Investigation launched over work carried out at Limerick conservation site

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into works at a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in west Limerick.

Limerick City and County Council has launched the probe after receiving a complaint around the alleged chopping of trees and foliage at Barrigone, near Askeaton.

The land is designated as SAC, which are prime wildlife conservation areas, considered to be important both on a European as well as an Irish level.

Development is restricted in these areas.

But Joe Whelan, who chairs the local community council, was one of several people who wrote to the local authority after seeing work taking place on the site near his home.

“It has been designated as this for as long as I’ve been living in this part of the world because of its uniqueness. Rock is close by as there is a quarry there. It wouldn’t have been great farmland for agriculture. So it became an area of conservation, with the wildlife living on it,” he said.

Mr Whelan says he’s seen “foxes, rabbits, hares, falcons and buzzards” on the 200-acre site, which is located adjacent to the N69 Limerick to Tralee road.

“I’ve seen hawks flying around there too. It’s also an area where bird watchers will bring tours. What is growing in there is special too - particularly for butterflies,” he added.

The Limerick Leader has yet to establish who the owner of the land is, or what is planned for the site.

But Mr Whelan said: “I’m very worried. This is our Burren in Limerick. It’s a beautiful area and should be changed.”

He confirmed that as a group, the community council will fight any plans for the area.

They are seeking a meeting with the local authority’s parks department and have also been in contact with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the local heritage group.

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Among other things, the role of NPWS is to advise and administer protection measures for Special Areas of Conservation across Ireland.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Limerick City and County Council can confirm a complaint has been received in relation to works carried out at Barrigone, Askeaton, and this is currently the subject of an investigation by the planning enforcement section.”

This section of the council is responsible for dealing with breaches of planning controls, including where building work requiring planning permission is undertaken without such permission, where conditions attached to a planning condition are not complied with, or where the use of a building or site is changed without planning permission.

Since the investigation is ongoing, the local authority said it could not comment any further.