Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
550. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will receive submissions requesting a geographical extension to a special protection area (details supplied) to include additional lands; the issues she must take into consideration when deciding whether or not to grant such an extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38429/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has identified 439 sites for protection as special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and 154 sites for protection as special protection areas under the Birds Directive.
The designation process is almost complete although the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022 includes proposals to designate two new special areas of conservation, which are more than 50 per cent in State ownership. My Department is in the process of reviewing the marine special protection area network to determine if it is sufficient to meet Ireland’s requirements under the Birds Directive.
Given the comprehensive network of terrestrial protected sites already in place in Ireland in accordance with the Nature Directives and a number of reviews of the sufficiency of the network of sites, I currently have no further plans to propose sites for designation as special areas of conservation or terrestrial special protection areas or to propose extensions to such sites.
