Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 1882: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps left to take to complete the designation process of special areas of conservation and special protection areas; the timeframe proposed in relation to same. [2503/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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To date, Ireland has identified over 585 areas as special areas of conservation or special protection areas, covering in excess of 1.4m hectares including marine sites. This includes 11% of the terrestrial area of the State.

The final main tranche of designations of candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) relate to salmon rivers. In December 2006 some 17,500 landowners were notified. Landowners were given a statutory 3 months period within which to object on scientific grounds to the proposals to designate the SACs. I intend that the designation of these final areas, and the determination of any remaining appeals on earlier designations, will be completed as urgently as possible. I am committed to ensure that the requirements of the European Commission in this regard are met as urgently as possible.

Further SPAs will be designated over the next two years.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 1883: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress of the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board in addressing the appeals received, determined, their results, and the cases pending relating to special areas of conservation and special protection areas. [2504/07]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 1884: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will place the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board on a statutory footing. [2505/07]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 1885: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will have the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board continue to hear appeals against national designations as natural heritage areas after the completion of the European designation process. [2506/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1883 to 1885, inclusive, together.

The Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board has received a total of 260 appeals to date. Of these, 51 remain to be determined, including 38 relating to special areas of conservation and special protection areas.

An analysis of the recommendations of the Board indicates that 32 appeals were successful, 57 were partially successful, 46 were unsuccessful while the remaining 74 appeals were either withdrawn by the appellants or else rejected by the Board because of the appellants failing to supply the requisite scientific report in support of their appeals.

My Department's priority is to ensure that, in line with the Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, the Appeals Board operates within a clear timeframe. Consideration will be given to the future role of the Board in the context of new Habitats Regulations which I intend to bring forward later this year.

In this regard, I am anxious to ensure that the current appeals are dealt with as expeditiously as possible as part of national efforts to conclude the designation process under the Habitats Directive.