Vol. 451 No. 7
83 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment if he has responsibility for the Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments; if he has agreed with the European Commission that the threshold of 50 hectares for turf extraction is to be reduced; and, if so, when this reduction will occur. [7182/95]
Directive 85/337/EEC on Environmental Impact Assessment was transposed into Irish law primarily by regulations made by the Minister for the Environment. Peat extraction has been subjected to planning permission and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements where the area involved is 50 hectares or more. In response to a communication about this threshold, the European Commission has been informed that the arrangements in place ensure that large-scale projects which would have significant effects on the environment are subject to planning control and that consideration would be given to possibilities for further action in relation to areas of particular environmental sensitivity.
As indicated in the reply to Questions Nos. 37 and 51 on 8 March last, I understand that proposals to put Natural Heritage Areas on a statutory footing are being developed by my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and that work is in progress also on the preparation of measures to transpose Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna into national law. These developments will be of major significance for peatland conservation.
