Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

John Gormley

Question:

366 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the exclusion by Dúchas of the sports field in the Braade/Carrickfin area of County Donegal from special area of conservation status. [3401/00]

John Gormley

Question:

367 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason the Government has not adhered to a written undertaking of 14 May 1998 to the EU Commission not to interfere with the integrity of the special area of conservation at the sports field in the Braade/Carrickfin area; and if the EU Commission has written to the Government enquiring about the matter. [3402/00]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.

This area is part of the proposed candidate special area of conservation known as Gweedore Bay and Islands. The area was proposed for designation primarily because of its importance as an example of natural progression in machair development from sandflat through saltmarsh to the mature machair phase. However my Department agreed to the removal of the playing pitch as it was degraded machair and unsuitable for inclusion within the proposed site. Further exclusions were requested including a site for the relocation of the football pitch within the site but these were not agreed to because there was no scientific basis for this.

My Department has received no communication from the EU Commission in the matter.

I am satisfied that my officials acted correctly to protect the site.