Concern over rare bats halts quarry

Clare County Council has put on hold plans by Gama Construction for a quarry near the €190 million Ennis bypass because of concerns that the project could have an adverse effect on rare bats being housed in a "secret" bat house recently completed on the route.

Last month the Turkish firm met an EU deadline in completing the bat house, which cost more than €100,000 to construct. It accommodates the rare and EU-protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat and is part of a network of structures to ensure the continued welfare of the bats along the route.

However, the council is refusing to disclose the location of the house for fear of vandalism.

As well as constructing the house, Gama has renovated Knockanean's old schoolhouse on the outskirts of Ennis and planted 2km of hedgerow to allow the bats easier navigation between the two roosts.

However, the quarry is located between the two bat roosts and after concerns expressed by the Department of the Environment about the impact the quarry could have on the bats, the council has put the plan on hold.

The council has told Gama that the environmental impact statement lodged with the application fails to adequately consider the likely impacts on the rare bat species.

It said: "It is noted that the newly planted compensatory hedgerows, together with an underpass, interconnect the two roost sites and are intended to provide a commuting route for bats between the roosts and between the roosts and feeding areas.

"It is considered that the proposed development could result in the further loss and fragmentation of hedgerows."