The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has increased the time limit in which landowners can appeal against Special Area Conservation (SAC) designations being put on their land.
Mr Higgins said the regulations specified a deadline of June 30th to appeal against a SAC, but he was directing that all appeals lodged by the end of July would be "treated as if they had met the formal deadline". He said he wanted to give all those affected every chance to have their views heard. He also directed that a new round of meetings between farmers and the National Parks and Wildlife Service be held where necessary in the intervening period.
