Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
478. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way the Office of Public Works is using the information from the National Biodiversity Data Centre; if it is moving towards granting protection of the proposed 600 Natural Heritage Areas here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26669/13]
View answerMy Department provides funding to the Heritage Council for the operation of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. My Department is one of the main providers of biodiversity data to the centre. My Department uses distribution data collated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in reports to the EU on the status of species protected under EU Directives. It works with the Centre and experts across all of Ireland to produce assessments of the status of other threatened species which are published as “Red Lists” on my Department’s website www.npws.ie. It also uses data collated by the centre on Invasive Species which have reached, or might reach Ireland.
In relation to Natural Heritage Areas, my priority in protecting areas is the completion of the designation process of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, as required by the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, respectively. However, in 2011, I published the National Biodiversity Plan “Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016”, and this includes an action to review previously proposed Natural Heritage Areas and to designate them as appropriate under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. This work will progress in line with the completion of the priorities outlined above.
