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Environmental Policy.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2009

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Ceisteanna (880, 881)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

958 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the outcome of his meetings in Luxembourg on climate change and carbon emission reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38625/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

At its scheduled meeting on 21 October 2009 in Luxembourg, the EU Council of Environment Ministers adopted a comprehensive set of conclusions as a contribution to development of a final EU policy position for the climate change conference which will be held in Copenhagen in December. This contribution from Environment Ministers is reflected in the conclusions subsequently adopted by the European Council at its meeting on 29 and 30 October.

One of the most important outcomes from an environmental perspective is the EU agreement to an objective, in the context of the scientific advice on the level of reductions required from developed countries as a group, to reduce emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. This level of ambition is consistent with EU leadership on climate change and I hope it will influence other countries to embrace the objective of limiting the increase in average global temperature to no more that 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

I am pleased that, in the conclusions adopted by the Council, the EU has reinforced its commitment, determination and leadership in pursuit of a positive outcome at the Copenhagen conference.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

959 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the area in square kilometres for every county that is designated as special areas of conservation, special protection areas and national heritage areas; what is the percentage of total area of each county that is designated as special areas of conservation, special protection areas and national heritage areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38628/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

A breakdown of the nature conservation designations of special area of conservation, special protection area and natural heritage area on a county by county basis is provided in the table.

It should be noted that, for the purpose of this exercise, designations were reconciled to an Ordnance Survey Ireland county dataset. Marine areas were excluded and area figures were rounded to the nearest whole number. In many cases the areas of designation overlap and, accordingly, the overall percentage of a county's area that is subject to designation cannot be deduced by adding the percentage figures for each designation type.

County

Area in HA.

Designation

Area HA.

% of County

Designation

Area HA.

% of County

Designation

Area HA.

% of County

%

%

%

Carlow

89,625

SAC

4,416

4.93

SPA

0

0.00

NHA

0

0.00

Cavan

193543

SAC

11,833

6.11

SPA

2,622

1.35

NHA

730

0.38

Clare

324,154

SAC

38,328

11.82

SPA

33,546

10.35

NHA

3,000

0.93

Cork

746,496

SAC

23,847

3.19

SPA

26,006

3.48

NHA

1,567

0.21

Donegal

485,796

SAC

85,485

17.60

SPA

24,213

4.98

NHA

5,291

1.09

Dublin

92,560

SAC

3,866

4.18

SPA

745

0.80

NHA

62

0.07

Galway

615,156

SAC

130,395

21.20

SPA

56,433

9.17

NHA

15,971

2.60

Kerry

474,866

SAC

119,302

25.12

SPA

44,866

9.45

NHA

1,661

0.35

Kildare

169536

SAC

1,723

1.02

SPA

30

0.02

NHA

260

0.15

Kilkenny

206,215

SAC

4,285

2.08

SPA

0

0.00

NHA

35

0.02

Laois

172,002

SAC

6,437

3.74

SPA

15,103

8.78

NHA

278

0.16

Leitrim

159,008

SAC

17,847

11.22

SPA

632

0.40

NHA

4,399

2.77

Limerick

268,672

SAC

6,085

2.26

SPA

23,056

8.58

NHA

173

0.06

Longford

109,127

SAC

5,990

5.49

SPA

4,888

4.48

NHA

1038

0.95

Louth

82,572

SAC

3,880

4.70

SPA

815

0.99

NHA

0

0.00

Mayo

559,562

SAC

124,708

22.29

SPA

45,482

8.13

NHA

7896

1.41

Meath

234,206

SAC

2,424

1.03

SPA

680

0.29

NHA

436

0.19

Monaghan

129,545

SAC

58

0.04

SPA

3,470

2.68

NHA

1136

0.88

Offaly

200108

SAC

6,467

3.23

SPA

9,647

4.82

NHA

1,417

0.71

Roscommon

254,801

SAC

13,689

5.37

SPA

9047

3.55

NHA

4,135

1.62

Sligo

183660

SAC

25,118

13.68

SPA

4,624

2.52

NHA

1593

0.87

Tipperary

430,465

SAC

16,671

3.87

SPA

22,629

5.26

NHA

4,509

1.05

Waterford

183,803

SAC

10,343

5.63

SPA

2,290

1.25

NHA

0

0.00

Westmeath

183,949

SAC

9,487

5.16

SPA

8,797

4.78

NHA

2791

1.52

Wexford

235,891

SAC

6,573

2.79

SPA

4,093

1.73

NHA

0

0.00

Wicklow

202,667

SAC

32,714

16.14

SPA

17856

8.81

NHA

0

0.00

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