Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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136. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he and his officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service have plans to designate the Aughrim River catchment, County Wicklow as a special area of conservation considering the recent Ballinglen River works by the east Wicklow Rivers Trust that enhanced the migratory pathway for EU Habitats Directive Annex II species such as Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, river lamprey plus brook lamprey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39242/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The current focus of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the context of existing Natura 2000 sites, i.e. Special Areas Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

Whilst I welcome any measures that contribute to an improved condition of and habitat for Annexed species, at present there are no plans to progress the designation of new Natura sites on land.