39 special areas of conservation are submitted to the EU

The Minister for Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Islands has submitted an initial list of 39 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for approval by the European Commission.

More than 50,000 hectares in areas like Slieve League, Co Donegal, Courtmacsherry Estuary, Co Cork, and the Maharabeg Dunes, Co Wicklow, are on the long-awaited list. However, another 161 proposed SACs are disputed, and are the subject of appeals to Duchas the Heritage Service.

The SAC designations have become a hot political issue in certain rural areas, particularly Connemara where more than 80 per cent of the land has been identified for proposed protection.

Recently, several of the national environmental organisations, including An Taisce and Birdwatch Ireland, criticised the delay in concluding the final list.

Under the EU Habitats Directive, certain activities on lands within SACs are restricted. Turfcutting, sand extraction, changing watercourses, burning vegetation and grazing of animals above sustainable levels are among the activities for which permission will have to be sought - or banned outright. The SACs will form part of a European-wide network of important natural heritage sites, known as Natura 2000.

Commenting on the publication, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms ile de Valera, said this was the latest step in the continuing conservation programme by Duchas to protect Ireland's natural heritage, and to join with European partners in conserving "our most significant wildlife sites".

Proposals to designate almost 200 sites were published in March 1997 and objections from people with an interest were invited. A two-part appeals procedure was established. In the first instance, landowners and users were asked to lodge their objections with Duchas informally, with any objections which could not be reconciled in this manner to be examined by an appeals advisory board, set up by the Minister and chaired by the former Ombudsman, Mr Michael Mills.

The Minister said last night there were no outstanding objections to the 39 sites listed. Further sites would be notified to the European Commission, as and when objections were dealt with.