Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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152. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that Garrylucas bog, County Cork is designated as a natural heritage area. [46420/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The site referred to by the Deputy is one of 632 proposed natural heritage areas under Section 16(1) of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. Although proposed natural heritage area sites are not subject to the protection provisions of that Act, their status may be recognised in local authority development plans.

While it is hoped to conduct a review of proposed natural heritage areas in Ireland in the future, the current focus and priority of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the Birds and Habitats Directives in relation to Natura 2000 sites i.e. Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.

Any review of the status of some or all of these sites by the NPWS would be based on careful analysis of the special scientific interest of each site or its diversity of natural attributes or in light of the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives.