Written Answers Nos. 973-984
973. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of a permission to cut turf for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30622/18]
View answerThe National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022, published in December 2017, sets out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to be managed, conserved and restored and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed, including exploring the options in terms of certain provisions of article 6 of the EU Habitats Directive.
In certain areas where there is a difficulty in finding relocation solutions for turf cutters, the Department, in consultation with turf cutter interests and within the framework of the National Plan, is considering whether the provisions of article 6.3 of the Directive could be utilised to provide for domestic turf cutting within areas of a number of special areas of conservation. Under article 6.3 of the Directive consent could only be given to cut turf on a raised bog special area of conservation where it can be shown by rigorous scientific investigations that such cutting will not have an adverse effect on the (ecological) integrity of the site.
If it can be demonstrated that turf cutting within a proposed location in a special area of conservation would not impact on the integrity of a European site, the appropriate consent would then be required from the relevant public authority.
As set out in the National Plan, the site referred to in the Deputy's Question is one of the sites being examined as regards the potential for domestic turf cutting on the site in accordance with the provisions of the Directive. The initial phase of scientific investigations on the site, undertaken by contractors engaged by my Department, was completed in November 2017. These investigations illustrated that further specialised investigations were required because of the hydrological and topographic complexities of this particular bog. I am advised that this specialised work has recently been completed and a report on its outcome is currently being compiled for review by my Department.
974. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 576 of 3 July 2018, her plans to lease land holdings (details supplied) on the private market for the development of a commercial windfarm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30771/18]
View answerThe land in question is an integral part of the Ox Mountain Bogs Special Area of Conservation and therefore, would not be compatible with a commercial wind farm.
I have no plans to lease the land on the private market for such a purpose.
975. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a 2018-2019 hare coursing licence will be refused and all hare hunting and shooting stopped in view of warnings from wildlife experts (details supplied) that Irish hare numbers have declined significantly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30825/18]
View answerEU Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) requires Ireland to make a detailed report every six years on the conservation status of all listed species, including the hare. Ireland’s most recent report in 2013 included a comprehensive assessment of the range, population status, habitat and threats for the Irish hare. The report can be downloaded at www.npws.ie/article-17-reports-0/article-17-reports-2013. The next report is due in 2019.
The 2013 report stated that the Hare is found throughout the country from coastal habitats to upland heath and bog. The Hare is widespread and common in Ireland with a broad habitat niche. None of the identified threats are considered likely to impact on its conservation status in the foreseeable future and the Overall Conservation Status was assessed as Favourable. My Department is not aware of any expert reports which indicate a national decline in the population of hares.
In addition to the reporting requirements of the EU Habitats Directive, data on the distribution of the hare is being collected continuously by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the recent Atlas of Mammals in Ireland 2010-2015 provided a summary of the species’ range, demonstrating that it remains widespread across the country.
My Department recently commissioned a new assessment of the status of hare’s population in Ireland. The survey work to inform this population assessment has already begun with the main survey work to occur over the 2018/19 winter period. The final report is due in mid-2019.
In relation to hare coursing meetings, the recent 2017/18 hare coursing season finished at the end of February last. All reports in relation to the season will be considered in the context of licenses for the 2018/19 coursing season.
976. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the review of the wild birds derogation process 2018 has been completed; if the final report has been submitted to her Department; and the date on which the final report will be published. [30992/18]
View answer977. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the wild birds derogation process, and the development or revision of policy that might arise from the 2018 review, specifically on urban gull issues and the serious negative impacts on communities and the public health and safety concerns caused by such issues, will be urgently addressed; and if new or revised policy arising will be published (details supplied). [30993/18]
View answer978. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if representations have been received from all public representatives of the local community in north County Dublin since summer 2016 with regard to the interim report of the review of the wild birds derogation process 2018, submitted to her Department on 18 April 2018, specifically on the section 2.0 recommendations for the 2018-2019 derogation (details supplied). [31018/18]
View answer979. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if authority and responsibility for derogations on public health and safety grounds, as described in Article 9.1(a) of the birds directive, rest with her Department in view of previous statements that the review of the wild birds derogation process would address public health and safety in addition to taking into account relevant policy and operational practices across the EU. [31019/18]
View answer980. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the basis on which it is asserted there are shortfalls in EU compliance in regard to a section of the interim report of the review of the wild birds derogation process 2018 (details supplied); the way in which and the reason they have come about; the possible consequences of these shortfalls; the way in which they will be addressed; and the person or body that holds responsibility for addressing same. [31020/18]
View answer981. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the scheduled final report from the review of the wild birds derogation process will be published; and if it is planned that recommendations requiring the involvement of other State bodies, for example, local authorities, in addition to collaborative planning and-or funding will be acted upon ahead of the autumn 2018 planning and budgeting cycle, which will set operational plans and resources for 2019. [31021/18]
View answer982. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date on which revised or new policies arising from the outcomes of the review of the wild birds derogation process will be published. [31022/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 976 to 982, inclusive, together.
My Department is currently undertaking a review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive which will take account of all relevant factors, including perceived threats, distribution and population data available in respect of all the bird species in the derogations. ANIAR Ecology were appointed by my Department to undertake the review following a public tendering process. My Department has received a draft of the final report from the consultants and following consideration of the draft report by my Department the final report will be concluded.
An interim report was received from the consultants in April, which included recommendations in respect of the derogation process, including in relation to the 2018/19 declarations. The consultants indicate in their interim report that the inclusion of gulls in the derogation is challenging in terms of compliance with the Birds Directive on the basis of their view that an analysis of other possible solutions needs to be set out and reviewed, the status of the herring gull is unfavourable and the effects of mitigation actions taken on the gull species concerned are not measurable. While the inclusion of gulls in the derogation was limited to the Balbriggan area only for a limited trial period and does not involve the actual culling of gulls, I will take full account of the consultants' views in the context of future derogations and following consideration of the consultants final report, a draft of which has been sent to my Department.
My Department has received representations from the local community group referred to in relation to the interim report. This report has already been published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.
Following consideration of the consultants' final report, my Department will engage with relevant stakeholders.
The ultimate statutory authority on the derogations resides with me.
983. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Minister for Culture; Heritage and the Gaeltacht an dtabharfaidh sí eolas faoin dul chun cinn atá déanta go dáta maidir le Togra Ché Mhachaire Rabhartaigh; an dtabharfaidh sí eolas i dtaobh cén uair a mheasann sí a chuirfear tús leis an obair ag an ché agus cén uair a bheidh cead tugtha le bogadh ar aghaidh go dtí an staid tógala; an ndéanfaidh sí a chinntiú fosta go mbeidh maoiniú curtha i leataobh don togra mar pháirt den Phlean Náisiúnta "Éire 2040" agus nach mbeidh cómhaoiniú ag teastáil ón Údarás Áitiúil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31039/18]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, is faoi chúram Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall atá Cé Mhachaire Rabhartaigh. Tá forbairt na Cé luaite sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta mar cheann de na tograí oileánacha a mhaoineofar faoin Phlean. Tá an togra pléite ag mo Roinn leis an gComhairle Chontae agus tá plean don fhorbairt le dearadh agus beidh innealtóirí comhairleacha le ceapadh chuige sin. Mar aon le haon togra mór infreastruchtúir, cuirfear an togra seo i gcríoch go céimiúil i ndáil le riachtanais an Chóid Caiteachais Poiblí.
984. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of public sector jobs offered through internal competitions or restricted to existing Civil Service or public service staff in her Department in 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31543/18]
View answerI have been advised by officials in my Department that 34 posts were offered through internal competitions in 2017 and to date in 2018. This is in line with the sequencing arrangements as per the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.
