Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
200. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of 27 January 2026, the threshold at which his Department is required to design bespoke plans for specific SAC sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13068/26]
View answerThe Habitats Directive requires member states to designate sites as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for the protection of certain habitats and species. All SACs require Conservation Objectives to be set and Conservation Measures to be in place for the protection of the site. Detailed site-specific conservation objective documents have been published for all SACs. These objectives set out targets that need to be reached in order for the habitats and species in those sites to reach favourable conservation condition. There are Conservation Measures either in place, in progress or planned for many habitats and species within the SAC network. The Habitats Directive does not place an obligation on Member States to publish conservation plans and at present there is no commitment to the delivery of individual conservation plans for each SAC.
