Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding turf cutters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9071/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas.

Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s special areas of conservation within the framework of the Habitats Directive. This has included intense and ongoing engagement with stakeholder interests, the farming community, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission over the intervening number of months since my last reply.

The matter referred to by the Deputy in details supplied will set out how the special areas of conservation are to be managed into the future and how the needs of stakeholders are to be addressed including exploring the options in terms of certain provisions of article 6 of the Habitats Directive. It is intended that the Plan referred to will be published in the coming period, subject to Government approval.

Preliminary scientific investigations at the site have been completed, with more detailed investigations to follow.