Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 5

Written Answers. - EC Habitats Directive.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

44 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the progress, if any, made to transpose Directive 92/43/EEC known as the Habitats Directive; the list of candidate sites meriting designation as special areas of conservation; and whether this list includes the Broadmeadow and Rogerstown estuaries in Fingal. [3214/96]

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

Regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972, are at present in the course of preparation in my Department to transpose Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive) into Irish law. I hope to be in a position to make the regulations later this year. I will publish the list of candidate special areas of conservation subsequent to the trans position of the Directive.

Both the Broadmeadow and Rogerstown estuaries have already been designated as special protection areas under the Birds Directive. I cannot say at present if they will be candidate special areas of conservation. However special protection areas designated under the Birds Directive will be afforded the same protection as special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive.