Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE launch at Rathfarnham Castle Park

18/09/2018

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE launch at Rathfarnham Castle Park

€2.54 million to be spent on addressing issue of pollution in urban rivers

 The Mayor of South Dublin County, Councilor Mark Ward, officially launched the Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project at Rathfarnham Castle Park on Monday 17th 2018. This is a joint project between South Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. This river water quality improvement projected is estimated to cost €2.54 million over a four year period from August 2018 to June 2022 with 50% funding from the EU LIFE Fund Programme. SDCC will be the lead authority on the project.

The Project aims to address the issue of pollution in urban rivers using techniques with proven results relating to domestic misconnection sources and integrated constructed wetland development. Two rivers have been identified for water quality improvement; the River Griffeen in South Dublin County and the Carrickmines Stream in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County. As the project develops significant awareness and engagement campaigns will be initiated for the benefit of residents in these catchments.

Speaking at the event, Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Councillor Mark Ward said‘I would like to wish the Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project well, and look forward to seeing its implementation, and the improvement in river water quality over the next four years’

The Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Cllr Ossian Smyth said “There was a time rivers were put in pipes, hidden in sewers but that has changed as rivers are now considered a valuable part of the environment. I’m delighted Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is collaborating on the Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project for the betterment of our natural environment.’

 The Project not only sets about improving these selected rivers but also has an agenda of sharing and applying knowledge and experiences gained to a wider audience in Ireland and Europe. The Project is also the first if its kind in Ireland and when completed in 2022 both councils intend to meet their Water Framework Directive objectives for the selected rivers and set out a roadmap for future sustained progress on the issue of improving urban water quality in both counties.

ENDS

For more information, contact South Dublin County Council Communications Unit, South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24 at communications@sdublincoco.ie

IMAGE 1: Cllr Ossian Smyth Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Mayor of SDCC Cllr Mark Ward

IMAGE 2: SDCC Chief Executive Danny McLoughlin, Cllr Ossian Smyth Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Mayor of SDCC Cllr Mark Ward with Representatives from South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment gather at Rathfarnham Castle for Life Programme 2014-2020.

IMAGE 3: Heron downstream, Mill Ponds, Camac River, near Clondalkin Leisure Centre

IMAGE 4: Cygnet and Swan at St John’s Wood, Clondalkin

For the Editor

About South Dublin County Council

South Dublin County is one of four local authority areas in the Dublin region.

South Dublin County Council provides and funds a broad range of services including housing, roads, walking and cycling routes, parks and playgrounds, libraries, sports facilities, litter control, arts centres, enterprise units, fire services, community infrastructure and financial supports. It also serves as a platform for local democracy with 40 councillors spread across six electoral areas.

Bounded by the River Liffey to the North and the Dublin Mountains to the South, the County lies 16 kilometres south west of Dublin city centre and has an administrative footprint of 223sq. kilometres. The County has nine main villages Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, Rathfarnham, Tallaght, Templeogue, Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle and is bounded by adjoining counties of Wicklow, Kildare, Dublin City, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire.

About Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council is the authority responsible for local government in the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. It is one of four councils in the Dublin Region. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment.

The council has 40 elected members and the head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (Chairperson). The county administration is headed by a Chief Executive. The county town is Dún Laoghaire. Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council serves a population of approximately 218,000.

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