Rathcoole Woodlands

My name is Peter Meighan, I am a resident of [Redacted: Personal Information] in Saggart and use the Rathcoole park and walks regularly. South Dublin County Council recognises the presence of three annex habitats within the area of Core Strategy Policy 10 Rathcoole Specific Local Objective 1 (CS10 SLO1) which includes Rathcoole Woodlands:

• Extensive 91EO Annex 1 Priority Alluvial Woodland (Rathcoole Woodland)

• Springs with an Affinity to Annex 1 Priority 7220 Petrifying Springs

• Extensive 6510 Annex 1 Lowland Hay Meadow

These annex habitats are required to be protected by law under the Habitats Directive.

It is clearly evident from the Council’s own presentation of habitat maps, see H14 Major Housing Developments Update that:

(a) Woodland is the majority of the CS10 SLO1 site, and the majority of Woodland is 91EO Annex 1 Priority Alluvial Woodland or Rathcoole Woodland and it extends beyond SDCC owned land

(b) Grassland /Woodland mosaic, or transitional woodland is the second largest component which no doubt being contiguous with the 91EO Annex 1 Priority Alluvial Woodland will in time become annex habitat,

(c) Grassland is a small portion of the site of which 1 ha is annex lowland hay meadow

The whole area comprising CS10 SLO1 is a wonderful complex mosaic of annex and non-annex habitats, of woodland, scrub and grassland, hedgerows, streams and springs, each valuable in their own right. The whole area should be preserved and protected with an appropriate management plan put in place in the 2022-2028 South Dublin County Development Plan.