Vol. 525 No. 5
325 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the Irish equivalent of the Limestone Pavement Order (United Kingdom) and the protection afforded to these habitats here; and if there is an inventory of these areas. [25530/00]
The most important areas of limestone pavement are protected by designation as proposed special areas of conservation, under the EU habitats directive as transposed into Irish law in March 1997 by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, S.I. No. 94/97. Currently 42 such sites have been mapped, listed and identified for designation as SACs. A further 63 sites have been identified for designation as NHAs under the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, 1999. This Bill recently passed through all Stages in the Dáil and is scheduled to commence Second Stage in the Seanad on 16 November.
