Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Special Protection Areas

10:00 am

Photo of Brendan KenneallyBrendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to make Dungarvan Harbour and the Back Strand, Tramore, County Waterford, special protection areas; when this new designation will be in place; the reason this decision was taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29439/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department is currently engaged in a programme of classification of Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive. This exercise includes the re-classification of many existing SPA sites, including Dungarvan Harbour and Tramore Back Strand, which were first designated some sixteen years ago. A judgement delivered by the European Court of Justice against Ireland in December 2007 found that Ireland's classification of its SPAs had been inadequate in some respects and this has necessitated the re-classification of many of the older sites.

The proposal to update the designation of Dungarvan Harbour and Tramore Back Strand Special Protection Areas (SPAs) was advertised on 26 May 2010. Appeals by affected landowners or land users may be made up to 26 August. The re-designation process will be concluded, following consideration of any appeals submitted, with the making of new Statutory Instruments for both sites.

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