Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 2

Written Answers - Special Areas of Conservation.

Denis Naughten

Question:

218 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total number of applications currently awaiting a decision with the SAC appeals committee of his Department; the number of these applications for which a decision has been issued in each of the past six months; the number of appeals awaiting an inspection by a field officer within his Department; the number of such inspections carried out in each of the past six months; the action he is taking to speed up this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9048/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The total number of appeals that have been referred to the SAC Appeals Advisory Board, and on which the board has not yet made a recommendation, is 52, of which 12 have been deferred for various reasons and-or may not be pursued. In 17 of the remaining 40 cases, appellants have confirmed that they wish to proceed by providing a written scientific case.

I have made decisions in the past six months on five recommendations from the board, one in December, three in January and one in March. In all cases I have accepted the recommendation of the Appeals Advisory Board. There are 15 appeals on which the board is awaiting the Department's written scientific response. In the past six months, two of these responses have been prepared, one in November and one in March. Preparation of the Department's responses has been constrained by other demands on limited specialist staff resources. This situation will be improved by new staff currently being appointed to fill existing vacancies and six new specialist posts which were approved last year. I intend to ensure that responses to the 15 outstanding cases will be completed in the next two months.