Glenasmole Valley

AIE-104-2023

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

Proposed National Parks and Wildlife Service Glenasmole Catchment Project

Proposed measures

Presentation on the project

NPWS Upland Woodland Potential (Castlekelly)

Informal appeals process, designations (DAAAB)

No records found

AIE request 093-2023

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

National Appropriate Assessment Forum

AIE-086-2023

13 June 2023

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

AIE Request: NPWS Management Board Minutes 2020-2023

AIE-055-2023

NPWS Management Board

Niall Ó Donnchú (NÓD), Ainle Ni Bhriain (ANB), Andy Bleasdale (AB), Catriona Ryan (CR),
Ciara Carberry (CC), Malachy Corcoran (MC), Sorcha de Brúch (SDB), Suzanne Nally (SN), Maryellen
Sacco Power (MSP).

ARC Steering Group

Conservation Measures Projects

Red Bog SAC

Consents currently in place for the NHA within Lough Corrib SAC

Working group to respond to the ARO on Peatlands

Nature Restoration Law

Designations Unit will meet with Deirdre Lynn to discuss the European Biodiversity Strategy pledges.

Corncrake Life will be extended and brought into NPWS as an ongoing project

NPWS in the lead on the Nature Restoration Law, needs to be resourced with an interdepartmental subcommittee

Sarah Farrell from Legal unit to present to the Management Board on the work of the legal unit

monthly biodiversity water synergy meeting

Seamus Hassett vice chair of the Wildlife Crime Committee

Update Due to the Commission for the infringement case, a working group will be established for actions on blanket bogs.

Ban of leadshot over wetlands, agreed to go with map 1

Boora Grey Partridge Project

Paul Cassidy attended the meeting and presented on his work to update the Wildlife Act.

Review of Working Groups

An update to the response for the Additional Reasoned Opinion on the Peatlands case has issued to the European Commission.

Nominees from each directorate for the Wildlife Crime Committee

Terms of reference for the Cross Directorate Committee on Blanket Bog were passed

Approval was given to start the process to designate Lough Conn as a Nature Reserve

Query from Marine Envt on designating marine SACs as OSPAR protected areas

Policy issues (national level)
– Nature Restoration Law
– Additional Reasoned Opinion on Peatlands Infringement Case
– Red Bog SAC 397 Reply from the Commission

Measures Case

Designation pledges under the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030

Presentation: SNaP, Claire Cooper and Rebecca Jeffrey

SNaP Cross Directorate Team

SSCOs on SPAs

GIS and Biodiversity Data Requirements Form/Process

Significant cross-cutting matters
– SDF inconsistency with the SSCOs
– SNaP and Conservation Actions for Lagoons

– Secondment National Experts – Priorities 2023
– Coillte Draft Scope and Actions for 2023
– Analysis of NPWS v- ortho imagery

– Package Meeting 27/04
– Coillte meeting attendance and date
– Peatland Rehabilitation TRA Conference

Significant cross-cutting matters
– Note from DG Environment in relation to renewable energy
– ARC Guidance

Proposed UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
L. Ree & Environs

Peregrine Wild Take Draw 2023

From records held in WLU there are approximately 230 peregrine falcons (or hybrids) held by falconers in Ireland.

Burren National Park Visitor Centre

Business Case for the establishment of a Corncrake/Traonach Conservation Programme as part of the Corncrake/Traonach Post-LIFE plan

Conservation Measures Unit

NPWS AP Workshop

Annex II Bird Species on Open Seasons Order
NPWS Management Board

Strategic Action Plan for the renewal of the NPWS 2022-2024

Mid- South Division
Nenagh 01/11/2022

Management Board Presentation

Strategic Nature Project (SNaP) Ireland Application
Presentation to NPWS Management Board
Claire Cooper / Rebecca Jeffrey
17/01/2023

Proposal from Ecological Assessment Unit to engage in the TAIEX-Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) Peer 2 Peer Scheme

Glenasmole restoration plan

https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/001209

Site code: 001209

Designation: Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

County: Dublin

Coordinates: Latitude: 53.2415 Longitude: -6.36331

SAC Area: 148Ha

Qualifying Interests

Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites) [6210]

Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) [6410]

Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion) [7220]

https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/2023/05/22/glenasmole-restoration-plan-will-use-nature-to-boost-water-quality-and-cut-dodder-flood-risk/

Bord na Mona – Enhanced Decommissioning Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS)

AIE 043-2023

Quarterly Report – Bord Na Mona Q3 FY23
(October 2022 to December 2022)

NPWS / BnM Monitoring and Verification Meeting Minutes

AS advised that NPWS will be developing a formal signoff procedure for the completion of bogs.

Blank record

EDRRS – Monitoring proposals discussion

Ecology Workshop

EDRRS 2022 Archaeology meeting

Quarterly Project Management Meeting for the Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme – 16th June 2022

shp files available for the following, email to request files

DAAAB membership, agendas, minutes

AIE request 054-2023

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”

Lough Corrib SAC Appeals [all text redacted]

Letter to Minister [Redacted]

NPWS Report [redacted]

Map [Redacted]

Appendix 1: Lough Corrib cSAC appeal No.
Map scale: 1:15,000

Map [Redacted]

Appendix 2: Lough Corrib cSAC Appeal
Map Scale: 1:5,000

Map, redacted

Map, redacted

Map, redacted

Map, redacted

Note

Chairman of DAAAB is Denis Daly

https://www.npws.ie/news/appointment-chairperson-designated-areas-appeals-advisory-board-daaab-sacs-and-nhas

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.

Notes, supplied outside AIE Regs

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.

2022: No appeals heard by the Board.

2023: No appeals heard by the Board to date.

Links to relevant sites on NPWS website

2017:

One unsuccessful appeal in respect of SPA 004039.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004039

Two successful appeals in respect of SPA 004149.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004149

One appeal which was withdrawn in respect of SPA 004181.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004181

One was unsuccessful and three were partially successful in respect of SAC 001625.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/001625

One unsuccessful appeal in respect of SAC 000709.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/000709

Five unsuccessful and four partially successful appeals in respect of SAC 000297.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/000297

One unsuccessful appeal in respect of NHA 000122.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/nha/000122

2018:

One Partially successful appeal in respect of NHA 002431.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/nha/002431

Two partially successful and one appeal withdrawn in respect of SAC 000297.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/000297

One partially successful appeal in respect of NHA 002364.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/nha/002364

One successful, seven partially successful and three unsuccessful appeals in respect of SPA 004149.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004149

2019:

One successful and three unsuccessful appeals in respect of SPA 004149.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004149

One successful appeal in respect of SAC 000297.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/000297

One partially successful appeal in respect of NHA 002364.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/nha/002364

2021:

Two partially successful appeals in respect of SAC 002158.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/002158