The following text has been copied from the Clontarf Residents’ Association website, and is described as one of the most important notices they have had to issue to locals.  Regarding the new flood defences, residents and business are concerned over the hight of the new structure:

“The proposed Combined Flood Defence and New Water Main Project by Dublin City Council is due, we understand, to start on the seafront early in 2012. The planning process was completed in 2008.  It has been designed to prevent potential further damage to homes and businesses along the seafront from flooding and to carry a new water main.  It is to take the form of a continuous landscaped mound (or a solid wall where a mound is not practical) ranging in height from 1.5 m (5ft.) to over 2.57 m (over 8ft.) from Alfie Byrne Road to the Wooden Bridge. The existing wall will act as a primary defence with the new proposed mound/wallacting as a secondary defence.  It has been designed to provide an adequate flood defence for a once in 100 year flood event and to also carry a new water main”.  Read more here ’Flood defences, but at what cost?.

This issue is a matter of huge concern for many residents in the area and that is why it is crucial that the community discuss our intended response.

Speakers:

• Cllr. Dermot Lacey (Chair of the Dublin Bay Task Force)
• Bronwen Maher (Labour Party and environmental activist)
• Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dublin North Central)

Chair:

• Cllr Jane Horgan-Jones (Councillor, Clontarf Ward)

The meeting will take place on Tuesday 26^th April in St. Anthony’s Hall in Clontarf at 8 p.m.

St Annes' Park, Christmas Day 2010.

See the Clontarf Residents Website for wonderful views of Clontarf, including the promenade and sea front, during the big freeze in November and December.  All photographs are taken by local residents.

My photograph inserted here is of St. Annes Park in Raheny, and the park has significance for the wild bird population dependent on Dublin Bay. Cormorants nest in the tall trees overlooking the sea, and large flocks of Canada geese graze on the wide grass fields across the park.

The Dublin Regional Authority is the lead agency for the Irish Sea Regions project with  Belfast, Merseyside the Isle of Man, UCC and the North West Development Agency in the UK are all fully committed to developing a strong Irish Sea regional grouping.

The vision behind the idea is that all of the city-regions of the Irish sea will work together to address the challenges facing the Irish Sea – protecting its marine ecology and building tourism, fishing, and tidal and wind energy.

There is significant potential here, and in particular its important that any future Dublin Bay plan fits into, and compliments the work of the Irish Sea Regions Platform.  EU Regional funding will be sought for the project and I imagine there will be a full day’s work shop if the application is successful to make sure all the agencies and NGOs are fully involved.

v      To establish a Platform as a vehicle for increased cooperation across and within the ISR, bringing together politicians and representatives of national, regional, city and local governments, statutory organisations, universities, marine, environmental, fishing, energy and transport sectors, private sector, NGOs, etc.

v      To promote the ISR as a ‘Functional Area of Co-operation’ within the European macro regions context, and as a brand for economic growth, enhanced competitiveness and environmental sustainability.

v      Promote the concept of environmental sustainability, competitiveness and management of natural resources among communities around the Irish Sea.

A former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Seán Dublin Bay Loftus worked tirelessly to defend Dublin Bay and battled long and hard against Dublin Port Company and its plans to infill the bay.

Labour Party Representative for Dublin North Central, Cllr Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, also welcomed the decision. “I am delighted that An Bord Pleanála have made this decision and finally put to bed the decades old controversy over the proposed infill of Dublin Bay. Myself and my Labour Colleagues Bronwen Maher and Tommy Broughan have fought long and hard against the Port Company’s proposals over many years and we are thrilled that An Bord Pleanála has listened to our views.

“It is however disappointing that An Bord Pleanála declined to accept its own Inspectors’ recommendation to refuse permission on several other points, including the unacceptable risk of flooding of the Clontarf area.

“It is none the less gratifying that residents of Clontarf and Dubliners from further afield who enjoy the Bay can have faith in the planning process that it can work in favour of the interests of ordinary residents and the ecological heritage of Dublin.”

My thanks to Dublin City Council Heritage Officer, Charles Duggan, for this history of the shelters: “There are 17 structures along the Bull Wall and Promenade in Clontarf, forming bathing shelters, kiosks, wind shelters and miniature lighthouses which date from the 1930s. Continued here…

See also Mark Nixon’s exhibition of photographs taken along the promenade.

The following text is taken from the Facebook page, ‘Save Dublin’s Candy Stripped Chimneys’ and written on the 16 August 2009: “The ESB will consider demolishing the iconic twin chimney stacks at the Poolbeg power generating plant in Dublin Bay when it closes next year.

The red-and-white twin stacks, which dominate the Dublin skyline, will become obsolete when the Pigeon House plant is decommissioned next year.

Sources said that the company management favour the demolition of the chimneys, although it is conscious that there is likely to be a strong lobby to retain the stacks. Officially, the company said that no decision had yet been made about the future of the structures.

Dublin City planners have already rejected a proposal to put a preservation order on the chimneys, declaring that they were not of ‘‘sufficient architectural, social or historical value’’. A preservation order would have prevented any demolition plans.

The candy-striped chimneys, which are 207 metres (680 feet) high, have been an integral feature of the Dublin skyline since they were built more than 30 years ago. However, the oil and gas generating plant which they serve is due to be decommissioned next year, and the ESB is expected to seek to realise the value of the site. This process is likely to include plans for the demolition of the chimneys.

Three weeks ago, the ESB demolished two 300 feet tall stacks at another decommissioned plant, in Shannonbridge, Co Offaly. A decade ago, the company demolished another two stacks – about half the height of the existing Pigeon House stacks – at the Ringsend plant.

Labour Party representatives Cllr Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Bronwen Maher have strongly criticized Environment Minister John Gormley for his lack of action on Dublin Bay.

Cllr O Ríordáin stated that “The Dublin Bay Task Force was set up by the Minister in June 2008 in a fanfare of publicity but without any requisite funding or staff from his department. Despite this drawback the main body of work on Dublin Bay was submitted to the Minister’s office within six months by the then chair of the task force, Bronwen Maher. Although the Minister is taking credit for establishing the Dublin Bay Task Force he has failed to respond to numerous requests for direction from the task force members. Right now the task force does not know if its work is completed, if it is to disband or if the Minister is accepting its findings. We still have no idea how the Bay should be managed and protected for future Dubliners, despite the recommendations.”

Bronwen Maher explained, “We have had no response to the Dublin Bay report that has been on the Minister’s desk since December 2008, a full fourteen months ago. Instead and surprisingly, we have now discovered, via a parliamentary question to the Minister, that he has decided to wait for the completion of the Regional Planning Guidelines process before any decisions are made.”

“If this parliamentary question had not been tabled no one would have been aware that the Minister had decided that issues relating to Dublin Bay now appear be the responsibility of the Dublin Regional Planning Guidelines. The Minister should have clearly stated this in a letter to all the residents and stakeholders involved in the Dublin Bay Task Force consultation process.”

“I suspect that many residents associations would not be aware that the deadline for making submissions to the draft Regional Planning Guidelines is 26 March next. This is a very complex document, and residents would need time to carefully study the content before making any considered submission.”

“This is a Minister who is back peddling on his original commitment on a vision for Dublin Bay and who is now feverishly kicking to touch by stalling action and referring to a further process through the Regional Planning Guidelines.”

Note to Editor

Dublin Bay Task Force Time Line

· Task Force set up by Minister, with no staffing or funding, and launched in July 2008
· First report delivered to Minister Dec 2008 – no response from Minister to date.
· Final report with map delivered to Minister July 2009 – no response from Minister to date.
· Dublin Regional Authority endorses Dublin Bay Task Force report and writes to Minister asking for directions Sept 2009 – no response from Minister.
· Chair of Dublin Bay Task Force, Cllr. Dermot Lacey, writes to Minister again asking for response and for directions, 2 March 2010.
· In reply to Parliamentary Question, 2 March 2010, Minister Gormley states that the issue of coastal Zone Management for Dublin Bay will be dealt with by the Regional Planning Guidelines. But no further details regarding the Bay are forthcoming.

Question No. 396
Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil:
To the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views to the report and recommendations submitted to his Department by the Dublin Bay Task Force and Dublin Regional Authority in 2009; when he will respond to the Dublin Bay Task Force and the Dublin Regional Authority; his plans to instruct the Dublin Regional Authority to develop a master plan for Dublin bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Joanna Tuffy. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010.
Ref No: 9923/10
REPLY

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gormley):

The Dublin Regional Authority (DRA) established the Dublin Bay Task Force, at my request, to provide a forum for stakeholders to engage in order to prepare a Master Plan for the bay and to make recommendations on integrated coastal zone management.

The DRA was chosen to lead the Task Force due to its co-ordinating and cross-cutting role and the fact that Dublin Bay falls within the jurisdiction of three local authorities, all of which are represented on the task force.

To date, the Task Force has held a series of meetings, some of which were open to the public, conducted several public consultation seminars and carried out a significant amount of background research. The work that the Task Force has carried out has informed the development of the draft Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022, currently on Public Display; the draft guidelines contain several recommendations concerning integrated coastal zone management in the Dublin Bay area. The relevant local authorities will take the necessary steps to reflect the RPG objectives in their Development Plans following adoption of the RPGs in the middle of this year.

My Department will engage with the Director of the DRA to discuss what further steps might usefully be taken to progress other relevant recommendations of the Dublin Bay Taskforce in light of the above developments.

Question: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views to the report and recommendations submitted to his Department by the Dublin Bay Task Force and Dublin Regional Authority in 2009; when he will respond to the Dublin Bay Task Force and the Dublin Regional Authority; his plans to instruct the Dublin Regional Authority to develop a master plan for Dublin bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010.

Ref No:   9923/10    

REPLY
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gormley):

The Dublin Regional Authority (DRA) established the Dublin Bay Task Force, at my request, to provide a forum for stakeholders to engage in order to prepare a Master Plan for the bay and to make recommendations on integrated coastal zone management.

The DRA was chosen to lead the Task Force due to its co-ordinating and cross-cutting role and the fact that Dublin Bay falls within the jurisdiction of three local authorities, all of which are represented on the task force.

To date, the Task Force has held a series of meetings, some of which were open to the public, conducted several public consultation seminars and carried out a significant amount of background research.  The work that the Task Force has carried out has informed the development of the draft Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022, currently on Public Display; the draft guidelines contain several recommendations concerning integrated coastal zone management  in the Dublin Bay area. The relevant local authorities will take the necessary steps to reflect the RPG objectives in their Development Plans following adoption of the RPGs in the middle of this year.  

My Department will engage with the Director of the DRA to discuss what further steps might usefully be taken to progress other relevant recommendations of the Dublin Bay Taskforce in light of the above developments.

                                                                Question No.         397
Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil:
To the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government:                                                        
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for legislation and policy regarding foreshore licensing and planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Joanna Tuffy.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010.

Ref No:   9924/10

REPLY
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gormley):

Following the enactment of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2009, my Department assumed responsibility on 15 January 2010 for a range of foreshore functions including all foreshore energy-related developments (including oil, gas, wind, wave and tidal energy).

Work is underway in my Department to modernise the foreshore consent process and further integrate it with the planning processes under the Planning Acts. The aim is to ensure a quality service for stakeholders (state bodies, infrastructure providers and the general public) by, inter alia,  providing a single stage consent process for project approval, statutory timeframes for consultation, mandatory pre-application consultations, a rigorous assessment of environmental impacts and full public participation.