Clare County Council is not to proceed with contentious housing zoning due to concerns over a roost of rare and protected lesser horseshoe bats.
This follows Minister of State for the Environment Jan O’Sullivan making the unprecedented move of issuing a “notice of intent” directing the council to change the zoning for land near the village of Quin from residential to open space.
At the council’s June meeting, members defied legal advice and their county manager by allowing an area to be zoned for housing beside an internationally important site for the lesser horseshoe bat.
The lesser horseshoe bat is one of the world’s smallest with a wingspan of 194-254mm and a body length of 35-45mm. It is afforded protection through the EU habitats directive.
