Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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622. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the consents sought to film a movie (details supplied) on Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry; the type of assessments done to determine potential impacts, that is, habitats directive appropriate assessment or archaeological assessment; the fee sought; the amount of income used to conserve and protect the UNESCO World Heritage site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40042/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Sceilig Mhichíl is a national monument in the ownership of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Monuments Acts. As such, it enjoys the full range of protections afforded by those Acts, including a requirement that any works at, or in proximity to it, are subject to my prior written consent. The Skellig islands themselves also form part of the Skelligs Special Protection Area (SPA). The SPA is designated for the protection of various species of seabird and is subject to the provisions of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

On foot of detailed discussions regarding a proposal submitted to film on the island in July, my Department made a determination that the activities proposed were of such a nature that Ministerial consent under the National Monuments Acts was not required. However, it was determined that consent was required under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and the Statutory Instrument that designated the site as an SPA.

The initial filming proposals raised some concern with respect to the potential impact of the activities on the SPA. Following discussion with my officials, the film company submitted a revised application with a significant reduction in activity and a re-design of several elements of the original proposal, including a 90% reduction in proposed helicopter activity for the project.

The revised application was then screened for Appropriate Assessment in accordance with the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations. The screening concluded that, provided the avoidance and mitigation measures proposed by the film company were implemented in full, and subject to 15 special conditions attached to the consent for the project, the proposal would not have a significant effect on the Skelligs SPA.

The activities of the film crew were supervised at all times by personnel from the Office of Public Works and my Department’s National Monuments and National Parks and Wildlife Services. A condition of the consent was that the salary costs and expenses of NPWS staff were charged to the filming company.

I am satisfied that the diligence of my staff and that of the OPW, together with the professional and constructive approach of the film company, ensured that the filming activities had no negative impacts on the archaeological or ecological heritage present on the island and that there were no implications for the outstanding universal value of the world heritage property.