Natura 2000

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2015

Thursday, 14 May 2015

Ceisteanna (248)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

248. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide the number of management plans for Natura 2000 sites listing blanket bog, dry heath, wet heath and hen harriers as qualifying interests that have been published for Irish uplands and have been submitted to and approved by the European Union Commission; if she will state which plan has been in draft form for the longest period of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18923/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department’s focus in recent years has been on the production of detailed, site-specific conservation objectives for the Natura 2000 network and, to date, 72 have been published for Special Areas of Conservation and 37 for Special Protection Areas. These are available on http://www.npws.ie/protectedsites/. In addition, my Department is currently preparing a Threat Response Plan for the Hen Harrier, a species for which there are 6 Special Protection Areas, which include heathland and bog habitats.