John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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232. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the managing and administration of permits for farmers to carry out works in designated SAC areas; the authority managing same; if it has been devolved to the local authorities, when this transfer was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7272/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive. This Directive aims to ensure the protection of a range of rare, threatened or endemic animal and plant species. The Habitats Directive has been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. Sites, known as special areas of conservation, are selected for the conservation of particular habitats and species listed in the Directive.

In order to avoid both accidental and deliberate damage to special area of conservation sites, it is necessary to have a system by which potentially damaging activities require consent before they can be carried out. Associated with each special area of conservation site is a list of activities that require consent. This consent is required from me, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, or as appropriate, from another licensing or permitting authority, for example, when planning permission is required in order to undertake an activity.

This consent system has been in place since the commencement of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997. These regulations have been revoked and replaced by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.