Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1677. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps that can be taken by a landowner whose land is designated a natural heritage area or special area of conservation if that person wishes to have that designation lifted, removed or amended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31885/15]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1678. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total area of land designated a natural heritage area and the reason for designation on a mountain (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [31887/15]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1679. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when named land (details supplied) in County Leitrim was first designated a natural heritage area. [32021/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1677 to 1679, inclusive, together.

Natura 2000 is an EU-wide network of nature protection areas established under the 1992 Habitats Directive. The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. It is comprised of special areas of conservation designated by Member States under the Habitats Directive and also incorporates special protection areas under the 1979 Birds Directive. The criteria for selecting sites eligible for identification as sites of community importance and designated as special areas of conservation are set out in Annex III of the Habitats Directive.

The Habitats Directive has been fully transposed into Irish law by means of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, as amended, and by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, as amended.

A natural heritage area is considered important for the habitats present or for the species of plants and animals it holds whose habitat needs protection. Natural Heritage Areas are designated under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and are legally protected from negative impacts from the date they are formally proposed for designation through a requirement to obtain Ministerial consent before certain potentially damaging activities are undertaken.

Persons, whose interests are affected by a proposed designation and wish to object, must lodge an objection within three months of the advertisement of a proposal to designate a site. All objections must be made in writing and be accompanied by a good quality map with the boundary of the area relating to the objection clearly outlined. Adjustments to boundaries are made only on scientific grounds.

Further information in relation to the site designation process is available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at www.npws.ie.

There are currently 155 natural heritage areas. 75 raised bogs, which are located mainly in the midlands, have been given legal protection as natural heritage areas, covering some 23,000 hectares. A further 73 blanket bogs, covering 37,000 hectares, mostly in western areas, are also designated as natural heritage areas. In addition 7 natural heritage areas, identified as of particular importance to birds, have also been designated.

While some natural heritage areas exist entirely or partly within candidate special areas of conservation or special protection areas, pursuant to the EU Nature Directives, my Department estimates that some 45,873 hectares of land is solely designated within natural heritage areas.

In addition, there are 630 proposed natural heritage areas. While a review of these sites is foreseen, this will not take place in the immediate future, having regard to the available resources.

In January 2014, the Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network waspublished and concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This entails the phasing out of turf-cutting on certain raised bog natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas. 46 raised bog natural heritage areas (including parts of 7 sites) are scheduled for de-designation. To compensate for the loss of habitat within these sites where it is proposed that turf cutting can continue, 25 undesignated raised bogs, which are in public ownership or where there is reduced turf cutting pressure, will be designated as natural heritage areas. Compensation will be made available to affected turf cutters.

The area of land in County Leitrim, referred to by the Deputy, was initially proposed for designation in January 2004 for the protection of upland blanket bog and has been formally designated as a natural heritage area by Statutory Instrument since 2005 (S.I. 473/2005).