Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 2

Written Answers - Natural Heritage Areas.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

331 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if the Government or the EU drew up the regulations concerning farming practices in areas designated natural heritage areas or special areas of conservation. [24682/98]

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

The proposed natural heritage areas (NHAs) refer to ecological areas of national interest and are proposals only at this stage. I intend to provide powers to designate such areas as NHAs in the forthcoming amendment to the Wildlife Act, 1996. I will regulate these areas through Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department. Dúchas has agreed appropriate farming practices in these areas in respect of blanket bog, heath and upland grasslands; the Burren and sand dunes and Machairs with the Department of Agriculture and Food, farming organisations and non-Governmental conservation organisations. Negotiations are continuing in respect of other habitats (callows, raised bogs, turloughs and intensive grasslands used by geese).

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are an EU designation covering Sites of Community Interest and are a requirement of the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The directive requires all such sites to have their ecological interest conserved. The directive was transposed into national law in February 1997 through the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. Under these regulations, Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department has issued all known landowners and land users in these sites with a list of activities requiring my consent where such activities may cause damage to the ecological interest of SACs. The farming practices agreed for NHAs also apply to SACs.