A Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the granting of permission for a hydroelectric scheme in a special area of conservation on the Dingle peninsula in Co Kerry has heard objections from wildlife experts and angling bodies.
Both groups said yesterday they were "amazed" the scheme got the go-ahead in an area of national as well as international importance. There were plenty of other rivers, many of them polluted and in less sensitive areas, which could be used to produce green electricity without going into a rare upland bog area.
The hydroelectric scheme was designed to meet the collective requirements of Kerry County Council, the fisheries boards and other government agencies for the development of hydro-power. Both the South Western Regional Fisheries Board and the county council had given the go- ahead for the scheme and the county council granted permission subject to 30 conditions, many to be agreed with the developer. The objectors said pre-conditions were not enough as local authorities did not have the resources to follow up on them, the hearing also heard.
Sliabh Glas in Dingle Peninsula was part of the Mount Brandon special area of conservation. It was also a secondary amenity area and a national heritage area. The site was of high ecological value due to the presence of six habitats listed in the EU habitats directive. These included rare blanket bog and several listed species including rhynchosporion, the food plant of the white-and-green-fronted goose, the Killarney fern and Cornish moneywort.
Mr John O'Hare of the Trout Anglers Federation said the scheme would only benefit the few whereas the fishery was an ancestral and collective resource.
Ms Caitríona Douglas, a biologist and blanket bog expert of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, said blanket and bog habitat over which pipes and machines would run were priority habitats. Only some bogs were so untouched as to merit protection status and the Brandon bog was one of these. She said the past history of hydro schemes on bog land was poor.
Dr Catherine McMullen of An Taisce said heavy machinery would leave deep tracks.