Vol. 491 No. 4
93 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the percentage of the land of Connemara and west Mayo designated national heritage areas or special areas of conservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12465/98]
: The proposed natural heritage areas were selected from the former areas of scientific interest following field surveys to ascertain which of these continued to have a special wildlife interest.
Special areas of conservation are also at the proposal stage and their boundaries remain subject to alteration until the completion of an appeals process.
It is anticipated that when all the boundaries are finalised, area data will be available at county level.
94 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, her Department has for the designation of all of Connemara and west Mayo as national park areas; and the other structures put in place to ensure that the farmers and landowners in this area will have a viable income as a result of the loss of income in being unable to farm the land to its maximum potential. [12466/98]
: There are no plans at present to designate further lands as part of the existing Connemara National Park. As I have explained previously in reply to various parliamentary questions, Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 7 May, Nos. 583 and 585 of 21 April, Nos. 246, 247 and 249 of 17 February, and Nos. 732-736, inclusive, of 28 January designation of State-owned lands in the Nephin Beg-Owenduff area of north west Mayo as a National Park is under consideration.
Privately owned lands do not form part of national parks and therefore the question of the loss of income by farmers and landowners is not an issue.
