Vol. 450 No. 6
85 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will suspend implementation of the scheme for national heritage areas pending the enactment of the National Park and Heritage Areas Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5455/95]
As I explained to the House on 7 March last in reply to Questions Nos. 76 and 77, I have been aware for some time that there is concern in certain quarters regarding the designation of natural heritage areas, NHAs. I have now directed the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, to withdraw the NHA designations which it had previously made in regard to Counties Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Louth, Longford, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow, and to initiate the process of considering whether certain areas of Counties Cork, Donegal, Kerry and Monaghan should be designated as NHAs.
Proposals have been published by the NPWS in regard to the possible designation of NHAs in the remaining ten counties.
I am determined to ensure that adequate prior consultation will take place with land owners and occupiers and with other interested parties. All such parties will have an opportunity to make their views known regarding any proposed designations and to object to such designations. All views expressed will be taken into account prior to final decisions being taken in regard to designation.
Formal designation of sites as NHAs will only take place after this consultation procedure has been completed and after the Wildlife Act, 1976, is amended and a formal system for hearing objections is established.
