Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2018
618. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 8 May 2018, if she will address a matter (details supplied); and the details of the management objectives referenced. [21985/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe “management objectives of the sites concerned” are set out on a site-by-site basis on my Department’s website (see www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa). For hen harrier SPAs, the management objective is typically “To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the hen harrier”.
Favourable conservation condition of a species is achieved when population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long-term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats; the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future; and there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its populations on a long-term basis.
Therefore, in relation to the activity referred to by the Deputy, any such activity within hen harrier SPAs must be compatible with the above management objective and while the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the responsible Department, it must also be agreed to by my Department.
