Vol. 518 No. 6
446 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if 10% of holdings designated as special areas of conservation or national heritage areas will be exempted from the designation to allow family members to access sites for their own primary residences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12537/00]
Land included in the proposed candidate special areas of conservation, the candidate SACs, and proposed natural heritage areas, is selected on a scientific basis for the habitats and species it supports. The EU Habitats Directive, which sets out the requirements for SACs, does not provide grounds to omit land as sites for houses. However, the directive does not preclude all development within SACs, only those developments that would cause significant damage to the SAC in question.
The granting, or refusal, of planning permission is a matter for the local authorities and An Bórd Pleanála. Local authorities consult my Department with regard to the impact of particular planning applications from a conservation point of view. In providing observations to local authorities my officials assess whether significant damage is likely to be caused to the conservation interest of the area.
I encourage those considering building new houses in, or adjoining, these important wildlife areas to contact my officials locally for advice about suitable locations before lodging a planning application.
