The current position is that 364 candidate special areas of conservation or cSACs are proposed for designation under the EU Habitats directive. A complete listing of candidate sites on a county by county basis follows. The Deputy will, however, note that in some instances a site may cover one or more counties. These cSACs have been formally transmitted to the European Commission in Brussels. Under the provisions of the Habitats Directive, these sites are required to be formally adopted by the Commission before member states proceed with formal designation. I understand that the Commission has not formally adopted any site throughout the European Union to date. The sites, however, receive protection in Irish law under the European Communities (Natural Habitat) Regulations, 1997, SI No. 94 of 1997, from the date of advertisement in regional press.