Michael D. Higgins
Question:270 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the current status of Irelands contribution to the com munity wide network of protected habitats called Natura 2000. [14242/00]
Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.
The Natura 2000 Network is a network of special protection areas, SPAs, established in compliance with the EU Birds Directive and special areas of conservation, SACs, established in compliance with the EU Habitats Directive. These sites afford protection to species and habitats listed in the directives.
My Department has designated 111 SPAs and has formally transmitted 262 SACs to the EU Commission. A further 60 proposed SAC sites are partly under appeal and will not be transmitted until the appeals process is completed. My Department has recently advertised 41 additional proposed SACs, mainly covering marine areas, and those affected by the proposals have a period of three months in which to submit objections on scientific grounds. My Department is currently preparing a list of sites to be proposed for designation as SACs for salmon.
The EU Commission has yet to adopt any SAC as a site of community importance for any member state. I may not formally designate these sites as SACs until after such adoption has occurred.