Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019
611. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a farmer (details supplied) will be compensated for the designation of their lands as special areas of conservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10513/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, certain activities in sites protected for nature conservation may only be undertaken with my prior consent, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, or with the consent of another public authority, if applicable. Compensation may be payable where a person has been refused consent by me for an activity requiring consent within a protected site that he or she had been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal.
My Department have been in contact with the individual referred to in the Deputy's Question and has supplied him with information regarding the procedure for making an application for compensation, where consent has been refused to undertake a prescribed activity in a protected site.
My Department also operates the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme to promote a focused, targeted and innovative approach to farming for habitats and species of conservation concern in some of Ireland’s most important biodiversity areas. The scheme was closed to voluntary applications in April 2010 but a number of bespoke plans are still in place, where there is an overriding conservation imperative and where other national solutions are not provided for.
