Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jan 1996

Vol. 460 No. 3

Written Answers. - Protection of Natural Environment.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

228 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the plans, if any, he has to improve Ireland's position regarding protecting the natural environment, which was again recently highlighted by an OECD survey which put Ireland as the country with the lowest percentage of national territory being .04 per cent that has been placed in reserves and national parks providing meaningful protection in the EU. [1024/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

The OECD figure quoted is out of date. At present between national parks and State nature reserves, the National Parks and Wildlife Service owns 70,000 ha. of land approximating to 1 per cent of the national territory. It must also be kept in mind that the area of land contained in national parks and nature reserves is only a portion of the total area receiving conservation protection. Areas totalling 175,000 ha. have been designated as special protection areas for birds in accordance with the Birds Directive.

I propose to introduce a Bill in the next session to amend the Wildlife Act, 1976, and this will,inter alia, enable a further and significant portion of the national territory to be given protection as national heritage areas. Some of these lands will be given added protection as special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive, which I propose to transpose into Irish law by regulations later this year.