Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
353. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service still follow the flawed policy of accepting a 15% permissible disturbance threshold for protected habitats in special areas of conservation and special protection areas, as referenced in multiple historical appropriate assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68970/25]
View answerArticle 6 (3) of the Habitats Directive requires an appropriate assessment for any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site. The supporting document prepared by NPWS for the site-specific objectives for marine European sites (SACs) explains how it is to be used. The 15% threshold referenced is only applied in appropriate assessments undertaken in the marine environment, and specifically in relation to the assessment of effects of continuous disturbance on soft sediment biological communities - marine community types within the Annex I habitats, that experience substantial natural variation due to natural events. These communities are mostly comprised of infaunal invertebrates and are both resilient to, and recover quickly from, disturbance. It is intended to be used in the assessment of licensed activities that do not permanently alter the Structure and Function of these habitats. It is not suggested to be applied to the assessment of effects of activities on the area of permanent habitat within a Natura Site. It is also not to be applied to keystone habitats such as Zostera or mäerl which are more susceptible to long term impact.
