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Special Areas of Conservation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Ceisteanna (497)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

497. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he has had with the stakeholders of the Gearagh SAC, County Cork in advancing the site-specific conservation objectives detailed in the 2016 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17275/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) completed and published detailed site-specific conservation objectives for the Gearagh SAC (000108) in September 2016.

The NPWS of my Department do not own or manage any part of this SAC, which is owned largely by the ESB. A management plan scoping exercise was undertaken by ESB International on behalf of the ESB in 2016/2017. The NPWS took part in the stakeholder group that contributed to the report produced as a result of that exercise.

Under the Habitats Directive, Ireland is obliged to report to the EU on the conservation status of all habitats and species of European Community interest, as listed in Annexes to the Directive. Monitoring of SACs are carried out by the NPWS on a cyclical basis, typically every three years. The most recent report was submitted to the EU in 2019 and is available on the NPWS website.

The priority habitat “Alluvial forests with Alder and Ash” is one of the qualifying interests of the Gearagh SAC and a monitoring site for this habitat is located within the SAC. It was most recently surveyed during the 2017-2018 monitoring period, when the area, structure and functions, and future prospects of the habitat in SAC were all assessed as favourable. This is in contrast with the national conservation status of the Alluvial forests habitat in Ireland, which is considered to be bad, and deteriorating.

The Gearagh SAC is also listed for the habitat “Rivers with muddy banks”. In addition to the NPWS survey, results of a 2018 botanical survey were made available to the NPWS by the ESB. The habitat was assessed as favourable in the Gearagh SAC.

There is one invasive plant species (Tall Flatsedge) that requires monitoring at the Gearagh SAC, but there is no clear evidence that the species is negatively impacting on the habitat.

The NPWS continue to engage with the ESB on the monitoring of this site. The positive findings from scientific surveys are indicators of a good management regime.

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