Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.

EU member states are required under the birds directive to protect birds at their breeding, feeding, roosting and wintering areas. The directive was transposed by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, as amended in 1998 and 2005. These regulations enable the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to designate the most important conservation areas as special protection areas, SPAs, and to afford them legal protection.

The Department engaged in a nationwide roll-out of SPAs. The exercise included redesignation of SPA sites, some of which, like Wexford Harbour, were first designated ten years ago. This work is particularly required as part of Ireland's response to litigation being pursued by the European Commission under the birds directive. An adverse judgment delivered by the European Court of Justice against Ireland in December 2007 means we must press ahead with this programme.

On 16 December 2007, as part of the programme, the Department proposed three sites in County Wexford for designation as SPAs for wild birds — Lady's Island Lake, Ballyteigue Burrow and Wexford Harbour and Slobs. Details of the proposals to designate these sites were published in the regional press and local radio. While these are not new designations, the boundaries have been extended in some areas. Landowners and others identified by the Department's national parks and wildlife service, NPWS, as having land or holding rights or licences in SPAs were notified directly in writing. They were provided with a site map and description, list of activities that might damage the site, procedures for objecting to the designation proposal and details of compensation provisions. Objections on scientific grounds to these proposals may be submitted within three months from the date of their publication.

Wexford Harbour and Slobs SPA consists of the natural estuarine habitats of Wexford Harbour, the reclaimed polders known as the north and south Slobs and the tidal river component of the Slaney.

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