Vol. 560 No. 1
876 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans his Department has to designate further bogs as NHAs, other than those advertised prior to Christmas 2002; the counties involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1047/03]
All of the bogs advertised as proposed NHAs or cSACs in December 2002 are in the raised bog category, which is mainly found in the Midlands. I consider designation proposals for raised bogs to be complete and I have no plans to propose designation of further sites for this type of bog habitat.
Blanket bog habitat characteristically occurs at all altitudes in the western coastal counties, from west Cork to Donegal, and on mountain ranges further east, notably in Counties Cavan, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford and Wicklow. A substantial proportion of this particular type of bog has already been protected within candidate Special Areas of Conservation, cSACs, under the EU Habitats Directive.
With the completion of proposals for designation of raised bogs, the blanket bog category is the next priority for consideration for Natural Heritage Area designations. Areas of blanket bog not protected within cSACs will be reviewed during 2003. I intend, before the end of this year, to propose those that meet appropriate scientific criteria for designation as statutory natural heritage areas. Most of the areas likely to be suitable for designation were published some years ago as proposed natural heritage areas on a non-statutory basis.
