Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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229. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to remove the regulations that make cleaning of drains, removal of scrub, spreading of fertiliser, fencing of land and the movement of livestock actions notifiable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32358/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under EU law Ireland is obliged to ensure that European sites (SACs and SPAs) are afforded suitable protection and an activity or project can only be undertaken after it has been ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of a European site. A list of Activities Requiring Consent (ARCs) has been identified for each European site. ARCs are intended to capture the type of activities that, if carried out within a European site, may cause damage. Therefore, such activities are required to be regulated in order to ensure that they are carried out in such a way that no such damage will occur. The activities outlined by the Deputy are of a type that may potentially have a negative impact on habitats and/or species within European sites.

ARCs are not necessarily prohibited activities but, as they are potentially damaging to habitats and species within European sites, permission must be sought and consent obtained before they are undertaken. However, it should be noted that where such an activity is licensed by another public authority, or is part of a project that requires the consent of another public authority, such as development consent, landowners are not required to seek my consent to carry out the said activity, providing consent is duly obtained from the relevant authority.