David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the current classification of a bog (details supplied) in County Cork; his plans, if any to upgrade the status of the bog to a special area of conservation or special protection area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9284/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The bog referred to by the Deputy is one of a number of proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHA) that are under consideration for formal designation. There are no plans in my Department currently to designate this site as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or as a Special Protection Area (SPA).

In recent times, my Department has focused its efforts on meeting obligations under the Habitats and Birds Directives by designating an appropriate number and type of SACs and SPAs. The State's progress in this area has been the subject of adverse findings by the European Court of Justice and my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service must address these designations as a first priority.

The issue of the formal designation of proposed NHAs will be considered further in the light of the priorities facing my Department and my proposals to draw up a national peatlands strategy, taking into account the work of the recently established Peatlands Council, which has been tasked with advising my Department in relation to the strategy and other issues regarding the management of peatlands.