Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

The seaward boundary extends from the Rosslare peninsula in the south to an area just west of Raven Point in the north. The SPA stretches upriver as far as Enniscorthy. Contrary to some allegations, the urban area of Wexford is not included in the area proposed for designation.

Wexford Harbour and Slobs is one of the top three sites in diversity of wintering birds and regularly supports well in excess of 20,000 water birds. The combination of estuarine habitats, include shallow waters for grebes, diving duck and seaduck, and the farmland of the polders, which include freshwater drainage channels, provides optimum feeding and roost areas for a wide range of species. It is one of the two most important sites in the world for the Greenland white-fronted goose.

To protect ecologically important sites, certain potentially harmful works are restricted within SPAs. These works, notifiable actions or operations requiring consent, are liable to destroy or significantly to alter, damage or interfere with the ecology of the site. They vary depending on the type of habitat present.

A landowner or land-user contemplating works that might harm a designated habitat is required to seek the consent of the Minister. In practice, the local NPWS conservation ranger will be able to provide advice to a landowner on what may or may not require consent.

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