The area of Howth peninsula recommended for protection under a Special Amenity Area Order is the minimum necessary to sustain its valued characteristics, an inquiry into the proposed order heard yesterday.
Mr Conor Skehan, a landscape architect, was giving evidence on the second day of the inquiry, which was moved from the offices of Fingal County Council to a nearby hotel to accommodate anticipated numbers.
The inquiry was ordered by the Minister for the Environment. Chaired by Mr Diarmuid O Grada, it is investigating and hearing objections to the proposed SAAO. The SAAO would protect more than half the Howth Peninsula, including Ireland's Eye and the southern and eastern parts of the peninsula.
Mr Skehan, who carried out a landscape study of the area for the natural resources development centre at Trinity College on behalf of Fingal County Council, described the area as a "nationally distinctive, if not unique, combination of natural factors and human settlement."
Emphasising that an SAAO may "have drastic effects on private property rights" he said care was taken in his study to define only the minimum area necessary to sustain the distinctive characteristics of the area as having "natural beauty". The proposed SAAO is an area which "generally conforms with the highest standards of evidence that its beauty is unique, rare, noteworthy and valued," he said.
Mr Skehan agreed with a representative of An Taisce that the area covered by the proposed order may in the future be extended. Some 14 parties have objected to the proposed SAAO, including Rathingle Developments, representing the Sutton Castle Hotel. Its lands lie within the area.
Evidence was given in support of the hotel's objection by Mr Ronan King, a charted accountant with BDO Simpson Xavier and an expert in the hotel industry.
His evidence was relevant, said Rathingle Developments, in underlining that the SAAO may hinder the hotel's development and viability.
The supply of hotel rooms in Dublin has increased from 4,500 in 1991 to 8,150 in 1998, said Mr King. A further increase to 12,500 rooms is expected by 2000. This was "likely to have a negative impact" on the numbers of guests available to each hotel, he said.
To remain viable he recommended that Sutton Castle construct an extra 37 suites - equal to approximately 74 bedrooms. In response to a question from Mr Dermot Flanagan, representing Fingal County Council, he agreed his submission dealt primarily with commercial, rather than planning-permission, concerns. But it did not "ignore the attractiveness of the area" he said.
Also objecting was Ms Florence Nealon, whose family has owned land in the area since 1834. She was represented by solicitor Mr Brian Lynch. He asked whether the overall impact of the SAAO would be adversely affected if approximately one to one and a half acres of her land was excluded.
Dr Ken Boyle, an expert witness in environmental management, agreed the land in question was for agricultural use but said it should not be excluded as it had "certain value as open ground, with recreational value".
The inquiry continues today at the Gresham Hotel in O'Connell Street.
