Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

316 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands when the independent appeals advisory board will start hearings in relation to special areas of conservation; the plans, if any, she has to set up a compensation committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6741/99]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The SAC appeals advisory board has already begun work and will commence consideration of individual cases next week. The Deputy will be aware that local liaison committees are currently being established in SAC areas. These local committees will provide a forum at which the views and concerns of all those concerned can be expressed and, very importantly, these local committees will be represented on the SAC appeals advisory board. I urge all interested parties to involve themselves and participate in the local liaison committee process.

With regard to compensation, the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997, provide that, in the event of agreement on compensation for loss of actual earnings not being reached with a landowner/user whose activities have been curtailed for reasons arising out of designation, the matter will be referred to arbitration under various Land Acts. In the light of these provisions, I see no necessity to establish a special compensation committee.