Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will allow an extension of the appeals procedure for land owners in Magherdrummen Bog, Inishowen, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37666/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997, specify that objections to the inclusion of lands within a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) must be made in writing within three months of public notification. The proposed boundaries for Magheradrumman Bog cSAC were advertised on 1 March 1997. This three months time limit has been appropriately applied since November 2006 so that Ireland could finalise the SAC designations process and meet our objectives under the EU Habitats Directive. Accordingly, the period for lodging objections has expired and I do not propose any extension.

A number of landowners and turbary right owners had lodged objections to the proposed designation, and funding was provided by my Department for the preparation of a report on the site by an independent ecologist. I am considering this report at present, and will make a decision on the boundaries of the cSAC shortly.