Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Community Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, has called on the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to speed up the process of appeals regarding designations under Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) as part of the EU Habitats Directive.
Deputy Ó Cuív commented: “In a recent reply to a parliamentary question, Minister Deenihan confirmed that there are a very large number of appeals to these designations dating as far back as 2007 that have not yet been finalised. This is very unfair to landowners who are left in limbo due to the inability of the Department to deal expeditiously with these appeals.
“I now call on the Minister to deal with these appeals in a timely fashion and ensure that all outstanding appeals in relation to designations are finalised in the calendar year.”
Pictured Fianna Fail Agriculture spokesman Eamon O Cuiv