A special Amenity Area Order (SAAO) gives protection for areas of outstanding natural beauty, scientific interest, or recreational amenity value. The order is initiated by a local authority but must be confirmed by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. Once an order is confirmed, commercial and housing developments would normally be automatically ruled out.
Securing an SAAO is usually a long process in which the impetus comes from concerned individuals or groups, who must convince a local authority of the merits of their case. The local authority has then to persuade the Minister for the Environment.
The State has just two areas with SAAOs: Bull Island in north Dublin, which is an internationally recognised biosphere, and the Liffey valley in west Dublin, noted for its scenic and amenity value.
Having secured the backing of Fingal County Council, after more than a decade of campaigning, the Howth Sutton 2000 group expects the Minister for the Environment to sign an SAAO for Howth Head in the near future. The publicity generated by the case for Howth has inspired communities in south Dublin and north Wicklow to seek SAAO status for Killiney/Dalkey Hill and Bray Head.
According to the Department, "a planning authority may make a Special Amenity Area Order under Section 42 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, declaring the area to be of special amenity because of its outstanding beauty, special recreational value or the need for nature conservation."