objectives?

[Press Release: September 15^th, 2005]

Does the Minister of the Environment support own departments funded policy objectives?

At last weeks Bray Town Council meeting the Minister of the Environment stated in reply to questions on the proposed development on the Dargle Flood plain "that he cannot get involved with individual planning applications"

However a recently published study The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study, to carry out a strategic analysis of water systems in the local authority areas of Dublin, and surrounding areas including Wicklow has clearly indicated that buidling on flood plains is to be avoided. This comprehensive study has been funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

One of its principle policy objectives is the policy on new development regarding development on flood plains is as follows: 'Policy on New Development These policies would assist Local Authorities to comply with their legal responsibilities, their planning and development objectives and would, in so far as practicable, conform to good international practice, ensuring that planning approvals will only be given to sustainable developments, avoiding floodplains, overloaded drainage systems and the like.'

"With this latest compelling advice from the leading expert in the UK and Ireland I have no doubt that The Green Party standing on the matter since getting elected last year regarding the Dargle flood plain has been the correct one all along," states Cllr O'Brien. I would ask Councillors that have taken an opposing position on the matter to read this report and I would hope the Minister would clarify his position in relation to the policy's within it.

The Study was carried out by the Dublin Drainage Consultancy, a joint venture between Hyder Consulting, and Dublin based firms, PH McCarthy Consulting Engineers and RPS-MCOS (in association with HR Wallingford) and was project managed by Dublin City Council. The Consultancy included specialists from Wallingford Software for GIS advice, University of East Anglia for Climate Change aspects, University College Dublin for coastal water quality modelling and Dublin-based town planners, Brady Shipman Martin

For further information please contact: Ciaran O'Brien on 087-206 0223; email: obrien@wicklowgreens.org