I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together.
My Department has in place a special areas of conservation designation, conservation and management work programme. Under this on-going programme, 276 sites have been designated as special areas of conservation by Statutory Instrument, site specific conservation objectives have been published for 364 special area of conservation sites and site specific conservation measures have been prepared for 53 sites. The Department is working to identify and list necessary conservation measures for each Habitats Directive Annex I habitat and Annex II species on a site-by-site basis. This will include integration of conservation measures already being delivered.
Furthermore, a range of conservation schemes are in place such as the European innovation partnerships, GLAS (green, low-carbon agri-environment scheme) and the native woodland scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Farm Plan Scheme administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.
Sites are protected under Irish law from the time they are publicly nominated for designation as special areas of conservation i.e., all 439 special area of conservation sites are protected in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
