Vol. 475 No. 4
121 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will respond to the fears of Connemara farmers that the national heritage areas and special areas of conservation will erode their ownership rights by taking away mineral, fishing and shooting rights, reducing them to merely possessing grazing rights to their own lands. [4965/97]
Natural heritage areas are only at the proposal stage and will not be designated until the necessary amendment to the Wildlife Act, 1976 has been passed by the Oireacthas. I expect to publish this Bill in the coming months.
Special areas of conservation are important natural areas which are required to be protected under the terms of the EU Habitats Directive. I will sign the regulations transposing the directive into Irish law tomorrow.
Farmers with land included in these areas will be required to farm in accordance with an agreed agri-environmental plan, which will be prepared on the basis of conditions for each relevant habitat agreed by my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Teagasc, private farm planners, and relevant non-governmental organisations. Indeed, farming conditions have already been agreed on this basis for the Burren, blanket bog, heaths and upland grasslands, which represent over two-thirds of the land area to be included in the proposed SACs. Arrangements are in hand to discuss and agree the conditions that will apply to the other habitats involved.
These conditions are designed to impose on farmers the minimum restrictions that are compatible with protecting the sites. There is no question of farmers being told to stop farming their lands. Traditional farming has in many cases created the habitats now being protected and without farming these habitats cannot be maintained.
The impact of proposals to prospect for or extract minerals would have to be assessed on an individual basis. My Department would only object where significant damage would result for the relevant habitat.
Generally speaking, SACs will not have any effect on fishing and shooting rights. Where restrictions in SACs cause income or capital loss for the farmer, compensation will be payable. If agreement cannot be reached on the amount payable, independent arbitration will be available.
All aspects of the implementation of the Habitats Directive have been discussed with farming organisations over several months by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
122 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht when he will publish the proposed regulations on the special areas of conservation; if he intends to seek submissions from the public on these regulations having published them; the time lapse between the publishing of the regulations and the date of signature by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5065/97]
I will sign the regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972, to transpose Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora into Irish law on 26 February 1997. Copies of the regulations will then be sent to the Government Supplies Agency to be put on sale to the public. Following publication of the regulations the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department will be liaising with farming and other conservation interests on the operation of the regulations and any submission in this regard will be given due consideration.
