Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding Coolrain or Windsor Bog, County Laois, in view of the fact that the site was adopted by the European Commission on 7 December 2004 and notified through publication in [i]The Official Journal of the European Union[/i] on 29 December 2004, having regard to SI No. 94/1997 European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, when and the means by which the owners and/or occupiers were notified of the candidate status of the bog in question; when and the means by which the owners and/or occupiers were notified of the decision that the site was so adopted; the date the notification of the designation was published in [i]Iris Oifigiúil[/i]; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20522/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The then Minister's intention to designate Coolrain Bog in County Laois as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) was originally notified in December 2002. Landowners were notified directly at that time and, in addition, the proposal to designate the site was advertised in the Leinster Express on 21 December 2002 and displayed in public access points throughout the County. Protective mechanisms in respect of SAC sites are effective from the date of initial notification of these sites. My Department is currently in the process of drafting Statutory Instruments for each of the SAC sites and Coolrain Bog, along with the other SACs, will be put on a statutory basis with individual instruments drafted for each site. Landowners will then be notified of the designation of the site and public notice will be given in Iris Oifigiúil and by other means.