There are 630 proposed natural heritage areas. While a review of these sites is foreseen, the current focus of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland's obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives and the designation of Natura 2000 sites i.e. special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
Although proposed natural heritage area sites are not subject to the natural heritage area provisions of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, they may be recognised in local authority development plans.
The number of proposed natural heritage areas by county is set out in the following table:
County
|
Number of proposed Natural Heritage Areas
|
Carlow
|
4
|
Cavan
|
16
|
Cork
|
80
|
Clare
|
30
|
Donegal
|
25
|
Dublin
|
22
|
Galway
|
48
|
Kerry
|
26
|
Kildare
|
15
|
Kilkenny
|
12
|
Laois
|
19
|
Leitrim
|
19
|
Limerick
|
16
|
Longford
|
14
|
Louth
|
18
|
Mayo
|
38
|
Meath
|
16
|
Monaghan
|
38
|
Offaly
|
36
|
Roscommon
|
27
|
Sligo
|
15
|
Tipperary
|
46
|
Waterford
|
17
|
Westmeath
|
23
|
Wexford
|
20
|
Wicklow
|
25
|
Some proposed natural heritage areas overlap county boundaries and are included in the table more than once.