Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

No, work is ongoing between the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the European Commission. The Commission has expressed serious concerns about the operational programme. It is working through those on the basis of having mapping completed of Natura 2000 sites and it is hoped that on that basis, the Commission will allow the operational programme to be sanctioned. I empathise with the absolute necessity to expedite this, which the Minister is hoping to do.

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