Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Ceisteanna (407)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

407. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will detail the new and amended sites of community importance which were proposed by Ireland to the Commission for the Atlantic bio-geographical region since 2010 which necessitated the Commission implementing decision of 16 November 2012 adopting a sixth updated list of sites of community importance for the Atlantic bio-geographical region, C(2012) 8222 final; and if he will outline the restrictions and-or impact these new and amended sites will have for citizens who own land and property in these sites of community importance. [2519/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Ireland’s list of Sites of Community Importance, as adopted by the European Commission in its decision of 2010, extended to 423 sites. The sixth updated list for the Atlantic bio-geographic region, referred to in the Deputy's Question, did not contain any new sites from Ireland. The areas of a number of sites changed between 2010 and 2012. Changes to area can arise for a variety of reasons, including map validation and the conclusion of appeals taken by landowners. Some Coillte lands were added to the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) network during this period as part of a commitment given under EU LIFE blanket bog and woodland restoration projects.

In the last week of November 2012, I proposed the addition of six new marine SACs and these will be transmitted to the Commission for adoption in due course. People who have been identified by my Department as being potentially affected by the designations have been notified directly regarding the areas and the implications of the proposed designations. A series of press and radio advertisements were also utilised.