Written answers

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Natural Heritage Areas

8:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 497 of 21 October 2008, the position regarding the proposed designation in view of the economic situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17708/09]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are formally designated by Statutory Instrument under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. Proposed NHAs (pNHAs) have yet to be legally designated and as such are not protected under the Wildlife Acts. However, they may be afforded some protection under the Planning and Development Acts where their ecological value is recognised in the Development Plan of the relevant planning authority. Several hundred sites are currently proposed for designation as NHAs countrywide. These sites include a very diverse range of habitats, animals and plants and I have no plans to remove the proposed designation of these sites as NHAs.

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