Vol. 482 No. 3
288 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if the insect invertebrate mycetobia obscura is found in Ireland; if she will give details of the sites at which it is found; and if these sites are designated as special areas of conservation. [17584/97]
Mycetobia obscura has been found in two sites in Ireland, i.e. Charleville Wood, County Offaly, and Glen of The Downs, County Wicklow, which is a designated nature reserve. As the species is not listed in the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), the existence of the species on lands provide no grounds for designating such land as a special area of conservation.
Both Glen of The Downs and Charleville Wood have been proposed for designation as natural heritage areas.
