No natural heritage areas have been designated to date and I do not intend to designate any such areas until after the Wildlife Act, 1976, has been amended by the Oireachtas. I expect to be in a position to introduce the relevant Bill in the Oireachtas early in the new year.
The proposed NHAs are places which contain the best remaining examples of our native wildlife species and habitats. It is EU and Government policy that any developments in receipt of grant-aid should have no adverse impact on the environment. Developments in areas under consideration for NHA status that comply with planning law and meet any necessary grant regulations are not affected by the proposed NHAs. However, where it is considered that development proposals will damage the environment, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department will object to those proposals. The final decision in respect of such developments lies with the planning authorities.
The EU Habitats Directives, which will be transposed into Irish law soon, will require the establishment of special areas of conservation, SACs, in ecologically important areas of the country. Sand dunes are listed in the directive as a priority habitat under threat in Europe. SACs are to impact on some golf courses, therefore, but it will not be possible to identify these until consultations in respect of SAC sites commence in February 1997. Restrictions, if any, are expected to generally apply to particular parts of the courses only and are likely to relate to fertiliser usage and drainage for the purpose, in the rain, and protecting wild flora. The boundaries established for such sites will be drawn up to take account of the particular needs of the habitat or species requiring conservation and of good management practices.
