Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Paul McGrath

Question:

291 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on whether there is a conflict between the operation of the 1947 Arterial Drainage Act and the 1995 EU Birds and Habitat Directive; her views on the situation in the vicinity of Glen Lake in County Westmeath where the Office of Public Works view the areas as flood land in spite of the fact that the National Parks and Wildlife personnel view the same area as wetlands and an asset for particular species of wildlife; and if she will have arrangements for discussions between the two Government agencies with responsibility for these matter in view of the concerns of the local community. [17743/97]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Glen Lough was designated in accordance with the Council Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) as a special protection area (SPA) for birds under Statutory Instrument No. 284 of 1995. It also receives protection under the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997 which transposed into Irish law the provisions of Council Directive No. 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has a statutory responsibility to protect the conservation values which resulted in the designation of Glen Lough as an SPA. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has a statutory responsibility to maintain all drainage channels resulting from arterial drainage schemes, including the Inny catchment drainage scheme, where Glen Lough is located. While there can be potential for conflict between the obligations imposed by the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act and the statutory obligations to conserve wildlife and their habitats, the obligations are not necessarily imcompatible. I understand that the Office of Public Works has confirmed that the recent works carried out at Glen Lough were routine drainage maintenance works, similar to those carried out by it on three previous occasions in 1976, 1980 and 1991-92.

Discussions are taking place between officials of the NPWS and the Office of Public Works in relation to the recent drainage works at Glen Lough and the drawing up of an agreed management scheme for the site to ensure that conservation and drainage requirements are both accommodated.