Dolphins take priority at new Shannon plant

Protection of dolphins and other wildlife was among the key conditions under which planning permission was recently granted for a combined heat and power plant on the Shannon Estuary.

Whether it’s the pearl mussel, wetland birds, hen harriers, snail or bats, EU law now obliges developers to have regard for nature in major new developments. This is something that some Irish people still find hard to accept, but an increasing number now appreciate the need to protect the natural world and the environment.

The Shannon Estuary is Ireland’s most important site for bottlenose dolphins. It is the only location in the country, and one of just 18 in the EU, with Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status for the species.

The application for the heat and power plant, outside Tarbert, Co Kerry, was by Shannon LNG which has, since 2008, planning approval for a liquid natural gas terminal, also in Tarbert.

An outer bar and wire mesh screening have to be installed to prevent fish getting too close to the intake point, but warm water discharges are deemed not to have a significant effect on dolphins and other wildlife in the estuary.

The SAC, which stretches for 120km from Killaloe to Loop Head, contains a number of important habitats and protected species. There are fears noise and vibration during the construction period could disturb dolphins, otters, badgers and birds. So, noise levels are to be limited.

Also, marine mammals have to be observed during any piling, or blasting, operations and such work must be delayed if dolphins are noted within 500m of the site within 20 minutes of planned works taking place.

No blasting or piling will be allowed during the badger breeding season, from December to June, or within 150m of a badger sett. Also, frogs can only be removed from the site from August to February and under licence.

An Bord Pleanala accepts the two, huge adjoining buildings will ‘’dramatically’’ alter the landscape on the southern bank of the estuary, but says the proposed plant is not large enough to warrant a planning refusal.