Vol. 525 No. 5
144 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the progress she has made in implementing the Habitats Directive; when it will be fully implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25620/00]
The Habitats Directive requires member states to propose relevant natural areas for designation as special areas of conservation for the conservation of listed habitats and species, and to protect their favourable conservation status. It also requires member states to transmit a list of the proposed areas together with full information on each site to the EU Commission, within three years of the date of the notification of the directive, but no member state met that deadline. The directive specifies scientific criteria for the selection of these areas.
The directive was transposed into Irish law by means of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. A total of 363 sites have been publicly proposed for designation and receive protection in Irish law from the date of public notification in each case.
I have formally transmitted 320 of these sites to the EU Commission since coming into office. I have accepted an obligation to transmit the balance by the end of this month, in the context of approval of EU funding for the national development plan. In the light of evaluation of our proposals at EU level my Department is examining the question of proposing additional SACs for raised bog and for salmon. Any additional sites will be publicly advertised in 2001 with a view to transmit them to the EU Commission by June 2001.
I anticipate that the Irish list will be found to be sufficient at the next Atlantic Region Biogeographical Conference due in September 2001.
The formal designation of SACs does not occur until after the commission has adopted national lists of sites. No national lists have been adopted to date. I am unable to say therefore, when the directive will be fully implemented.
