Written answers
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Special Areas of Conservation
Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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136. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline the additional monitoring and protections that have been put in place for the new maritime SACs, the Southern Canyons SAC and Porcupine SAC; the additional funding that has been provided for these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14217/23]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The two new maritime sites, the Southerns Canyon cSAC 2278 and the Porcupine Shelf cSAC 2267, were publicly notified as candidate Special Areas of Conservation in November 2022 and are legally protected as European sites from that date, in accordance with the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. These important designations greatly increase the percentage of Ireland’s marine area which is protected as part of the Natura network.
Detailed information about the sites, including their locations, conservation interests and lists of activities requiring the consent of the Minister (ARCs) before being carried out at the sites may be found at the following link: gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/240824/5b7789cc-e950-45fe-871f-132769fe2107.pdf#page=null.
Following the public notification of a new European site, there are a number of steps to conclude the statutory designation process. Once these are complete, a Statutory Instrument will be published for each site. A range of protections apply at European sites, in accordance with European and national legislation. The requirements for monitoring and management of Natura sites are informed by the scientific and ecological requirements of each site, and the requirements of national and European legislation.
Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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137. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the newly proposed maritime Special Protection Areas, under the EU Birds Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14218/23]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland designates Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in accordance with the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) for the protection of listed rare and vulnerable bird species.
Our marine SPAs include productive intertidal zones in bays and estuaries that provide vital food resources for wader species; marine waters adjacent to breeding seabird colonies and other important areas for our bird population.
Whilst there are no new maritime Special Protection Areas (SPAs) currently proposed for formal designation, the NPWS is examining a number of important marine sites for the protection of birds. The results of this work will inform proposals for a number of maritime extensions to existing Special Protection Area sites which I intend to bring forward in the coming months, as well as potential new sites to be proposed as SPAs in the future. These will follow the normal designations process for an extension to a European site, including public notification in due course.
The process for designation of Special Protection Areas is distinct and separate to that for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which are being progressed separately, and which will provide an important new form of protection for our marine natural heritage.
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