Slugs and bats could delay Greenway

JUDICAL REVIEW LODGED OVER KERRY SLUG AND HORSESHOE BAT

ENVIRONMENTALIST Peter Sweetman has lodged a judicial review in the High Court in relation to proposed works to breeding habitats on the South Kerry Greenway.

The judicial review, taken against the Minster for Culture, seeks to quash the decision made by the Minister to grant licenses to Kerry County Council to allow them to carry out certain procedures or works in the habitat of the Kerry Slug and the Lesser Horseshoe bat.

An affidavit lodged by Mr Sweetman, with an address in Mayo, states that the decision to grant the licence to Kerry County Council, which is named as the first-notice party, purports to authorise derogations [relaxation of ] Article 12 of the Habitat Directive and EU legislation.

An Bord Pleanála, which is due to give a decision on the South Kerry Greenway in the New Year, is also a named notice party.

Mr Sweetman is seeking that no works are carried out under the granted licences until the judicial review decision is made by the High court and a planning decision is made by An Bord Pleanála on the 32km South Kerry Greenway project.

At the recent South Kerry Greenway oral hearing, evidence was given that Kerry County Council intends to remove the Kerry Slug during works on the greenway project and also to create a new habitat for the slug to replace what could be damaged by works. This will be done by painting the area with yoghurt in a bid to help lichen grow and attract the slug to the new habitat. The local authority also proposes to carry out works on an abandoned house on the greenway route, which is home to Lesser Horseshoe Bats. However, Mr Sweetman is arguing that the council’s plan will disturb both species.

The case will come before the court in the Spring.