On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Keogh

SECONDED by Cllr. Fallon

It was AGREED to approve the following Chief Executive recommendations:

Recommendation No 58:

Amend policy objective NH 10.2 (Volume I, Chapter 10 (Natural Heritage), page 135, as follows:

Support the implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, including no net loss in biodiversity, and the All Ireland Pollinator Plan.”

Recommendation No 59:

Amend policy objective NH 10.12 (Volume I, Chapter 10 (Natural Heritage), page 140, as follows:

Ensure that hedgerows that are required to be removed in the interests of traffic safety or where breaches to hedgerows occur in compliance with relevant legislation, are replaced by the applicant/developer with suitable native species to the satisfaction of the Council.

Recommendation No 60:

Include the following additional policy objective in Volume I, Chapter 10 (Natural Heritage), page 135 and amend all subsequent policy objective numbers accordingly: 

NH 10.4 - Proposals where woodland, tree or hedgerow removal is proposed will be

required to demonstrate a sufficient level of protection to Annex IV species, such as Bats and Otter, in accordance with the Habitats Directive

Recommendation No 61:

Include the following additional policy objective in Volume I, Chapter 10 (Natural Heritage), page 135 and amend all subsequent policy objective numbers accordingly: 

NH 10.5 – Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) will be required for proposed

developments likely to significantly impact on natural habitats and/or species, and which are not subject to Environmental Impact Assessment.

Recommendation No 62:

Amend policy objective NH 10.13, (Volume I, Chapter 10 (Natural Heritage)), page 140, as follows:

Protect and enhance the valuable peatland resource in County Roscommon whilst protecting the heritage and environmental value of these peatland areas. Support the aims of the National Peatlands Strategy and the implementation of the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022 and the Enhanced Decommissioning Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme. Proposals for developments on peatlands must comply with the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 (as amended), with respect to environmental assessment.

Recommendation No 63

Amend policy objective NH 10.15, (Volume I, Chapter 10 (Natural Heritage) Section 10.9 (Wetlands), page 141, as follows:

 Ensure that the county’s watercourses are retained for their biodiversity and flood protection values and to conserve and enhance where possible, the wildlife habitats of the County’s rivers and riparian zones, lakes, canals and streams which occur outside of designated areas to provide a network of habitats and biodiversity corridors throughout The Council shall be available to engage with the NPWS with the objective of facilitating the monitoring and surveying of wetland sites in Roscommon

Recommendation No 64

Amend policy objective NH 10.16 (Volume I, Chapter 10 (Natural Heritage), Section 10.10 (Inland Waterways), page 142, as follows:

Protect waterbodies and watercourses from inappropriate development, including rivers,

streams, associated undeveloped riparian strips, wetlands and natural floodplains. To this effect, consideration should be given to Inland Fisheries Ireland’s guidance document Planning for Watercourses in the Urban Environment (2020).

Recommendation No 65

Amend policy objective CAEE 8.5 (Volume I, Chapter 8 (Climate Action, Energy and Environment), Section 8.5 (Integrating Climate Action into County Roscommon), page 107, as follows:

Facilitate wind energy developments in areas designated in the Renewable Energy Strategy as “Most Favoured” primarily, subject to normal planning criteria and having regard to the Wind Energy Guidelines (DECLG, 2006) and any update to the Guidelines that may issue during the lifetime of this Plan. This will include consideration of carbon benefit analysis, as appropriate

Recommendation No 66

Amend policy objective ITC 7.43 (Volume I, Chapter 7 (Infrastructure, Transport and Communications), Section 7.8 (Surface Water Drainage), page 95, as follows:

Ensure new development is adequately serviced with surface water drainage infrastructure which meets the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, associated River Basin Management Plans and CFRAM Management Plans. Furthermore, the Council will undertake its obligations under the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017.           

Recommendation No 67

Prepare the following updates to the Natura Impact Report accompanying the Plan:

- Add reference the Article 12 reports under the Birds Directive in Section 1.3.

- To include reference to barrier effects, explaining that they have been considered, at relevant parts of the final AA Natura Impact Report