When lands are being proposed for inclusion within a special area of conservation, special protection area or natural heritage area, each landowner is notified in writing of the proposed designation and is sent an information pack on the relevant site. The information pack explains the scientific reasons for the proposed designation, sets out the activities requiring my prior consent, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and includes information on how to appeal against the proposed designation. A map showing the boundaries and extent of the site is also sent to landowners to help them to determine whether or not their land is located within the site proposed for designation.
Notice of the proposed designation is also:
1. published in at least one newspaper with circulation covering the area in which the site is located, in one national newspaper and on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department;
2. broadcast on a radio channel generally available in the area in which the site is located; and
3. provided for display in local Garda stations, local authority offices, public libraries, local offices of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and offices of Teagasc.
My Department also notifies the relevant Ministers and public authorities of the proposed designation of a site.
Formal appeals against the inclusion of lands within a site proposed for designation are heard by the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board.
Following an appeal hearing, the Board makes a recommendation to me, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This recommendation is based on scientific grounds as to whether lands should be included in the site proposed for designation. The recommendation of the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board may be accepted in full, in part or rejected.
Details of the number of appeals received by the Board since its inception, the number of appeals heard by the Board and the number of cases in which the recommendation of the Board was accepted in part or rejected by me, as Minister, are outlined in the following table:
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No. of Appeals received by the Board since its inception.
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No. of Appeals heard by the Board
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No. of cases in which the recommendation of the Board was accepted in part or rejected
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Years in which the recommendation of the Board was accepted in part or rejected
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977
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401
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0
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Not applicable
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