Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
136. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the additional monitoring and protections that have been put in place for the new maritime SACs, the Southern Canyons SAC and Porcupine SAC; the additional funding that has been provided for these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14217/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe two new maritime sites, the Southerns Canyon cSAC 2278 and the Porcupine Shelf cSAC 2267, were publicly notified as candidate Special Areas of Conservation in November 2022 and are legally protected as European sites from that date, in accordance with the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. These important designations greatly increase the percentage of Ireland’s marine area which is protected as part of the Natura network.
Detailed information about the sites, including their locations, conservation interests and lists of activities requiring the consent of the Minister (ARCs) before being carried out at the sites may be found at the following link: gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/240824/5b7789cc-e950-45fe-871f-132769fe2107.pdf#page=null.
Following the public notification of a new European site, there are a number of steps to conclude the statutory designation process. Once these are complete, a Statutory Instrument will be published for each site. A range of protections apply at European sites, in accordance with European and national legislation. The requirements for monitoring and management of Natura sites are informed by the scientific and ecological requirements of each site, and the requirements of national and European legislation.
