Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2025
268. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that have been taken to date in response to the request for SAC designation of a site (details supplied); the timeframe for action if no steps have been taken, given that this is a simple site with only one landowner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49321/25]
View answer269. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a site (details supplied) will be selected as a monitoring site for future reporting under Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49322/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
The national monitoring network for Alluvial woodland was derived from the National Survey of Native Woodlands dataset, which is based on objective scientific grounds, using the criteria described in the report - O’Neill, F.H. & Barron, S.J. (2013) Results of monitoring survey of old sessile oak woods and alluvial forests. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 71. which is available at this link: www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM%2071%20Oak%20and%20alluvial%20woodlands%20monitoring.pdf
The Rathcoole woodland site was considered not to conform with the objective criteria for site selection at the time and was therefore not included in the site surveys that took place between 2003-2008. To maintain objectivity, sites are not added to the national monitoring network upon request.
The EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)EU requires Member States to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect a variety of habitats and species. This Directive is transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011).
The designation of SAC sites under the Directive is a formal, legal process, with a number of steps, which are set out in full in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
