Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Joe Higgins

Question:

361 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if the boundary of the special area of conservation at White Strand, Doonbeg, County Clare, has been redrawn; if so, the scientific justification for the redrawing of the boundary by Dúchas on her behalf; and if these scientific reasons been furnished to the EU Commission. [27504/98]

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

White Strand, Doonbeg, County Clare, is included in the Carrowmore-Whitestrand proposed candidate SAC (Special Area of Conservation) — a priority habitat site under the EU Habitats Directive.

All proposed candidate SACs are open to objection, on scientific grounds, and to review by Dúchas, the Heritage Service of my Department, in the light of current scientific knowledge.

The proposed candidate SAC at Carrowmore-Whitestrand had been given the proposed NHA boundary (drawn from aerial photographs) until such time as the site could receive a visit from a scientific expert. This boundary was issued to ensure that the extent of the ecologically important area was protected; it was known that the extent of the boundary was larger than could be justified under the criteria listed in the EU Habitats Directive. The then boundary was a temporary measure put in place until a more detailed review could be carried out by Dúchas. This review was instigated by Dúchas prior to my taking up office and included a site visit.

Scientific experts from Dúchas (the Competent Authority in Ireland), visited the site in November 1997. This visit led to the conclusion that the eastern side of the sand dune system at Doonbeg had been significantly damaged due to a long history of sand extraction. The remaining intact portion consists of the priority habitat "fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation" and the three non-priority habitats "dune slack", embryonic shifting dunes", and "Ammophilia dunes — White dunes", which make up the bulk of the site. It is the habitats present on this intact portion which justifies the proposed designation of the area as an SAC. As a result of this scientific surveillance, the proposed site boundaries are being modified to reflect the requirements of the Habitats Directive (Annex III) and the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997. No significant habitat interest has been excluded from the site.

The EU Commission was informed of the above reasons for the changes made to this site.