Dublin Airport operator, daa, has announced that it is gifting an eight-hectare wildlife habitat at Kilsallaghan in North County Dublin to Fingal County Council.
The open area compensatory habitat at Kilsallaghan is a meticulously developed area designed to support a variety of native flora and fauna, providing a sanctuary for wildlife.
While the compensatory landscape is effectively a ‘rewilded’ area with restricted access to the general public.
Fingal County Council will provide managed and supervised access to the site by arrangement, mainly for educational purposes, to ensure the ecological value of the habitat is not compromised.
The eight-hectare wildlife habitat supporting ecology and biodiversity has been planted with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that support local wildlife.
The habitat comprises of approximately two-thirds woodland and one-third native grassland. Additionally, a specially constructed bat roost has been installed to encourage the bat population. This follows the removal of 15.8 kilometres of hedgerow on the airport campus during the construction of Dublin Airport’s North Runway.
While the compensatory habitat was a requirement under Condition 24 of the planning conditions for the permission granted for the North Runway project, daa has transferred ownership of the lands to Fingal County Council for a nominal €10.
This site is located at Thornton, near Coolquay, approximately six kilometres northwest of Dublin Airport.
Andrea Carroll, daa’s group director of sustainability, said: “This initiative underscores our dedication to supporting biodiversity, nature regeneration, and fostering the connection between community and the natural environment.”
While Áine Kirrane, daa’s group environmental manager, highlighted the collaborative efforts involved in developing the habitat.
“This project has been a collaborative effort involving various departments and local stakeholders, especially Fingal County Council. We are proud to see it come to fruition and to offer this valuable resource to the community,” stated Kirrane.
The gifting of the compensatory habitat aligns with daa’s sustainability goals and its commitment to creating healthy local environments for everyone.
By providing this green space, daa aims to enhance the quality of life for residents and promote awareness of nature.
To ensure that the biodiversity on the site is protected and further enhanced, access to the habitat will be controlled and limited to educational visits and events which will be managed by Fingal County Council’s biodiversity team.
