Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a county-by-county breakdown of the number of herd numbers with declared natura lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11174/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) placed an obligation on Member States of the EU to establish the Natura 2000 network. The network is made up of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), established under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), established under the Habitats Directive itself.

Natura land is of high biodiversity value and contains protected habitats and bird nesting sites and is also in many circumstances important grazing lands, particularly for extensive livestock grazing enterprises. It is critically important that agricultural lands within Natura areas continue to be managed by farmers.

The number of farmers by county that have declared lands in 2023 as part of the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme, that are are either partially or fully within Natura areas, are set out below.