Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 1

Written Answers. - Natural Heritage Areas.

Joe Higgins

Question:

87 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the submissions, if any, she has received in relation to the proposed designation of the Glen of the Downs as a natural heritage area; and, if so, if she will give details of these submissions. [22565/97]

Joe Higgins

Question:

88 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the submissions, if any, she has received in relation to the proposed designation of part of Santry Demesne as a natural heritage area; and, if so, if she will give details of these submissions. [22566/97]

Joe Higgins

Question:

89 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the submissions, if any, she has received in relation to the proposed designation of Loch Oughter as a natural heritage area; and, if so, if she will give details of these submissions. [22567/97]

Joe Higgins

Question:

90 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the submissions, if any, she has received in relation to the proposed designation of Loch Sheelin as a natural heritage area; and, if so, if she will give details of these submissions. [22568/97]

Joe Higgins

Question:

91 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the submissions, if any, she has received in relation to the proposed designation of Loch Ramor as a natural heritage area; and, if so, if she will give details of these submissions. [22569/97]

Joe Higgins

Question:

92 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the submissions, if any, she has received in relation to the proposed designation of the East Burren complex as a special area of conservation; and, if so, if she will give details of these submissions. [22570/97]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 and 92 together.

Further to my reply to the Deputy's Question No. 324 of 25 November last seeking copies of submissions made in relation to the proposed special area of conservation at the White Strand, Doonbeg, County Clare, it will be appreciated that a number of submissions may be made to my Department relating to any such similar site, ranging from single letters to quite large documents with many pages. As I stated in that reply, I considered that it would be impractical to furnish copies of the submissions to the Deputy in regard to the White Strand but I offered the Deputy the opportunity to inspect all the relevant papers in the offices of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, if he wished to do so.

The present questions from the Deputy relate to a further six sites, however, and I am reluctant to commit the considerable staff time which would be necessary to allow the NPWS to carry out the necessary research to prepare the comprehensive information sought in relation to those further sites. I would stress that the difficulties relate solely to the pressures on staff resources and in no way imply a lack of transparency. Indeed, I might point out that I have already supplied the Deputy with copies of submissions relating to the Glen of the Downs, as requested in his Question No. 326 of 25 November last. However, the resources at my Department's disposal are finite and I regret that it is not possible to accede to the Deputy's much broader request at this time. If, however, the Deputy is in a position to indicate a particular and pressing need for information in relation to any of the sites involved, I will be glad to consider the matter further.