§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to meet his obligations with respect to the designation of special protection areas under article 4 of the EC Directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds; and if he intends to include sites at Upper Lough Erne and Lough Neagh.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is giving priority to the designation of Areas of Special Scientific Interest under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Where ASSIs are also potential special protection areas under EC directive 79/409, the Department will proceed towards SPA declarations as soon as is practicable after ASSI confirmations.
It is expected that a small number of SPAs will be declared during the next two years, and Lough Neagh and parts of Upper and Lower Lough Erne will be among the areas considered for early designation.