Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1432: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the ongoing obligations of landowners in national heritage areas. [1517/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the question refers to natural heritage areas, which are designated under the provisions of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. To date 148 NHAs, mainly comprising raised bog and blanket bog habitats, have been statutorily designated.

The Act provides for the imposition of restrictions on the carrying out of works, usually referred to as notifiable actions, which are likely to destroy or to significantly damage a natural heritage area and which are specified in the order designating the site. Where such works are not being carried out with benefit of planning permission, landowners are obliged to give notice in writing to my Department of their intention to carry out such works. The detailed provisions governing granting or refusal of consent in such cases are set out in section 19 of the Act.