Vol. 535 No. 1
471 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the preparations her Department is making for the next Atlantic Biogeographical meeting to be held in 2001; and if she will act to implement as proposed, candidate special areas of conservation, the list of sites listed in shadow special areas of conservation list prepared in advance of this meeting by Irish non-governmental organisations. [11458/01]
487 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands when the 23 raised bog areas identified since 1999 will be categorised as special areas of conservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12350/01]
I propose to take Question Nos 471 and 487 together.
I refer the Deputies to my replies to recent questions in regard to these matters, Parliamentary Questions Nos. 37 and 69 of 11 Aibreán 2001.
I have no immediate proposals to add to the existing list of 362 candidate SACs. Having regard to the number and extent of candidate SACS that I have now proposed, I anticipate that Ireland's proposals will be found sufficient for most habitats and species at the second Atlantic region seminar. Only then will it become clear whether Ireland should propose more sites for particular habitats or species, in order to contribute to the Natura 2000 Network in proportion to the contributions of other member states.
The main preparation my Department is making for the second Atlantic Region Biogeographical Seminar, planned for September 2001, is to ensure that all relevant information is provided to the EU Commission and its advisers so that our proposals can be properly evaluated.
