Vol. 457 No. 5
59 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will give the Ballyseedy Woods, the most important area for nature conservation and wildlife protection in North Kerry, the minimal protection of natural heritage area status in view of the fact that it is under threat due to the proposed building of the Tralee-Ballycarthy dual carriageway. [15800/95]
The initial survey and selection of sites for the proposed natural heritage areas was based on a resurvey of the former areas of scientific interest. Ballyseedy Wood was not included in the areas of scientific interest and accordingly was not surveyed.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) believes that the wood may have a limited ecological interest as it is not a natural wood and it contains much scrub and exotic species. NPWS has, however, arranged for a survey of the wood in the near future and when this is completed a decision will be made on whether the area should be proposed for designation as a natural heritage area.
The NPWS has discussed the proposed dual carriageway with Kerry County Council and agreement was reached that the development would include the insertion of culverts to enable wildlife to pass under the road. It is estimated that about five to six acres of the wood, from an area of approximately 80 acres, will be affected by the road and that a small number of oak trees will be removed. The NPWS believes that this disturbance will have little adverse ecological impact on the area.
