To date, Ireland has transmitted 362 candidate special areas of conservation (cSACs) to the European Commission under the EU Habitats Directive of 21 May 1992 (92/43/EEC). In addition, a total of 110 sites have been designated as special protection areas (SPAs) under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). These sites( cSACs and SPAs) are listed for convenience on a county basis at Appendix 1.
The mechanism for designating SACs is by means of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997, while each SPA site (or group of sites) is designated by way of statutory instrument. The date of transmission of each cSAC is listed at Appendix 2 and the date of each Statutory Instrument relating to SPAs is listed at Appendix 3 and these have been forwarded to the Deputy.
I have made arrangements for a map showing the boundaries of the cSACs and SPAs to be forwarded to the Deputy.
APPENDIX 1
LIST OF EUROPEAN SITES (COUNTY BASIS)