OPW: Office of Public Works
Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí
Environmental Protection
Environment Section
The main objectives of Environment Section are to provide technical support and advice to the Arterial Drainage Maintenance service, to continually improve environmental performance, to implement new practices and to manage environmental research.
Legislative Framework
The Environment Section review existing environmental legislation and directives and identify resulting obligations. In addition, submissions are prepared in relation to proposed new legislation and national policy that has relevance to Arterial Drainage Maintenance service.
Environmental Assessment of Works
Statutory drainage maintenance operations are an ongoing activity across the state and overlap with many European sites to varying degrees, resulting in a possible requirement for multiple individual environmental assessments.
The OPW has carried out a series of Ecological Impact Assessments of Arterial Drainage Maintenance. The assessment reports in this series are listed here.
Environmental Research & Training
The Environment Section has established a number of research programmes, some in conjunction with the primary environmental stakeholders.The primary objectives of these programmes is to identify methods of operation which are both environmentally sensitive and effective from an arterial drainage maintenance viewpoint.
Biodiversity
Ireland became a signatory to the International Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 and ratified the same in 1996.Accordingly, there is a binding requirement for Ireland to conserve biodiversity.
Heritage
The National Heritage Plan (NHP) was published in 2002 and is a five year strategy for the protection and enhancement of heritage.
Waste Management
Waste management within the OPW depots has been reviewed over the past number of years.Preliminary plans were put in place to reduce, re-use or recycle the majority of the waste generated.The progress made in this area is currently being reviewed and updated.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
An SEA is being conducted for Arterial Drainage Maintenance and High Risk Channel Designation. Scoping stage has been completed including the Scoping Report and consultations with the designated Environmental Authorities. Feedback from the Scoping stage is being integrated into the Environmental Report. The Environment Report and associated public consultation will be conducted in 3rd quarter 2010