Vol. 554 No. 5
1508 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the special areas of conservation which have transmitted to the European Commission are afforded the protection granted to national heritage areas under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. [16220/02]
Some 364 candidate special areas of conservation, cSACs, proposed for designation under the EU habitats directive, have been formally transmitted by Ireland to the European Commission. These sites are protected under the provisions of the European Communities (Natural Habitat) Regulations, 1997, rather than under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000.
The provisions of the latter Act relating to natural heritage areas have so far been applied to the designation of some seven sites of importance for birds.
