Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2012
315 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is satisfied that proper procedures were followed in relation to the designation of the Moycullen Bog complex NHA, when ground inspections that allowed this NHA to be designated commenced; and if the public will be able to access the file concerning the visual assessment of the fields concerned for inclusion. [12843/12]
View answerI am satisfied from the information made available to me that the processes undertaken by my Department which led to the designation of Moycullen Bog as a Natural Heritage Area by Statutory Instrument (SI No 584 of 2005) were undertaken in a fair and proper manner. The decision to designate Moycullen Bog was taken after a survey of the site in October 2003 and copies of the survey notes are available, on request, from the offices of my Department. Further details are also available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service at www.npws.ie.
I am advised that notice of intention to designate this site issued to almost 4,000 individuals in early August 2004. In addition, notice of the proposed designation was broadcast on local radio and advertised in a local newspaper. Material relating to the proposal was made available for consultation purposes in local government offices and public libraries in the Galway area at the time. An appeals process was made available to those who wished to object to the proposal and I understand that this option was exercised by a number of individuals.
