Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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436. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if local authorities can initiate a process whereby specific areas within their functional area that have particular ecological or habitat areas which currently are not designated and which may be at risk from encroaching due to development can be considered for designation following a request from the local authority as Special Areas of Conservation or of Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7920/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The designation of sites as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs) is primarily a matter for my Department and Ireland’s network of such sites is largely complete at this stage. However, any person or body including a local authority, may make submissions to my Department relating to the identification of sites suitable for consideration as SACs or SPAs. Designations of this nature do not mean there is a “blanket” prohibition on further development or activities within these sites. Industrial, commercial or residential development in these sites would, as ever, go through normal planning processes and be subject to appropriate assessment from an environmental perspective.