SARA News

Editor Pat Naismith
Vol.2 No.2 Date. 28/03/01

What the Papers Say

McKENNA INSISTS ON NEED FOR STEPASIDE EIA REPORT

By FIONA GARTLAND
Southside People 28/03/01

MEP Patricia McKenna (GP) has accused the Government of "evading its responsibilities" by not insisting on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Stepaside Area Action Plan.

At a public meeting last week in the area she announced that she had received a letter from the European Commission outlining the Government's position on the matter.

"The Irish Government is refusing to acknowledge the need for an EIA to assess the impacts of the Stepaside Area Action PlanÓ explained Deputy McKenna.

"The Government is contending that each planning application will be assessed on its own merits". This is completely ludicrous," she said.

The area action plan was approved last summer by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council without an EIA and was referred to the European Commission following a complaint by Deputy McKenna.

She argued that it was the accumulative effects of developments on a given area which must be assessed.

"This project will almost double the size of the town," she said.

"There has been no thorough traffic survey, the public transport system is completely.inadequate and there are already serious traffic problems.

Deputy McKenna was also concerned at other issues which would be covered with an EIA such as lack of services, loss of green spaces, waste provisions, the impact on soil, water, flora and fauna as well as the cultural and archaeological heritage.

She drew attention to the fact that the European Commission have already taken issue with "project splitting" at the Ballymun regeneration plan, where the same method of assessing separate applications was favoured.

"The Commission issued a first letter of warning last December stating that an overall EIA had to be carried out (in Ballymun)," she said.

"Residents are entitled to know how a major project will impact on their town and their every day lives," she added.

Lettie McCarthy, of the Stepaside Area Residents' Association, was disappointed by the government's response.

"If an EIA is in the interests of the people and the environment., it shouldn't be down to whether it's required or not,Ó said Ms McCarthy.

She complained that very few concerns raised by residents when the plan was on display, were actually addressed.

"The greenway spine included in the plan is meant to .have walkways. a feeder bus and a cycle way, thatÕs not a safe environment for our children," she said.

"We want a park where people can walk and feel safe, that's not unreasonable for such a large population."

She also claimed that the contours of Stepaside were not taken into account.

"You can't flatten everywhere and expect no repercussions," she said.

"Can our planners and local representatives honestly put their hands on their hearts and tell us that we do not need an EIA to inform us as to how this is really going to affect our Quality of life and our environment?Ó she asked.

John Byrne of DLRCC Planning Department, told The People that the County Manager and his planners were advised that the plan would not need an EIA.

"Under legislation at the time an EIA wasn't needed,Ó said Mr Byrne.

He explained that new legislation under the Planning Act 2000 would, however, require an ElA for future action plans.

He also said that DLRCC were happy with the consultation process.

"The plan was on display for months, submissions were accepted and the plan was changedÓ he said

He pointed out that each individual part of.the development will be subject to planning permission.

"An action plan only draws lines on a map, builders still have to look for permission for individual developments,Ó he said.

However, ElAs may not be required for the individual developments

"There is a threshold under which no EIA is required.Ó Mr Byrne said.

"If builders apply for permission on small parcels of land they will not need an EIA."