Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has ever or will make an application to designate lands (details supplied) as either a special area of conservation and special protection area, otherwise known collectively as NATURA 2000 sites and or a natural heritage area. [29417/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has never made an application to designate lands as either a special area of conservation and special protection area, otherwise known collectively as NATURA 2000 sites and or a natural heritage area. The designation of a site as a special area of conservation and special protection area is a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Services.
It is important to note that there are two distinct parcels of lands to which the Deputy refers. One is owned by the State and managed by the Office of Public Works, the other lands are in private ownership.
The lands which are owned by the State have been actively managed for biodiversity conservation and gain since 2007. The historic landscape surrounding the House is expertly managed by a team of horticultural specialists in the OPW and is an exemplar site for the All Ireland Pollinator Plan with some grasslands of Annex 1 quality under the EU Habitats Directive. Extensive pollinator surveys have been conducted which have identified a large number of bumblebee, butterfly, hoverfly, and solitary bee species. Other studies have recorded a high diversity of tree, bird, and other invertebrate species. The landscape is of high value to grassland plants regionally due to the increasingly urban nature of the surrounding landscape.
The Office of Public Works has no remit in the management of the privately held lands adjacent to the State owned lands.
