Vol. 520 No. 2
19 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has received a letter from the EU Commission warning that certain EU funding could be delayed or put at risk as a result of the failure of this country to comply with certain EU directives; the steps she will take as a result of this letter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15311/00]
With regard to the EU Habitats Directive the position in relation to this matter is that the EU Commission has confirmed that EU funding under the Community Support Framework 2000-2006 will not be affected providing the Irish list of SAC sites is formally transmitted to it by November 2000. I propose to meet this deadline.
The Minister has indicated she intends to meet the October deadline. How confi dent is she that she can do this? I am informed only half of the sites have been transmitted to the Commission and the work required to be done between now and November is enormous. Is she certain the deadline can be met? Can she give the House a categorical guarantee that the £3 billion in EU funding will not be endangered?
Ireland should provide the list of SACs within six months. November 2000 is the date and I certainly intend to meet that deadline. I understand that more than 82% of sites have already been registered with Europe, so I feel we will meet that deadline. I do not think we will have a problem doing so.
I have read these reports about us not fulfilling the conditions of EU directives and Questions Nos. 13 and 26 allude to that, the latter question dealing with the protection of wildlife. It is obvious that unless the Minister employs a considerably increased number of wildlife rangers to protect habitats she will not be able to do it. I know many young people in my county who are anxious to do this type of work. Does the Minister have any plans to employ a realistic number of young people who are enthusiastic about protecting habitats and other areas which the EU is demanding we protect?
That is not really relevant to this question and is perhaps more relevant to other parliamentary questions on today's agenda. However, in relation to the transmission of sites, my Department has formally transmitted 268 SACs and it is important to remember that one does not need to wait for transmission to or registration with Europe to ensure the areas are protected; special areas of conservation are protected the minute these are published and there are provisions for the prosecution of those who do not adhere to the guidelines.
There are no staff.
I am coming to the Deputy's question. When it comes to monitoring, it is important that conservation guidelines are adhered to. I have said on other occasions that I hope not just to have more personnel in my Department, which would be the optimal way of dealing with this, but there are also many local organisations such as heritage groups and local authorities that show a great deal of interest in this area and which could be of huge help using their skills to monitor sites.
Notwithstanding the Minister's claims to be able to comply with the deadline, which I would love to be able to believe, can she assure the Commission, as much as this House, that amendments to the sites designated as special areas of conservation will be made on scientific and not economic grounds, which is the view of many people when they observe what has happened? Will she also tell us what she will do to ensure that damaged sites – which she claims are protected – are restored, given that this damage is also an issue on which the European Commission is seeking to bring us to court? This is not just a matter of designating numbers of sites but is also a matter of the quality of the protection we are giving. Does she agree that our quality of protection leaves a great deal to be desired?
The quality of protection is obviously an important issue and that is why it is most important to emphasise at every opportunity that it is not just a matter of waiting for the designation of sites by Europe to ensure these sites are protected. Once published, these sites are protected in law.
How?
I have taken a number of prosecutions and others are lined up. Also, this is not a matter of a deadlock in the Department regarding the transmission of sites. The reason it may seem there is a delay is that I wanted a fair and transparent process. This process was put into action when the Minister of State and I took over this Department by ensuring there was an appeals system headed by the former Ombudsman, Mr. Michael Mills. There are not only landowners involved in the appeals system but also conservationists, so all groups have a say within the structure.
I want to ensure that that system is fully used before the sites are transmitted and they are transmitted once they have gone through the procedure. The Deputy can be assured that decisions on whether an area is part of a SAC or not is made purely on scientific grounds.
A number of Deputies wish to ask supplementary questions and we want to get through as many questions as possible, so I ask Deputies and Ministers to stay within the time limit allocated.
We are trying to save our heritage.
