Summary: Castlekelly townland within Glenasmole Catchment
Acquired by the State in 2016 to form part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park.
1982 Hectares
Some of the lands are also part of the Wicklow Mountains SAC and Wicklow Mountains SPA
Legal obligation on the State to restore the site condition to Favourable Conservation Status
The Development of a Gully Woodland Restoration Plan for the Upper River Dodder Catchment and the Identification and Assessment of Generic Issues of Relevance for Future Similar Projects in Ireland
List of informal decisions made by DAAAB to include:
date of decision
SAC / SPA / NHA name
SAC / SPA /NHA code
result of the decision
composition of the DAAAB board making the decision
any supporting documentation submitted in relation to DAAAB informal decisions, eg meeting minutes/agendas, biodiversity reports commissioned, Board guidance in relation to informal vs formal decisions, etc
Under the AIE Regs to request the membership, agendas and minutes for following group; National Appropriate Assessment Forum
Please include any reports/presentations referenced in the agendas/minutes
Date: 2019 to 2023
In 2019, the Department established the National Appropriate Assessment Forum to increase stakeholder engagement and to assist Government Departments and other public authorities in fulfilling the requirements of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive for which they are responsible. The Forum meets twice a year and provides an opportunity to share information, experience and good practice. 20 public authorities are currently members of the National AA Forum, together with the Local Government Management Agency (representing 31 local authorities). This includes all public authorities with key responsibilities in undertaking AA assessments for plans and projects
Policy issues (national level) – Nature Restoration Law – Additional Reasoned Opinion on Peatlands Infringement Case – Red Bog SAC 397 Reply from the Commission
26th September 2018, hearing to hear the Appeal of [redacted] against the inclusion of lands in Lough Corrib SAC (Site Code: 000297)
Members of Board redacted apart from the following:
Maryellen Sacco Power, Secretary
Rebecca Teasdale, Conservation Ranger, NPWS
“Board is advisory in capacity and makes a recommendation to the Minister on an ecological and scientific basis and that they are unable to consider planning permission or monetary value”
“The Secretary pointed out that the Board have no say in planning permission and clarified that the recommendation would remain the same”
Appointment of Chairperson – Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board (DAAAB) for SACs and NHAs
Date Released: Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Heather Humphreys, T.D. Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has appointed Mr. Denis Daly as Chairperson for the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board (DAAAB) for SACs and NHAs following an assessment of applications received for the recently advertised position.
The DAAAB makes recommendations to the Minister in cases where landowners/users object to the inclusion of their land in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). It is independent of the Department and reports directly to the Minister. The DAAAB was previously Chaired by Mr. Sean Duignan who retired from the position.
Mr. Daly was selected from a list of applicants assessed using the following criteria: candidate’s background, communication skills, experience as a Chairperson, availability and any conflicts of interest that might arise.
From Kiskeam in North Cork, Denis Daly is a practising barrister.
DAAAB Board
The Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board (DAAAB) is comprised of:- A Chairperson: Mr Denis Daly for appeals against Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) or Ms Ciana Campbell for appeals against Special Protection Areas (SPAs) – and a representative balance of the competing interests involved which are as follows :- Two people will participate from each of the following panels;
Landowners/Users Panel: as represented by the Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation
Conservation Organisations Panel: Nominated by the Environmental Pillar, drawn from organisations participating in the Pillar. Frequent representatives are from organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland, Coastwatch Ireland and the Irish Peatland Conservation Council.
A quorum consists of the Chairperson and two Advisory Board nominees, one member should be from each of the aforementioned Panels. The actual Board members who will be present at a specific appeal would be confirmed when the details and nature of the appeal(s) are known and the hearing is being scheduled. Considerations would be given to the type of land under appeal, availability of individual Board members, the appellants, their ecologists and the number of appeals being heard at each meeting.
The only permanent members of the DAAAB are the chairpersons.
The landowners/users panel has been represented by the IFA and ICMSA for a number of years, the persons representing can change depending on availability and their organisations nomination. The most recent nominations were Pat Dunne, Eamonn Nee and Tom Turley from IFA and Denis Drennan, Patrick Rohan and John O’Donnell from the ICMSA.
The Conservation panel of the board is nominated by the IEN depending on the appeal being considered. The IEN have nominated people from Birdwatch Ireland, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Coastwatch Ireland within the last few years.
Regular nominations by the Environmental Pillar have been Ralph Sheppard and John Cromie from Birdwatch Ireland, Karin Dubsky from Coastwatch and Tristram Whyte from the Irish Peatland Conservation Council.
None of these people are full members of the Board and attendance would be based on availability, the area under appeal and nomination by the Environmental Pillar.
Fintan Kelly, Alex Copeland, Ralph Sheppard, Karin Dubsky, Tristram Whyte and John Cromie have all been nominated by the IEN in the years 2017 to date.
Notes
Eamonn Nee, Galway IFA Hill Farming Chairman
Pat Dunne, IFA Hill Committee Chairman
Tom Turley, IFA Connacht regional chair
Denis Drennan, ICMSA Deputy President
Patrick Rohan, ICMSA’s Farm and Rural Affairs Committee, non-executive director of Kerry Group
Karin Dubsky, marine ecologist, co-founder of Coastwatch Europe,
Part 4. Of AIE-054/23
Details of the number of appeals heard by the Board and the outcome of each appeal from 2017 to 2023 (to date), to include details of the area that was subject to appeal.
The following are the number of appeals heard by the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Appeals Board (DAAAB), the outcomes of those appeals and area from 2017 to date.
In 2017: One unsuccessful appeal in respect of SPA 004039. Two successful appeals in respect of SPA 004149. One appeal which was withdrawn in respect of SPA 004181. One was unsuccessful and three were partially successful in respect of SAC 001625. One unsuccessful appeal in respect of SAC 000709. Five unsuccessful and four partially successful appeals in respect of SAC 000297. One unsuccessful appeal in respect of NHA 000122.
In 2018: One Partially successful appeal in respect of NHA 002431. Two partially successful and one appeal withdrawn in respect of SAC 000297. One partially successful appeal in respect of NHA 002364. One successful, seven partially successful and three unsuccessful appeals in respect of SPA 004149.
2019: One successful and three unsuccessful appeals in respect of SPA 004149. One successful appeal in respect of SAC 000297. One partially successful appeal in respect of NHA 002364.
2020: No appeals heard by the Board.
2021: two partially successful appeals in respect of SAC 002158.
