Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
496. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 83 of 15 February 2023 and 294 of November 2022, and in light of recent court rulings (details supplied), if he plans to review his position and deliver individual conservation plans for each special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15802/25]
View answer497. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether it is important that concerned stakeholders get the opportunity to make submissions on any future SAC conservation plans; the way in which he plans to facilitate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.
Article 6.1 of the Habitats Directive relates to the appropriate management of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). There are site specific conservation objectives (SSCOs) published for all SACs in Ireland. These are tailored to the site in question, taking account of the threats and pressures on the protected habitats and species for which the site is designated. The SSCOs form the basis for conservation planning and protection of relevant habitats and species at the site, setting out concrete targets to be reached in order for those habitats and species to maintain or reach favourable conservation status. Neither the Habitats Directive nor the judgement mentioned contains an obligation on member states to publish conservation plans for all SAC sites.
At present there is no commitment to the publication of individual conservation plans for each SAC in Ireland. There are conservation measures in place, in progress and planned for many habitats and species across the SAC network. Many of these are being delivered by landowners who are participating in schemes and programmes such as Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) under the CAP Strategic Plan, European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Scheme, NPWS Farm Plan Scheme and the LIFE programme. Participation in these is voluntary and landowner involvement is essential for their successful design and implementation at site level. It is envisaged that this will continue to be the case, including where detailed planning is required to design bespoke conservation plans for specific sites.
