Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 7

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

191 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has ascertained whether any routes on road infrastructure in the national development plan will have a significant effect on any of the sites to be designated under the European Habitats Directive as special areas of conservation in view of their conservation objectives; and, if so, whether he has subjected the plan to an appropriate assessment to determine if it will adversely affect the integrity of special areas of conversation as required under Article 6.3 of that directive. [27331/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The national development plan has been prepared within the overall framework of national environmental policy. The Government is committed to ensuring that concern for the environment is central to all policy decisions. Consistent with this aim the NDP has been the subject of a pilot eco-audit, the outcome of which is set out in Appendix 4 to the plan. All road projects in the NDP likely to have significant effects on the environment will be subject to a comprehensive environmental impact assessment process. The EIA process specifically takes account of the special areas of conservation.