Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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590. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a request regarding a land designation (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46201/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, like all Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Nature Directives. The Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. The Directives have been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, the Planning Acts and the Wildlife Acts.

In advance of the designation of a site, my Department writes to all identified land owners with a legal interest in the site, outlining the intention to designate the site, the appeals process and how to get further information. Public notices in relation to the proposed designation are placed in the media. Government Departments, public authorities, State and semi-State agencies and bodies representing environmental, farming and business interests are also notified directly.

In 2012, the special protection area, referred to in the Deputy's Question, was formally designated by Statutory Instrument.

I understand that the land referred to in the Deputy's Question and now proposed for inclusion in the special protected area, as substitute land, lacks the habitat suitable for the inclusion of this land in the site.

Therefore, it is not open to me to designate this land.