Vol. 510 No. 6
347 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is she has satisfied herself that SI No. 178 issued under the Wildlife Act, 1976, is a prerequisite for planning and has to be satisfied before a planning decision can be granted. [23524/99]
Many statutory instruments have been made under the Wildlife Act 1976. I assume the question refers to S.I. 178 of 1980 – Nature Reserve (Glen of the Downs) Establishment Order, 1980. There is no direct requirement under the Wildlife Act or the Planning Acts for a nature reserve to be considered as a factor in a planning decision per se. Wicklow County Council consulted with the then National Parks and Wildlife Service in relation to the Glen of the Downs road scheme. The Supreme Court is currently considering certain questions relating to S.I. 178 of 1980 and the proposed road widening scheme at the Glen of the Downs and I await their judgment on the matter.
