Biodiversity 'should be part of every conversation': councillor

The issue of biodiversity should be a way of enhancing engagement between Kildare County Council and residents associations across the county, according to Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, writes Brian Byrne.

Speaking on the Kilcullen Diary's Daily Cast podcast, she said such greater engagement is necessary because, with more residents signing up to associations, there has to be a more sustainable way of supporting them than simply by handing out grants at the beginning of summer.

"There are more associations, and therefore dwindling funds to support each of them," she said in advance of a motion she has at today's Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting calling for a campaign with all residents associations to 'Cut Late and Cut less' on their green areas, in the cause of biodiversity.

"We have had a lot of discussion in Council about the best way to support residents associations," she says. "They carry out such great work, and we would be lost without them, but we just don't know how sustainable it is. Our funds are dwindling and there are more to support."

Cllr O'Dwyer suggests that biodiversity needs in the future to be part of every conversation between the Council and the people it serves. "I think we should engage fully with the associations before we make any decisions and before we get to budget times."

The suggestion that the Council should ask that 'let the dandelions grow ... and cut less' is probably too late for this year, the councillor admits, but it should be discussed fully before next year comes around. "We are in a biodiversity crisis, we need to start addressing these problems and see what's the best way forward."

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