Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
380. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department maintains any formal review mechanism for reconsidering areas previously assessed but not recommended for Natural Heritage Area designation. [36344/26]
View answerA Natural Heritage Area (NHA) is a national designation covering areas of conservation value for ecological and/or geological/geomorphological heritage. NHAs are designated under the Wildlife Acts. When the National Parks and Wildlife Service surveys a site as a candidate for NHA designation, a site code is assigned and the site listed as a candidate Natural Heritage Area (cNHA). Once a site receives this status, it remains as candidate Natural Heritage Area for consideration for potential designation under future NHA designation programmes, subject to evolving legal obligations and prioritised resource allocation.
