Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2016
497. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of acres of bog in total under the control of Bord Na Móna; those that are special areas of conservation, national heritage areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18528/16]
View answerI understand from Bord na Móna that the company's total land holdings amount to approximately 200,000 acres. The vast majority of this is peatland, although there are some small agricultural sites included in that total. Bord na Móna estimate that approximately 3,100 acres of their lands are designated either Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) or proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs). This does not include lands under consideration for designation as SACs or NHAs by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
