Vol. 561 No. 4
451 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals by Dúchas to designate an area of special protection for the hen harrier in west Limerick; the origins of this proposal; the research to date; the exact areas proposed; the effects and restrictions which this will have on the lands; and his plans to compensate landowners for the loss of income and devaluation of lands. [4626/03]
Article 4 of the Euro pean Directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC) requires member states, including Ireland, to designate special protection areas for wild birds. Under the directive the selection of sites for designation is based on scientific criteria.
My Department's heritage service is currently examining the suitability of nine upland areas for designation as SPAs in respect of the hen harrier. This is one species for which SPAs must be designated under the directive. Its breeding population is largely concentrated in the south west. The areas being examined include the Mullagherierk mountains, which are partly in west Limerick.
Preparatory scientific work to assess the suitability of all nine sites and define their boundaries is currently under way. When this work is complete I will decide what sites should be formally proposed for designation. If any sites are formally proposed as SPAs then my Department will notify and consult landowners and land users in the area. A period of three months will be allowed for making objections.
In general existing farming activities are likely to be fully compatible with the conservation requirements of hen harriers and other bird species for which SPAs are designated. In these circumstances there will be no need to place any restrictions on traditional farming activities. SPAs attract higher levels of payment to farmers who join the rural environment protection scheme which is administered by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food. I am committed to paying fair and reasonable compensation to other landowners for actual loss shown to have been incurred as a result of restrictions that may be imposed on existing activities consequent on designation of their lands.
In relation to the planning process, planning authorities are required to provide in their development plans for the appropriate protection of nature conservation areas, including SPAs. In particular, they must consider whether a development is likely to have a significant effect on an SPA, and if so, to require an environmental impact assessment to be carried out.
