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Airport Will Destroy Connemara Bog

Press release 22th May 2001

Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) have expressed dismay at the
recent decision of An Bord Pleanála to approve the airport development
proposed for Cleggan, County Galway.

The site on which the development is to take place is on an area of pristine
bogland. IPCC, An Taisce, BirdWatch Ireland all objected to the development
on the basis that the site is an intact area of blanket bog, now a very rare
and important habitat in Ireland and Western Europe. In addition, the site
is listed as a proposed Special Area of Conservation (SAC) on the recently
published NGO SAC shadow list. The proposed development will have a major
impact on the ecology and character of the remote site, more than 85,000
cubic metres of peat will have to be excavated from the site during the
construction phase.

Mr Patrick Crushell, Conservation Officer with IPCC said "it is a disgrace
in this day and age that such important wildlife sites are not offered the
full protection afforded by the European Habitats Directive. This decision
also goes against the principals of sustainable development".

IPCC have been informed that Dúchas, the state agency responsible for nature
conservation did not make any submission to Bord Pleanála or Galway Country
Council in relation to the proposed development. This is surprising
considering that one Dúchas expert Dr Noel Kirby described the site as being
of high conservation importance, and worthy of SAC designation.

IPCC also questioned the wisdom of having both Dúchas and Udarás na
Gaeltachta (a major backer of the project) under the same government
department when obvious conflicts of interest arose in relation to this
development.

One victory resulting from IPCC's appeal was that a terminal building
proposed for the site did not receive planning approval on the grounds that
it is an unsuitable development for a designated scenic area.

The developer must also take special care in ensuring the survival of bog
cranberry on the site, as this plant is rare in blanket bog habitats.

In addition, the development at Cleggan is not to commence until after work
has begun on the development of an airstrip on Inisboffin. This is to ensure
that the primary purpose of the Cleggan Airstrip is to offer an air service
to the island. IPCC will be ensuring that the developer fully complies with
these conditions.

ends
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Irish Peatland Conservation Council
119 Capel Street
Dublin 1
Ireland

Tel: +353-1-8722384
Fax: +353-1-8722397

e-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie
web: http://www.ipcc.ie

IPCC - Action for Bogs & Wildlife - Ag caomhnu na bportach