Written answers

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Special Areas of Conservation

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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319. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will publish a map of the precise location in a case (details supplied). [29274/16]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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320. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a location (details supplied) meets the definition of orchid-rich priority habitat 6210 based on table 2.3. [29275/16]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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321. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will publish a full breakdown of the conservation score of 9.5 attributed to a location (details supplied), as derived using the terminology of table 2.9 criteria used in the calculation of the conservation score for each site. [29276/16]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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322. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will publish a breakdown of the threat score of 15.4 attributed to a location (details supplied) as derived using the terminology of table 2.10 criteria in the calculation of the threat score for each site. [29277/16]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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323. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the obligations that arise for the Government under EU law to protect public lands, where those lands meet the definition of orchid-rich priority habitats 6210, from threats such as development. [29278/16]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 to 323, inclusive, together.

All of the data and mapping referred to by the Deputy is available for download at: . This includes site, habitat and relevé location data as ESRI-compatible GIS files. The survey report and all data are collated into an MS Access database. My Department will forward a map and the breakdown of conservation and threat scores to the Deputy.

In this survey, this location did not meet the definition of Orchid-rich grassland, habitat code 6210.

The EU Habitats Directive provides a detailed procedure for the adoption and designation of nature conservation sites, i.e. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), for habitats listed in Annex 1 of the Directive. Member States are required to protect the best examples of such habitats in their territory, but not all areas containing such habitats. Ireland has completed its process in relation to Orchid-rich priority habitats and is considered sufficient in this regard through EU processes. There is no legal obligation under the Habitats Directive to protect habitats falling outside of the SAC network.

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