Vol. 492 No. 4
276 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the protection, if any, she has provided to the designated special protection area in Cork harbour which is the subject of much reclamation for road and tunnel construction. [14204/98]
Cork harbour was designated as a special protection area in November 1994 under the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, S.I. No. 349 of 1994. As a special protection area, Cork harbour also receives protection under the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, S.I. No. 94 of 1997, which gave effect to Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, the Habitats Directive. The tunnel construction and ancillary road system planned in the Cork harbour area has been considered by my Department, which is happy that the development does not contravene the regulations or directive.
