Eamon Ryan
Question:319. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will publish a map of the precise location in a case (details supplied). [29274/16]
View answerTuesday, 11 October 2016
Questions (319, 320, 321, 322, 323)
Eamon Ryan
Question:320. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a location (details supplied) meets the definition of orchid-rich priority habitat 6210 based on table 2.3. [29275/16]
View answerEamon Ryan
Question:321. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will publish a full breakdown of the conservation score of 9.5 attributed to a location (details supplied), as derived using the terminology of table 2.9 criteria used in the calculation of the conservation score for each site. [29276/16]
View answerEamon Ryan
Question:322. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will publish a breakdown of the threat score of 15.4 attributed to a location (details supplied) as derived using the terminology of table 2.10 criteria in the calculation of the threat score for each site. [29277/16]
View answerEamon Ryan
Question:323. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the obligations that arise for the Government under EU law to protect public lands, where those lands meet the definition of orchid-rich priority habitats 6210, from threats such as development. [29278/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 to 323, inclusive, together.
All of the data and mapping referred to by the Deputy is available for download at: https://www.npws.ie/maps-and-data/habitat-and-species-data. This includes site, habitat and relevé location data as ESRI-compatible GIS files. The survey report and all data are collated into an MS Access database. My Department will forward a map and the breakdown of conservation and threat scores to the Deputy.
In this survey, this location did not meet the definition of Orchid-rich grassland, habitat code 6210.
The EU Habitats Directive provides a detailed procedure for the adoption and designation of nature conservation sites, i.e. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), for habitats listed in Annex 1 of the Directive. Member States are required to protect the best examples of such habitats in their territory, but not all areas containing such habitats. Ireland has completed its process in relation to Orchid-rich priority habitats and is considered sufficient in this regard through EU processes. There is no legal obligation under the Habitats Directive to protect habitats falling outside of the SAC network.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.