County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied)

1. Page 381

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 378 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Layer 12C Freshwater Pearl Mussel Catchment The EPA in its submission to the SEA Environmental Report– Scoping exercise observed that the ‘Water Framework Directive protected areas (Salmon rivers, nutrient sensitive rivers, freshwater pearl mussel rivers etc.) and high status water bodies should be afforded particular protection in implementing the Variation. Considering this submission, the five river valleys of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel are included so that the highest level of protection can be afforded to the designation which strengthens and responds to the submission made by the EPA. It should also be noted that these mapping changes are reflected in the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Catchment being added to the list of areas protected under Policy E-P-23 (Amendment Item No. 14 refers).

2. Page 382

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 379 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Table 2: Individual Spatial Data Layers Used In the Construction of ‘Open to Consideration’ Areas Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 13 The Minister for Defense is responsible for the regulation of military aviation including the safeguarding of Finner Camp to protect current and future aircraft operations. This image shows areas identified for helicopter safeguarding for approaches to Finner Camp along with a 5km buffer subsequent to instruction from the Department of Defense. Proposed windfarm projects may impact on safety and the inclusion of this buffer within the Open to Consideration area alerts all stakeholders to the potential of an issue arising.

3. Page 383

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 380 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 14 The Minister for Defense is responsible for the regulation of military aviation to protect current and future aircraft operations. Air Corps aircraft including Garda Air Support Unit (GASU), helicopter air ambulance and aircraft operating on security taskings use Critical low level routes (3NM buffer). These routes have been identified by the Department of Defense. Proposed windfarm projects may impact on safety and the inclusion of this buffer within the Open to Consideration area alerts all stakeholders to the potential of an issue arising.

4. Page 384

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 381 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 15 Carrickfinn Airport has identified a land buffer of 15 NM around the airport within which windfarm developments could potentially prejudice aviation safety. Proposed windfarm projects within this area may impact on safety and the inclusion of this buffer within the Open to Consideration area alerts all stakeholders to the potential of an issue arising. This approach is consistent with Policies T-P-16, T-P- 17 and T-P-18 of the CDP.

5. Page 385

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 382 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 16 City of Derry Airport authorities have identified a land buffer of 15 NM around the airport, The areas that fall within County Donegal (only) are illustrated on this map. Proposed windfarm projects in this area may impact on safety and the inclusion of this buffer within the Open to Consideration area alerts all stakeholders to the potential of an issue arising. Protection is also offered to these areas through Policy T-P-19 of the CDP.

6. Page 386

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 383 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 17 Proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs) are national sites of significance for wildlife and habitats that have been published on a nonstatutory basis and are not yet statutorily proposed or designated to NHA status. Notwithstanding the absence of any statutory confirmation, it is considered reasonable to alert all stakeholders to the existence of these areas and the potential wildlife therein and that such issues may be a material consideration in the assessment of any planning application.

7. Page 387

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 384 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 18 High Status Objective Water Bodies are coastal, transitional, river and lake water bodies that have been identified as having a pristine or high status objective under the Water Framework Directive and the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 (RMBP). The RMBP sets out the targets and measures to meet the objectives of the WFD including the protection and restoration of these waterbodies.

8. Page 388

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 385 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 19 A significant amount of the land cover of the County is Peat Bog, the majority of which are in upland areas, as identified on this map. Whilst the most substantive parts of this resource are contained within Natura 2000 sites, other more localized, smaller-scale sites are to be found around the County within broader peat bog areas. Peat is an important carbon sink, and an important wetland ecosystem and natural habitat. The National Peatlands Strategy 2015 gives direction on peatland management to 2025 and the Draft Wind Energy Guidelines (Appendix 4) sets out detailed best practice for development on peatlands. Objective NH-O-11 of the CDP 2018-2024 also relates to the management and conservation of peatlands.

9. Page 389

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 386 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 20 Scenic Amenity Map 7.1.1 of the CDP identifies three landscape designations for the County. The middle ranked of these is ‘Areas of High Scenic Amenity’ (HSA). These areas are identified as “landscapes of significant aesthetic, cultural, heritage and environmental quality that are unique to their locality and are a fundamental element of the landscape and identity of County Donegal. The CDP describes these areas as having: the capacity to absorb sensitively located development of a scale, design and use that will enable assimilation into the receiving landscape and which does not detract from the quality of the landscape. Thus it follows that windfarm developments may present challenges in terms of visual impact.

10. Page 390

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    County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 387 Appendix B: Map 9.2.1 Wind Energy Sieve Mapping Analysis Ref Brief Description of Spatial Data Image of Spatial Data Layer 21 Specialist ecological consultants procured for this Variation project advised that it would be good practice to define specific, tailored buffer zones around all of the Natura 2000 sites within the County and adjoining authorities inclusive of trans-boundary sites. Each buffer has been identified having regard to the qualifying interests of the (pertaining) Natura site and the characteristics of the adjoining grounds and their importance for the designated area in terms of habitat and species. This image illustrates the extent of SAC buffers within the Republic of Ireland.

Source Donegal County Council: County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied) (2024–2030) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.