I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 to 279, inclusive, together.
The following table shows the breakdown by county of hectarage proposed for designation as SAC. The European Commission does not offer a guideline on the percentage of national coverage that should be designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
County
|
Area of county in HA
|
cSAC Area in HA
|
% Land covered by proposed cSACs
|
County Clare
|
319,773.09
|
38,398.90
|
12.01
|
County Cork
|
746,569.42
|
24,011.46
|
3.22
|
County Cavan
|
193,542.25
|
11,786.93
|
6.09
|
County Carlow
|
89,627.19
|
4,417.36
|
4.93
|
County Donegal
|
485,617.55
|
85,425.48
|
17.59
|
County Dublin
|
92,565.89
|
3,859.27
|
4.17
|
County Galway
|
612,429.28
|
129,270.64
|
21.11
|
County Kildare
|
169,535.88
|
1,728.12
|
1.02
|
County Kerry
|
475,000.06
|
119,697.04
|
25.20
|
County Kilkenny
|
206,337.18
|
4,285.13
|
2.08
|
County Laois
|
172,001.03
|
6,491.78
|
3.77
|
County Leitrim
|
159,009.41
|
17,842.05
|
11.22
|
County Longford
|
109,129.37
|
5,989.52
|
5.49
|
County Louth
|
82,559.06
|
3,861.56
|
4.68
|
County Limerick
|
268,557.32
|
5,999.64
|
2.23
|
County Mayo
|
559,763.32
|
124,702.53
|
22.28
|
County Meath
|
234,206.74
|
2,494.74
|
1.07
|
County Monaghan
|
129,544.64
|
49.45
|
0.04
|
County Offaly
|
200,103.48
|
6,486.69
|
3.24
|
County Roscommon
|
254,800.27
|
13,690.94
|
5.37
|
County Sligo
|
183,670.00
|
25,210.11
|
13.73
|
County Tipperary
|
425,455.04
|
14,509.29
|
3.41
|
County Waterford
|
183,812.93
|
10,392.32
|
5.65
|
County Wicklow
|
202,662.58
|
32,367.12
|
15.97
|
County Westmeath
|
183,950.36
|
9,490.51
|
5.16
|
County Wexford
|
235,889.00
|
6,570.63
|
2.79
|
Total (National figures excluding proposed marine SACs)
|
6,976,112.31
|
709,029.25
|
10.16
|
Public consultation on proposed designation of areas as proposed SAC is provided for under the Habitats Regulations 1997-2005. Any person notified or with an interest in the land involved may within a period of three months lodge an objection to the proposal.
My Department has received 33 objections to the proposed SAC to be known as Mweelrea/Sheeffry/Erriff Complex to which it is assumed Question No. 279 refers. These objections were received in early March and are under examination at present. Decisions will issue to the objectors as soon as possible.