Ecology

Westmeath County Council being conscious of the potential affects of these works on the flora and fauna of Mullingar and surrounding area engaged Natura Environmental Consultants (NEC) to carry out an ecology constraints report. NEC have worked closely with all the relevant statutory bodies and made recommendations to ensure that measures will be put in place to preserve our local environment. Many of these recommendations have been set within the programme of works which inhibits the contractor from carrying out works in certain areas during specific times.

The following constraints are only some of many highlighted during this study, around which all works are programmed

Bird Nesting Season (1st March- 31st August)

  • Trees and hedgerows cannot be removed within this period.
    For more information go to National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) www.npws.ie/

Salmonid Season (1st October- 31st March)

  • Rivers and waterways cannot be worked upon within this period.
    For more information go to Shannon Regional Fisheries Board (SRFB) www.srfb.ie/

Canal Crossing (1st November - 28th February)

  • Work on the main Royal Canal route can only take place within this period.
    For more information go to Waterways Ireland www.waterwaysireland.org/

All works will be carried out using the best codes of practice and should not cause pollution or damage to the environment For more information go to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.epa.ie/