Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

564 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason for Dúchas excluding the stone quarry at Bó Bhrochainnear, Casla, County Galway, from the special areas of conservation wherein it was originally included; and if she will give details of similar decisions in relation to SACs. [8628/02]

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

Amendments may be made to the boundaries of cSACs for a variety of reasons, some resulting in the inclusion of extra lands and others involving the removal of land from the designated area. Where it is established that an area does not meet the scientific criteria for designation boundaries are amended to exclude that area. Such situations arise where a landowner or land-user disagrees with the boundaries of a particular site, they can appeal informally to Dúchas, or, in the event that the informal appeal is not resolved to the satisfaction of the appellant, to the independent appeals advisory committee, which I have established under the chairmanship of Mr. Michael Mills. Boundaries changes may be recommended as a result; or where Dúchas make recommendations for amendment to existing cSACs on foot of additional survey work carried out.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, was asked by the quarry operator, in the context of an informal appeal, to examine the case for removing the quarry site and its immediate environs from the cSAC. Following investigation, staff concluded that the inclusion of the quarry in cSAC Connemara Bog Complex was not sustainable, as the lands contained in the quarry had already been degraded and do not meet the criteria for inclusion in a cSAC. However, the activity at the quarry may potentially have an impact on the neighbouring cSAC and accordingly Dúchas is liasing with the quarry operator to ensure that mitigation measures are put in place to ensure that activities at the quarry have no adverse effect on that cSAC in the future.