AGRICULTURE Objectives - Department of Taoiseach

5.2 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)5.2.1 The Government will review the European Communities (Natural Habitat)Regulations 1997 under which Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) andSpecial Protection Areas (SPAs) are designated. This review will includeissues of procedure (including consultation and compensation for restrictionsarising from the Regulations) on which farming interests have raised concerns,and the formalisation of the role of the SAC Appeals Advisory Board,including extending the Board’s remit to consider refusals of consent foroperations or activities in designated areas.5.2.2 The Government envisages that the need for and extent of future SAC/SPAand natural heritage area (NHA) designations will be quite limited comparedwith designations already in operation.5.2.3 The designation of land for nature conservation is not intended as a prohibitionon future development. The Government is particularly mindful of the need,in the interests of sustainable development, for a considerable expansion ofafforestation and renewable energy developments in rural areas. Planningpolicy guidelines will be updated to address the integration of suchdevelopment with nature conservation. The National Spatial Strategy (NSS)has updated the policy framework in relation to rural housing development.More detailed planning policy guidelines on rural housing, building on theNSS, will be issued by the Minister for the Environment and LocalGovernment later this year.5.2.4 Applications for payment of forestry grants in SACs/SPAs will be consideredon their merits and proposals, which do not have significant negative effectson the environment, will not be opposed on environmental grounds.5.2.5 The Government is fully committed to continuing consultation with the mainfarming organisations about managing nature conservation requirements.These discussions may address the possibility of new measures, agreements orincentives for positive and environmentally friendly management ofdesignated areas, particularly those designated for very specific or specialisedconservation purposes.7