Farmers in gridlock with council over cattle problem
By Mary Dennehy
TALLAGHT’S farming community has this week expressed its beef with South Dublin County Council, after the local authority refused to install cattle grids in farming areas – despite the campaign receiving cross community and national support.
For many generations, animals have grazed on commonage or community grazing lands in Cunard, Piperstown and Glassymuck Breaks to the Featherbeds – the last commonage grazing lands in Dublin.
Up until the Sixties, there were farm gates on the roads through these areas to keep animals on the commonage grazing lands, which have no known land ownership and are used communally by farmers to feed their livestock.
However, the emergence of large housing developments pushed farming further up the hills and the gates were removed, with no alternative introduced.
Since the 1980s, requests have been made by the community to re-install livestock controls – a campaign which has now gathered cross community and national support after the Glenasmole Concerned Residents and Farming Group, supported by Tallaght Community Council [TCC], put together an in-depth and well-researched community proposal into the installation of four cattle grids at Cunard Road, Glassymucky Breaks, Piperstown Road and Military Road.
The 47-page proposal, which was presented to council management last week, is being supported by local residents and farmers, the Tallaght Community Council [TCC], cross-party politicians, RTÉ presenter and environmentalist Duncan Stewart, and a number of high-profile national industry and interest groups, including Wicklow Uplands Council, Teagasc, IFA [Irish Farmers Association], National Hill Committee, the Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association, Slaney Cycling Group and Dublin Fire Brigade.
Tara De Buitléar, Chair of TCC, told The Echo: “Rural Tallaght has the last commanage grazing land in Dublin and it’s vital that South Dublin County Council works with the local community on this.
“We attended a deputation meeting last week and the proposal was refused by council management, a decision which we felt was made before they even listened to the community’s case.
“These grids are needed to protect these grazing areas, Tallaght’s heritage and the future of farming traditions, with these areas benefiting local farmers economically.
“Commanage grazing also has many bio-diversity benefits and keeps gorse bushes down – which reduces the risk of wild fire.”
When contacted by The Echo, the council said that the Roads Department is of the opinion that cattle grids on public roads are a hazard, particularly for cyclists, and that there are no plans to install them.
However, the council response has been rubbished by campaign members and local politicians who have found four similar, successful cattle grid schemes on public roads in other parts of the country.
Tallaght Independent councillor Dermot Richardson said: “The group that presented to the council last week did not get a fair hearing.
“There are a number of councillors in favour of this proposal and County Mayor Sarah Holland is submitting a motion seeking support for the proposal at this month’s council meeting.”
He added: “Using cyclists as an excuse carries no weight. Cyclists can disembark and go through gates on either side of the grids, like they do in other rural areas.
“Councillors will be raising this again in chambers and we’ll expect council management to listen.”
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