Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 October 2016
112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider an extension of the deadline by which notice must be given to lodge an external appeal against the inclusion of lands in the Connemara bog complex proposed special area of conservation, due to the long delay in communicating to turf cutters the process for lodging such an appeal. [32454/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the completion of a Departmental review of an objection to the proposed designation of a site as a special protection area or special area of conservation, landowners and occupiers may opt to take their cases to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board. This is an independently chaired Board, which makes recommendations to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, on such cases. The appeals process includes the production of an appropriate scientific report and an oral hearing. I have no input as Minister to the deliberations of the Board.
Appeals against the inclusion of land within the Connemara Bog Complex proposed Special Protection Area are scheduled to be heard by the Board. I understand that the secretary of the Board recently advised all the appellants that the appeals relate to the Connemara Bog Complex Special Protection Area, rather than to the Connemara Bog Complex Special Area of Conservation. The deadline for appeals in relation to the special area of conservation site expired some years ago.
Unless an appellant decides to withdraw an appeal against the proposed inclusion of land within the Connemara Bog Complex Special Protection Area, I understand that the secretary of the Board will again write to all appellants to outline the next steps in the appeals process itself, including in relation to the timeline for the production of the scientific report.
