Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's policy on compensation for existing activities in Natura 2000 sites that are found to have adverse impacts on protected species or habitats, specifically detailing the policy and compensation paid to date and any payments anticipated for, but not limited to, turf cutting, fish farming, and forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5692/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Provision is made in Regulation 20 of the EC (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997, for the payment of compensation to landowners and/or users of land who suffer an actual financial loss as a result of Natura 2000 designations and I envisage that compensation will continue to be payable on that basis.

To date, my Department has paid some €24 million in compensation to landowners and/or turbary rights holders in bogs designated as Natura 2000 sites or Natural Heritage Areas. These monies include costs of acquisition of freehold and turbary rights within raised bog Special Areas of Conservation. Further monies are available to farmers who operate within Natura 2000 sites under my Department's Farm Plan Scheme.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide a status report on the protected habitats and the protected species at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5693/09]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expenditure to date and the estimate of the funds required to ensure the conservation status of the protected species and habitats as a result of the placing of a tanking solution at a site (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter [5694/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together.

During the planning stage of this project my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) raised concerns that placing the road in a cutting could potentially have adverse impacts on Pollardstown Fen, which is a Special Area of Conservation. This view was accepted by the National Roads Authority and Kildare County Council, and it was decided that potential impacts could be reduced by constructing a tank around the road.

Monitoring since construction of the bypass has shown that impacts have been confined to a small but significant area of the Fen and the major feature of concern has been a reduction in the population of the protected species Vertigo geyeri. While some habitats (Alkaline fen, Tufa springs) have been affected to some extent, the impacts involved are not considered to be significant, and may have been caused by the combined effects of climatic conditions during the monitoring period, and the construction of the bypass. The final monitoring report on the Kildare bypass is expected this year and may provide further clarification on these issues and whether there will be any permanent impact on water levels in the Fen.

Information regarding the cost of the tanking solution and of the monitoring and remedial work undertaken to date by the National Roads Authority and Kildare County Council is not available to my Department. My Department is currently developing a management plan for Pollardstown Fen Special Area of Conservation which will take account of the impact of this project, and address the ongoing work required to ensure that favourable conservation status of the site is achieved and maintained.