Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2012
156 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the success rate over the past two years of appeals to designation of lands as special protection areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17446/12]
View answerI am advised that some 11% of appeals decided in 2011 were either successful or partly successful, compared to 12% in 2010.
157 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grant assistance available to assist landowners who wish to appeal an special protection area designation (details supplied) to allow them to employ environmental professionals in order to put together the scientific evidence necessary to support their appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17447/12]
View answerOrdinarily, a contribution by my Department, up to a maximum of €1,350, is available towards an appellant's costs for the expert engaged in the production of his/her scientific report and to comment on the focused scientific report which is produced by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This would apply irrespective of the size of the site.
For the purposes of efficiency and the prudent use of public funds, the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board often considers a number of appeals together, where they relate to land that is in close proximity, such as in the case referred to by the Deputy. In those circumstances, it is not necessary for appellants to commission separate ecological reports where a single one covering the entire area of the land under appeal would suffice. My Department does not provide funding for separate reports when one would be sufficient to meet the needs of all appellants.
158 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 315 of 6 March 2012, if a copy of the survey notes created in relation to the designation of the Moycullen bog complex as a natural heritage area can be supplied. [17464/12]
View answerI have made arrangements to supply copies of the material requested to the Deputy within the next week.
