Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if the National Parks and Wildlife Service is examining or reviewing the possibilities of further designations of any bogs or peatlands as special areas of conservation, natural heritage areas or any other designations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11840/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has a significant proportion of its raised and blanket bogs designated for protection within Special Areas of Conservation or Natural Heritage Areas. I have no plans to add to the overall area of bog designated for protection.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport his plans to review the criteria used to designate areas as special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas. [11693/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I have no plans to review the criteria used for designating Natural Heritage Areas, which are set out in the Wildlife Acts, or for designating Special Areas of Conservation, which are provided for in the EU Habitats Directive, as transposed into Irish Law through the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations.