Mayo County Council – Planning Application: 23172
River MOY Search and Rescue Ballina CLG
Proposed enhancement works at Belleek Wood Pond, Castel Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Belleek Woods Pond, Castel Road, Ballina
Dredging
Loughmore Canal, Limerick
IDA Ireland intend to carry out maintenance dredging works to Loughmore Canal, Limerick.
The canal runs for approximately 1.0 kilometres through Loughmore Common Turlough PHNA, a shallow often dry turlough supporting an inland assembly of typically saltmarsh plant species as well as Groenlandia Densa which is a protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000. The canal is a sealed, raised, artificial drainage channel with connectivity to the turlough.
In April 2022 the National Parks and Wildlife Service issued licence No. FL08/2021 – amended to IDA Ireland permitting IDA to take protected flora, alter or otherwise interfere with the habitat or environment of a species of protected flora.
The project requires Loughmore Canal to be dredged, with the removal of all dredged material to a suitable licensed facility. Prior to the commencement of these works, the removal of the protected plant “Opposite-leaved Pondweed” by the Project Ecologist with the assistance of the contractor shall take place. The exact location and scope of the works is laid out in the tender documents.
Previous Dredging (2018)
Dredging works to Loughmore Canal. Construction of temporary haul road and turning area, site clearance works, preparatory works, removal of vegetation, removal of silt, disposal of vegetation and silt, reinstatement of fields along the temporary haul road.
EPA Licenced Sites in the IDA Park
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0036-01.xml
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0224-04.xml
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0023-03.xml
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0991-02.xml
OPW Site Specific Appropriate Assessments
Appropriate Assessments are conducted by the OPW themselves, after the works are completed.
Examples from 2019/2020 show they can involved removal of trees, gravel and other in-stream works
As the list of projects is not published in advance, there is no opportunity for community engagement, or an actual environmental assessment.
Examples:
Appropriate Assessment Determination Statement – Sluice Valve Replacement on River Shannon, Tervoe, Mungret, Co. Limerick
The purpose of this Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination Statement is to provide a statement for the public and relevant bodies to ascertain that an AA has been conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. The purpose is to allow interested parties to assess the competent authority determination.Download
Appropriate Assessment Determination Statement – Removal of a Gravel Berm from the River Feale in Listowel, Kerry
The purpose of this Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination Statement is to provide a statement for the public and relevant bodies to ascertain that an AA has been conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. The purpose is to allow interested parties to assess the competent authority determination.Download
Appropriate Assessment Determination Statement – Enhancement Works of Defence Embankments on the Cappagh River, Portumna, Galway
The purpose of this Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination Statement is to provide a statement for the public and relevant bodies to ascertain that an AA has been conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. The purpose is to allow interested parties to assess the competent authority determination.Download
Appropriate Assessment Determination Statement – Enhancement Works of an Embankment on Newport River, Ballymakeogh, Tipperary
The purpose of this Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination Statement is to provide a statement for the public and relevant bodies to ascertain that an AA has been conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. The purpose is to allow interested parties to assess the competent authority determination.Download
Appropriate Assessment Determination Statement – Embankment Enhancement Works at Douglas, Killorglin, Kerry
The purpose of this Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination Statement is to provide a statement for the public and relevant bodies to ascertain that an AA has been conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. The purpose is to allow interested parties to assess the competent authority determination.Download
Appropriate Assessment Determination Statement – De-Silting Works at Adare Bridge, Blackabbey, Adare, Limerick
The purpose of this Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination Statement is to provide a statement for the public and relevant bodies to ascertain that an AA has been conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. The purpose is to allow interested parties to assess the competent authority determination.Download
AA Determination Statement – Moy River Deel Tree Management
The purpose of this Appropriate Assessment (AA) Determination Statement is to provide a statement for the public and relevant bodies to ascertain that an AA has been conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. The purpose is to allow interested parties to assess the competent authority determination.Download
Note: AIE submitted on list of projects planned for 2022
Under the AIE regulations, to request details on completed and planned projects by the OPW that fall within the phrase ‘Appropriate Assessment Determination Statements‘ for 2021 and 2022
Response to AIE